Bel Ami (1939)

Directed by: Willi Forst

Written by: Guy de Maupassant (original novel)

Willi Forst, Axel Eggebregt (screenplay)

Produced by: Willi Forst

Cinematography: Theodore J. Pahle

Edited by: Hans Wolff

Music by: Theo Mackeben

Production company: Willi Forst-Films

Distributed by: Tobis Film

Release date: 21 February 1939

Running time:  96 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

 

Starring:

 

Willi Forst: George Duroy / Bel Ami

Olga Tschechowa: Madeleine Forestier

Johannes Riemann: Laroche

Ilse Werner: Suzanne Laroche

Hilde Hildebrand: Clotilde von Marelle

Will Dohm: Journalist Charles Forestier

Lizzi Waldmüller: Rachel

Marianne Stanior: Grisette

Aribert Wäscher: Newspaper publisher Walter

Hubert von Meyerinck: Editor Varenne

Hans Stiebner: Real estate agent Stranoff

Rosita Serrano: Singer

 

Bel Ami is a 1939 German film directed by Willi Forst. It is loosely based on Guy de Maupassant’s 1885 novel Bel Ami, with considerable changes to the original plot.

 

Plot

 

In Paris, in about 1900, George Duroy, just returned from Morocco, spends a night with the singer Rachel, who is rehearsing the song Bel Ami. Later at a party he tells the newspaper editor Forestier about Morocco. At the request of the ladies present Duroy is engaged by Walter, proprietor of La Vie Française, as a journalist.

 

Forestier’s wife Madeleine, who is also the mistress of the Député Laroche, whom she allows to exploit her in order to influence the newspaper as Laroche wishes, helps Duroy in the composition of his texts. Forestier becomes jealous of Duroy and divorces Madeleine.

 

The Minister for the Colonies, who has campaigned for a restrained foreign policy, is obliged to resign. His successor is Laroche, who initially stands for interventionist policies, because of his ownership of land in Morocco, is seen through by Moroccan nobles and blackmailed. In order to give his change of position an acceptable public appearance he asks Madeleine to marry Duroy, who has meantime risen to editor-in-chief. She does so, but the marriage does not last long.

 

Duroy saves Laroche’s daughter Suzanne when her horse bolts. Without introducing themselves they arrange to meet at the opera ball that evening. There, thanks to Rachel, who for a long time has been performing the song Bel Ami in a plush revue, Duroy learns the truth about Laroche’s intrigues, which he publishes in his newspaper. Duroy is in love with Suzanne and divorces Madeleine to marry her. Laroche resigns, and Suzanne urges Duroy to enter politics. As minister Duroy prevents his former boss Walter from continuing the crooked intrigues of Laroche. He takes leave of his former wife Madeleine, Rachel and Frau von Marelle, in order to devote himself to his marriage with Suzanne.