The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Catherine Deneuve, George Chakiris, Françoise Dorléac, Jacques Perrin, Gene Kelly ... see more see more... , Grover Dale , Danielle Darrieux , Genevieve Thenier , Pamela Hart , Henri Crémieux , Wendy Barry , Dorothée Blanc , W. Earl Brown , Jane Darling , Albin Pahernik , Michel Piccoli , Jacques Riberolles , Sally Stevens , Bill Lee , Agnès Varda , Robert Tebow , Jackie Ward , Sue Allen , Veronique Duval , John MacDonald

Jacques Demy directed this frothy tribute to the Hollywood musicals of the 1940s, a follow-up to his earlier success The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Twin sisters Delphine and Solange (played by rea... read more read more...l-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorleac) live in the small coastal town of Rochefort, where they run a school teaching dancing and music. Both feel frustrated in Rochefort, and they dream of travelling to Paris, where they believe romance and opportunity awaits them. Meanwhile, their single mother, Yvonne (Danielle Darrieux), who runs a cafe in town, pines for her lost love, Simon (Michel Piccoli). One day, one of Yvonne's regular customers, a sailor with an artistic bent named Maxence (Jacques Perrin), shows her a painting of the imaginary girl of his dreams, and she looks just like Delphine, whom he's never met. Meanwhile, Simon has returned to Rochefort, bringing with him a close friend, American pianist Andy Miller (Gene Kelly); Simon has made friends with Solange and introduces her to Andy, who immediately falls in love with her. Sadly, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort was Françoise Dorleac's last film; she died in an auto accident shortly after completing the picture. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

4,091 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

34 critics

G, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy

Release Date: April 11, 1968

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 22, 2002

Stats: 231 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Match cover Gene Kelly and Francoise Dorleac
Upload a Photo | View All The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (231)

  • jennifxu
    May 1, 2011
    jennifxu
    The musical numbers seriously look like they came out of a porno - but a charming, classy, softcore kind of porno (especially the twins one!). That's pretty much how I'd describe this entire movie - innocently, campily sexual.
  • hoganshero
    July 3, 2008
    hoganshero
    Marvelous, whimsical and fun. I can only rank this film second to the Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
  • groaningbitch
    June 8, 2008
    groaningbitch
    "the young girls of rochefort" is the dynamic french musical classic with a fairly young angelic catherine deneuve. and it is restricted to people who have an acceptance to the cliched parisian naivete of french romanticism. the storyline is delineated with an innocent stroke of... read more ever after fairy tale which could be mindless but exquisitedly cherographed and the music is brighteningly melodic.

    how about the story? absolutely corny and it's about "love"(amour) again. it's about two female ingenunes who seek for the ideal dream lovers. it shows its fatalistic belief in love and bond arranged in the heaven that is not a topic suited for cynist. but it's so contrived to the histrionic pretense that is meant not to be taken seriously for relaxation. but the stage effects of backset, constumes and techicolor tones are well-adjusted and that makes it highly watchable and warmingly cute if you disregard their smug poise to sing and dance on the streets and exclaims "i'm in love!" and this silliness requires the leads who are charismatic enough to sell it, catherine deneuve and francoise dorleac would be in this niche with their looks and light-weighted voice.

    it is amazing to see deneuve kicking her leg, holding her girlish hat in musical then stripped off naked as the masochist in "belle de jour" which is also released in 1968. "the young girls of rochefort" proves the diverse caliber of catherine deneuve.
  • fb1142797643
    March 3, 2010
    fb1142797643
    Enjoyed this film more than expected! Surprising how different it is from "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg." For starters, it's in color, and *what* colors! The hue of every shirt, pant and dress is carefully selected, and every shot is loaded with brightly painted walls, cars, etc. E... read moreye candy? You bet. The story is also considerably more upbeat than the melancholy "Cherbourg" -- wow, what a date movie this would be. Though I have no idea why Demy chose to include an incongruous subplot about an unsolved murder. Huh? In any case, the rest is all about love, love, love. Multiple characters are separated but destined to come together (not only potential lovers, but parents and children), so the ticklish suspense is waiting for this person and *that* person to meet or reunite. But the plot isn't especially important, because the fun is mostly about Michel Legrand's elegant, oh-so-French songs. And of course, it's touching to see Gene Kelly dancing on film for one of the last times in his career.

    An added emotional resonance of "The Young Girls of Rochefort" is that it stars Catherine Deneuve and her sister Francoise Dorleac, who are obviously having a ball singing and dancing together. And tragically, Dorleac was killed in a car accident during the same year. At the age of 25. I can't even imagine the intense mix of feelings which this film must arouse in Deneuve today.
  • HuskersNC949597
    August 4, 2011
    HuskersNC949597
    After watching several darker films per day the past 2 or 3 days, this was a break. Nothing but fun and sap.
  • sepio41
    November 15, 2008
    sepio41
    demy did a companion piece to 'cherbourg' with this through-danced piece that pays homage to the happy-go-lucky freed unit musicals released by mgm. the choreography is fun, bumptious classic jazz and it is danced off the screen by the likes of george chakiris and grover dale. ... read moreas added luster, gene kelly makes a cameo.
  • sheruinsyou
    September 2, 2007
    sheruinsyou
    Catherine Deneuve and Francoise Dorleac are perfect together in this film! Great costumes, music, and scenery. Definitely a must-see for fans of French cinema!

View All The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 5, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

It has charm, sustained human observation, mixed with catchy music, dances and songs to come up as a tuner with grace and dynamism. Full Review

Renata Adler
January 15, 2005
Renata Adler, New York Times

Certainly the best musical in some time. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
January 1, 2000
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Even in the midst of all those cheerful French blues and cherry reds, Demy has shown us his characters' longing so vividly that it can never quite be erased. Full Review

Octavio Roca
January 1, 2000
Octavio Roca, San Francisco Chronicle

Here is romantic intrigue served up with a knowing lack of shame, a musical boasting star power of the highest magnitude that satirizes the conventions of the movie musical with affection and wicked g... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

My favorite musical. Full Review

Amy Taubin
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin, Village Voice

Deneuve and Dorléac are stylish, smart, and spirited, and their awkwardness as dancers makes them even more winning. Full Review

June 23, 2010
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The results are a bit like eating too much ice cream sundae. Full Review

Edward Porter
August 17, 2009
Edward Porter, Times [UK]

The fondant-fancy colours make the film all the more escapist, yet some pop songs can pierce you to the core. Full Review

Philip French
August 17, 2009
Philip French, Observer [UK]

A very welcome rerelease of Demy's delightful 1967 musical. Full Review

Derek Malcolm
August 17, 2009
Derek Malcolm, This is London

The result is uncommonly pleasing or defiantly twee: take your choice. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Les Chansons d'Amour (Love Songs)
    Les Chansons d'Amour (Love Songs) (100%)
  • Donkey Skin (Peau d'âne)
    Donkey Skin (Peau d'âne) (100%)
  • Lola
    Lola (0%)
  • Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)
    Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of... (100%)

More Movies like The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Young Girls o... : Watch Free on TV

The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?