Cast
Sacha Guitry
as Désiré, le valet de chambre
Jacqueline Delubac
as Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac
Jacques Baumer
as Félix Montignac, ministre des P.T.T.
Pauline Carton
as Adèle, la cuisinière
Saturnin Fabre
as Adrien Corniche
Geneviève Vix
as Comtesse Diepchinska
Arletty
as Madeleine, la femme de chambre
Alys Delonde
as Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1937
Runtime1h 32m
LanguageFrench
CertificationNR
GenresComedy
Votes18
DirectorSacha Guitry
WritersSacha Guitry
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.8 out of 10
Cast8 credited
Also Known AsDésiré
About Désiré
Désiré is hired by Odette Cléry as a valet. She is the mistress of Félix Montignac, Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones. Désiré is assisted by Adèle, the cook, and Madeleine, ‘Madame’s’ maid. The summer holidays take this little group to Deauville, to a holiday villa. But here’s the thing, Désiré is a man whose appearance, self-assurance and profession—which is, in fact, hereditary—are not entirely in keeping with his tastes and mindset. As the son, grandson and great-grandson of a servant, he derives genuine pleasure from obeying—and indeed, Désiré says so himself: ‘Serving is a marvellous thing. It means having the right to be without a will...’ But, alas! Every coin has two sides, and his only real taste lies in his mistresses. Adapted from the play of the same name by Sacha Guitry, premiered at the Théâtre Édouard VII (Théâtre de Sacha Guitry) in Paris’s 9th arrondissement on 27 April 1927.
Directed by Sacha Guitry, Désiré leans on a strong ensemble — Sacha Guitry, Jacqueline Delubac, Jacques Baumer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1937.
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