La Symphonie fantastique
95 mins
The film is biographical, telling the story of the life and artistic struggles of the French composer Hector Berlioz. Berlioz is shown as a recalcitrant medical student in an anatomy class dreaming of becoming a composer; at a demonstration during a performance at the Paris Opéra conducted by Habeneck; at supper with other young artists (Hugo, Janin, Dumas, Mérimée, Delacroix); and chasing after his future wife Harriet Smithson, after a performance of Hamlet. Also depicted are his life in a garret, while suffering from an illness due to an abscess in the throat; a visit from his mother who curses him; and the composition of the Symphonie fantastique. The film then shows his marital breakdown, the premiere of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, his travels throughout Europe, his second marriage to Marie Recio (called "Marie Martin" in the film), public acceptance in old age and reconciliation with his son.
Fabienne Clery
(uncredited)
Jacques Cossin
(uncredited)
Mona Dol
Housekeeper (uncredited)
Maurice Dorléac
Consumer (uncredited)
Georges Lafon
Russian Chamberlain (uncredited)
Martial Rèbe
Coachman (uncredited)
Maurice-Paul Guillot
Conductor
André du Dognon
Adaptation
Jean-Pierre Feydeau
Dialogue
Andrej Andrejew
Production Design
Nicolas Wilcke
Special Effects Coordinator
G.R. Aldo
Camera Operator
Jean-Pierre Feydeau
Screenplay
André Legrand
Screenplay
Jacques Desagneaux
Editor
William Robert Sivel
Sound
André Legrand
Dialogue