La sirène du Mississipi (1969)

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (dialogue)
François Truffaut (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

18 June 1969 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Louis Mahe is a tobacco planter at Reunion Island. He is waiting for Julie Roussel to marry her. He only knows her by mail...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Private Detective | Tobacco | Mail Order Bride | Wedding

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Louis Mahé
Catherine Deneuve	...	Julie Roussel / Marion Vergano
Nelly Borgeaud	...	Berthe
Martine Ferrière	...	Landlady
Marcel Berbert	...	Jardine
Yves Drouhet	...	Detective
Michel Bouquet	...	Camolli
Roland Thénot	...	Richard

Directed by
François Truffaut

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
François Truffaut		dialogue
François Truffaut		screenplay
Cornell Woolrich		novel "Waltz into Darkness" (as William Irish)

Produced by
Marcel Berbert	....	executive producer
Marcel Berbert	....	producer
François Truffaut	....	producer

Original Music by
Antoine Duhamel

Cinematography by
Denys Clerval

Film Editing by
Agnès Guillemot

Production Design by
Claude Pignot

Set Decoration by
Claude Pignot

Makeup Department
Jean-Pierre Eychenne	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Claude Miller	....	production manager (as Claude Miler)
Roland Thénot	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean-José Richer	....	assistant director

Art Department
Jean-Claude Dolbert	....	property master

Sound Department
Guy Chichignoud	....	sound mixer
René Levert	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Balthazard	....	key grip
Jean Chiabaut	....	camera operator
Claude Rouxel	....	chief electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yves Saint-Laurent	....	dresses: Catherine Deneuve

Other crew
Suzanne Schiffman	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Les Films du Carrosse
• Les Productions Artistes Associés
• Produzioni Associate Delphos (co-production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1970) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1991) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Film Desk, The (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

La mia droga si chiama Julie (Italy)
Mississippi Mermaid (USA)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

Les Films du Carrosse

Trivia:

The original French title is spelled "La Sirène du Mississipi" (one P) in some sources, and "La Sirène du Mississippi" (two Ps) in other sources.

Movie Connections:

References Johnny Guitar (1954)

What Price - Love?

MISSISSIPPI MERMAID is a disturbing and unsettling examination of what it means to be in love with the "wrong" person.

Truffaut's directing is his usual outstanding work. Although this is far from his best. Deneuve is very, very beautiful. Despite the character she portrays.