Candide or The Optimism in the 20th Century
88 mins
Charming and innocent, Candide is vigorously chased away by the Baron, for his close encounters with the pretty Cunégonde. World War II breaks out, and when he is drafted and taken prisoner, he is forced to take German nationality and ends up guarding the camp where he was imprisoned. He crossed into Switzerland, but as he had no bank account, he was incarcerated for eight days for trespassing. Hunted by the Gestapo, he kills two men to free Cunégonde, who has finally been found. They both flee to Argentina, and their world tour begins. In Paris, Moscow, New York, Borneo and Alexandria. They try to follow Dr. Pangloss' optimistic rule of life. Tossed about, separated, they find themselves grown old and wiser, thinking only of cultivating their garden on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Michèle Verez
Pâquette
Harold Kay
German Officer
O'Dett
Le baron de Thunder-Ten-Tronck
Don Ziegler
Le papa gangster / American Father
Mireille Alcon
Une dame du harem (uncredited)
Danièle Tessier
Une dame du harem (uncredited)
Edy Sylvian
Petit rôle (uncredited)
Norbert Carbonnaux
Director
Voltaire
Novel
Norbert Carbonnaux
Adaptation
Jean Klissak
Still Photographer
Charles Lahet
Unit Manager
Jean Douarinou
Production Design
Étiennette Muse
Assistant Editor
André Deroual
Production Manager
Jean Bertrand
Sound Engineer
Georges Pellegrin
Assistant Director
Roger Delpuech
Camera Operator
Renée Rouzot
Wardrobe Master
Roger Bar
Location Manager
Paulette Robert
Editor
Claire Giniewski
Assistant Editor
Hubert Rostaing
Music
Marcel Balland
Props
Janou Pottier
Hairstylist
René Bourdier
Boom Operator
Robert Lefebvre
Director of Photography
Pierre Berroyer
Key Makeup Artist
Martine Guillou
Script
Jean Douarinou
Art Direction
Valery Ivanow
Second Assistant Camera
Pierre Nourry
Costume Design
Gaston Muller
Assistant Camera
Nicole Daujat
Assistant Editor