Monsieur Vincent
Monsieur Vincent is a 1947 French historical drama film directed by Maurice Cloche, about Vincent de Paul. It received an honorary Academy Award in 1949 as the best foreign language film released in the United States in 1948. The Vatican placed it on their 1995 list of films. Pierre Fresnay played the titular role of Vincent, for which he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. His performance was described in Sight and Sound as "one of the most perfect pieces of work to be seen for many years in any clime".
Plot
The film depicts the life of Vincent de Paul, the 17th-century priest and charity worker. It depicts his struggle to help the poor in the face of disasters, such as the Black Death. While ascending from a simple parish priest to a respected advisor to the nobility, he leverages his growing influence among the wealthy to promote the foundation of charitable institutions.Cast
- Pierre Fresnay as Vincent de Paul, priest
- Aimé Clariond as Cardinal Richelieu
- Jean Debucourt as Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondi, Count of Joigny
- Lise Delamare as Françoise Marguerite de Silly, Madame de Gondi
- Germaine Dermoz as Queen Anne of Austria
- Gabrielle Dorziat as President Goussault
- Pierre Dux as Chancellor Séguier
- Yvonne Gaudeau as Louise de Marillac
- Jean Carmet as Father Portail
- Michel Bouquet as Tuberculosis sufferer
- Gabrielle Fontan as The elder deaf woman of the presbytery of Châtillon
- Robert Murzeau as Monsieur Besnier
- Gabriel Gobin as A servant of Monsieur Besnier
- Claude Nicot as A page of M. Besnier
- Marcel Pérès as La Pogne, crippled former soldier
- Francette Vernillat as The little girl
- Georges Vitray as The Count of Châtillon
- Véra Norman as Mademoiselle de Châtillon, the Count's daughter
- Geneviève Morel as Marguerite Naseau
- Ginette Gaubert as One of the lady benefactresses
- Renée Thorel as One of the lady benefactresses
- Marcel Vallée as The administrator of the hospices
- Paul Demange as A sacristan with foundling children
- Paul Faivre as A sacristan with foundling children
- Guy Favières as A bastard beggar / Poor man near the fireplace
- André Dumas as Cardinal Graziani
- Jeanne Hardeyn as Madeleine, a sister of charity
- Joëlle Janin as Jeanne, the young novice sister
- Maurice Marceau as A poor man
- Maximilienne as A devotee to the church
- Marthe Mellot as The old woman who overeats
- Alice Reichen as The landlady
- Nicole Riche as The landlady's daughter
- Jean Rougerie as A poor man
- René Stern as An abbot with Madame de Gondi
- Charles Gérard as A convict
- Georges Cerf
- Yvonne Claudie
- Jean Favre-Bertin
- Harry-Max
- Robert Le Béal
- Max Rogerys
- Tony Taffin
- Jean-Marc Tennberg
- Victor Vina
Production
Guy Lefranc was assistant director on the movie.Awards
- 1947: Pierre Fresnay wins Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival
- 1947: The film wins the Grand prix of French Cinema
- 1947: Nominated for Golden Lion for Maurice Cloche
- 1948: Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film
- 1949: Nominated for the British Academy Film Awards for best film
- 1949: Prize for the best film awarded by the Belgian film press
- 1950: Nominated at Golden Globes for Golden Globe Award for Promoting International Understanding