André Cayatte's "Au Bonheur des Dames" is based on Emile Zola eponymous novel. It depicts the rise of "Magasin de nouveauté" eg big Department Store in Paris in mid XIXe Century. It is known that Emile Zola actually based his novel on the rise of "Le Bon Marché", a famous Magasin de Nouveauté in Paris. The film was shot during Second World War by the German based society, Continental. The story describe the struggle between a small shop "Le vieille Elbeuf" and "Le Bonheur des dames". At the end, "Le bonheur des dames" wins, but his owner appears to be a good guy. This film is one of the most famous from Cayatte. The actor Michel Simon is in one of his best roles.
Review of Shop Girls of Paris
