A lightweight comedy anchored by romantic tropes, The French Way was shot in wartime France circa 1940, first shown in 1945, and then released in America in 1952 after being recut and trimmed by a couple of minutes. The chief attraction here is Josephine Baker, the expatriate American who stars as Zazu, a Parisian cabaret singer who inserts herself into a “Romeo and Juliet”-like scenario, coming up with a mischievous solution when the feuding parents of two lovers are making their offspring’s relationship a miserable affair. Scenes of Parisians flocking to underground shelters during nighttime bombings are not only of historical value but also serve the story by bringing the principal characters into close proximity. The cast includes a young Micheline Presle, who starred several years later in the classic Devil in the Flesh, but the real draw here is the legendary Baker, whose nightclub scenes of singing and dancing are a treat. Unfortunately, the transfer is only middling and there are no extras to help put the film in context. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)
The French Way
The Sprocket Vault, 74 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.99, Blu-ray: $29.99
The French Way
Star Ratings
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