Students complain to Sacha Guitry that the history of the city they all love is taught in a boring way. He offers to tell it as a tale from memory and does so.
The Paris of his tale is drawn visually from paintings in a hopscotch fashion beginning in the 13th century. It is a tale of witticism, of Louis XI (as played by Guitry), and many a well-known performer, like Louis Funes, Danielle Darrieux, Odette Joyeux, Jean Marais, Michele Morgan, dozens of others, linked by Gerard Philippe as a series of troubadours. It's certainly ambitious, but ultimately turns into a highlights of history series of images. Enjoyable for the verve with which it is presented? Definitely. However, it is neither particularly illuminating nor cinematic.
The Paris of his tale is drawn visually from paintings in a hopscotch fashion beginning in the 13th century. It is a tale of witticism, of Louis XI (as played by Guitry), and many a well-known performer, like Louis Funes, Danielle Darrieux, Odette Joyeux, Jean Marais, Michele Morgan, dozens of others, linked by Gerard Philippe as a series of troubadours. It's certainly ambitious, but ultimately turns into a highlights of history series of images. Enjoyable for the verve with which it is presented? Definitely. However, it is neither particularly illuminating nor cinematic.