La kermesse héroïque (1935)

La kermesse héroïque: Directed by Jacques Feyder. With Françoise Rosay, André Alerme, Jean Murat, Louis Jouvet. Tells the story of the Spanish invasion of Flanders

“…because of the American production code. In early-17th century Flanders, at the town of Boom, a Spanish duke (Jean Murat) and his advisors are due to stop over for the night. The townsfolk panic, as they believe the u0026quot;savage Spaniardsu0026quot; will rape and pillage their small village. So the burgomaster (Andre Alerme) and his sharp-witted wife (Francoise Rosay) devise a plan wherein many of the menfolk will pretend to be dead and the u0026quot;widowsu0026quot; will be accommodating to the visitors. The plan works, only too well, as the women find the Spanish visitors virile and attractive in comparison to their fat and lazy husbands.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a fun, bawdy, lighthearted historical fiction that doesnu0026#39;t skimp on period detail. The costumes are elaborate and fascinating, from the corsets to the giant frilled collars to the over-sized pants. The performers are entertaining, especially the ladies, playing a range of flustered flirtation and nervous excitement. There are sly comments about the church of the time, and the hedonistic impulses of even the most chaste. Marcel Carne was one of the assistant directors.”