Product Details

• Actors: Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica, Jean Debucourt, Jean Galland
• Directors: Max Ophüls
• Writers: Max Ophüls, Annette Wademant, Louise de Vilmorin, Marcel Achard
• Producers: Ralph Baum
• Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: French
• Subtitles: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Connoisseur Video
• VHS Release Date: June 30, 1989
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303593194
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,805 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Considered by many critics to be Max Ophüls's finest work, The Earrings of Madame de... is an exquisitely sculpted romance masterpiece of surface manners, social graces, and meaningless gestures passed off as honor. Danielle Darrieux is the unnamed Madame, the spoiled wife of Charles Boyer, who is the epitome of the confident, cultured gentleman. Trapped by mutual consent in a loveless marriage, she occupies her days spending herself into debt and her evenings flirting with silly young suitors, while her husband dallies with his mistress. The veil of respectability that protects this perfect relationship of lies and indulgence is torn away by a pair of earrings she secretly sells to cover debts and her husband buys back for his mistress. In a circularity so loved by Ophüls, the jewels travel back to Madame as a present from a suitor (a suave and serious Vittorio De Sica) too serious to be dismissed by her husband. Ophüls is rather cool toward these characters, as if he pities their shallow façades. Madame is less overwhelmed by passion than enthralled by the idea of love: it's only in the absence of her attentive lover that her perfect comportment collapses, while her husband is propelled into action more by social expectation than jealousy. Ophüls's camera dances through the decor while watching the doomed game play out at a distance, capturing a culture of courtly manners petrified into meaningless ritual. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Movie - - Terrible Print, March 14, 2003

By	JLee "JLee" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Earrings of Madame De... [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a terrific movie. To see it is to love it and want to see it again. But if you've never seen it, this video is not going to make you a fan. The subtitles are unreadable whenever they appear against a light background - - there are entire scenes were the subtitles are lost over things like a white tablecloth. Still, the acting will certainly allow you to follow the story - - you won't be lost or confused. In fact, the whole movie is blurry. I had to watch this video in parts because it gave me a headache trying to look at it. But, all that said, if you've seen it and must, must, must see it again, this print is better than nothing. Am I glad I spent the money? Yes, I had to own this movie. I'd just rather have it in a more watchable edition.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OPHULS 's greatest film !, May 4, 2001

By	Annie (NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE France) - See all my reviews

This is one of the greatest European classics ever made. I felt Max OPHULS was very influencied by masters like Ernst LUBITSCH or Joseph MANCKIEWICZ (and French autors like STENDHAL). The script is marvellous and the actors superb (Danielle DARRIEUX found her greatest role, and Charles BOYER and Vittorio DE SICA support her admirably). It is a dreamed feminine role for any actress, and I don't find feminine characters like Danielle DARRIEUX's one in the current movies. If you liked this movie, then try LOLA MONTES and LA RONDE (also by OPHULS).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Age Cannot Wither, Nor Custom Stale..., July 17, 2002

By	"tantejoan" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Earrings of Madame De... [VHS] (VHS Tape)

...this little jewel's infinite variety (with apologies to Shakespeare for the paraphrase).
I have seen this film at least nine times, and each viewing brings new things to discover and love. The direction, set decoration, music, cast and photography always delight, but this time around I must also pay tribute to the screenplay. Knowing it so well I spent time last night really listening to the nuances of the script, in particular that of Charles Boyer's general. Unlike the showier cleverness of my previous favorite moments ("I don't love you, I don't love you, I don't love you" must be the most passionate non-declaration of all cinematic history), I admired as if for the first time the restrained, dignified, tragic journey the general takes from amused tolerance to suppressed love to frustration and, finally, a soldier's resort to arms. I cannot give adequate expression to my love for this film.