Les Lavandières du Portugal
Les Lavandières du Portugal (The Washerwomen of Portugal) is a 1957 French film comedy directed by Pierre Gaspard-Huit. It was produced by Les Films Univers, Société Pathé Cinéma and Suevia Films (Madrid), distributed by Pathé Consortium and developed by Laboratoire Franay L.T.C Saint-Cloud with montage by LAX. It was shot between 2 May and 6 June 1957 and released on 23 August that year.
Plot
Two companies are in fierce competition to carry out the publicity for the new American 'Floc' washing machine, with two teams led by Jean-François and Catherine. They both go to Portugal to try to tempt a jolly washerwoman to come to Paris to take part in the launch and both teams try to eliminate the competition. Catherine manages to find a suitable candidate, Mariana, but Jean-François manages to get her to follow him to Paris by offering to marry her.
Crew
- Director : Pierre Gaspard-Huit
- Director (Spanish version) : Ramon Torrado
- Screenplay: Jean Marsan, Madeleine Lefèvre
- Adaptation : Pierre Gaspard-Huit, Pierre Lary and Jean Marsan
- Dialogue : Jean Marsan
- Assistant Directors : Pierre Simon, Pierre Lary
- Music : André Popp[1]
- Photography : Roger Fellous
- Camera Operator : Maurice Fellous, assisted by Claude Lecomte and Claude Robin
- Sets : Roger Guisgand, assisted by Roger Briaucourt
- Editing : Fanchette Mazin, assisted by Simone du Bron
- Sound : René Sarazin, assisted by Jean Monchablon
- Makeup : Maurice Debanoff
- Landscape Photography : Henri Thibault
- Hair : Janine Pottier
- Costume (urban) : Designed by Alwyn
- Costume (regional) : Madame Samazeuil, after designs by Rodriguez Ferreira
- Costumes (bathing) : Port-Cros
- Location Manager : Roger Descoffre
- Location Manager (Exterior) : Roger Bar
- Producers: José Bénazéraf, Georges Glass and Cesáreo González
- Production Director : Jean Velter, assisted by Marguerite Théoule
- Executive Producers : Pierre Cabaud and René Bézard
Cast
- Jean-Claude Pascal : Jean-François Aubray, publicitaire
- Anne Vernon : Catherine Deligny, la publicitaire rivale
- Paquita Rico : Mariana, la lavandière portugaise
- Darry Cowl : Paul, un aimable farfelu de génie, chef de l'Agence de Publicité Nouvelle
- Jean-Marie Proslier : Marc, le photographe de Jean-François
- Marcel André : M. Dubois, le directeur de l'agence publicitaire OPI
- André Randall : André Molinié, le PDG des lessives Floc
- Yvonne Monlaur : Nadine
- Carine Jansen : Maryse, l'assistante de Catherine
- Anne-Marie Baumann : L'actrice à la descente de l'avion
- Max Montavon : L'employé de la maison de disques
- Albert Michel : Le peintre qui chante dans le couloir
- Robert Le Béal : l'aubergiste
- Louis Massis : Le réalisateur de la "Pub"
- Germaine de France : Une dame de l'hôtel
- Jean-Pierre Jaubert : Un photographe
- Jean Droze : Le journaliste pour le lancement de la machine
- René Lefebvre-Bel : Le directeur à l'aéroport
- René Aranda: Un journaliste
- Marius Gaidon : Un journaliste
- Albert Daumergue : Un serveur
- Raymond Pierson : L'homme qui veut prendre l'ascenseur en panne (uncredited)
- Aimé de March : Un homme à la réception
- Roger Lécuyer : Un homme à la réception
- Michel Montfort
- Erico Braga
- Patricio Alvares
- Jacques Debary
- André Badin
- Elga Andersen "Elga Hymmen"
- Micheline Delanbre
- Michèle Frison
- Ellen Picard
- Jacqueline Fontel
- Barbara Brault
- Georges Sauval
- Pedro "Ignacio" Paul
- Georges Montant
- Manuel Requena
- José Borja
- Jean Marsan
- Liliane David
- Sylvie Solar
References
- Composer of the successful title song Les Lavandières du Portugal, with lyrics by Roger Lucchesi (1955), notably covered by Jacqueline François.