Noël Renard

Shop Girls of Paris

The struggles of a small business owner come to light in this film by director André Cayatte. The proprietor of a fabric shop, M. Baudu faces stiff competition when a department store moves in across the street, the first of its kind in 1860s Paris. On top of the stresses associated with the rival retailer, Baudu’s niece and two nephews take up residence with him after recently being orphaned. The niece, Denise Baudu, sees the writing on the wall for her uncle’s business so she takes a job as a shop girl with his competitor and despite her success the decision does not register well with the family.

Stowaway Olive

Charmed by a pretty girl, Olive follows her on board a dirigible. There, he discovers the belle, named Pearl, has a husband. Never mind such an insignificant detail, Olive tells himself as the dirigible takes off with a stowaway among the passengers. Unfortunately a storm breaks and the captain, realizing that there are thirteen people on board, decides to sacrifice one of them. And guess who ? Olive, of course...!

Stowaway Olive

Charmed by a pretty girl, Olive follows her on board a dirigible. There, he discovers the belle, named Pearl, has a husband. Never mind such an insignificant detail, Olive tells himself as the dirigible takes off with a stowaway among the passengers. Unfortunately a storm breaks and the captain, realizing that there are thirteen people on board, decides to sacrifice one of them. And guess who ? Olive, of course...!

Au Bonheur des Dames

Denise, an orphaned girl, moves to Paris where she hopes to find work at her uncle's store. But the glamorous department store 'Aux Bonheur des Dames' across the street crushes all the little businesses around. She finds a position there.

Mother Hummingbird

A neglected Baroness falls in love with her oldest son's military officer friend, their adulterous romance leading the two to flee to Algeria.

Balançoires

A young couple go to the carnival. After some savage heavy petting they meet a sinister fakir who offers to sell them Truth for six sous. A set of uncanny events follow. At worst 'avant-gardist' in the extreme, at best the counterpart to Cœur Fidèle's 'fête foraine' sequence after the abolition of melodrama. Excellent black screen cutting and chaotic camera shaking characterize the style.