La Symphonie fantastique

The film is biographical, telling the story of the life and artistic struggles of the French composer Hector Berlioz. Berlioz is shown as a recalcitrant medical student in an anatomy class dreaming of becoming a composer; at a demonstration during a performance at the Paris Opéra conducted by Habeneck; at supper with other young artists (Hugo, Janin, Dumas, Mérimée, Delacroix); and chasing after his future wife Harriet Smithson, after a performance of Hamlet. Also depicted are his life in a garret, while suffering from an illness due to an abscess in the throat; a visit from his mother who curses him; and the composition of the Symphonie fantastique. The film then shows his marital breakdown, the premiere of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, his travels throughout Europe, his second marriage to Marie Recio (called "Marie Martin" in the film), public acceptance in old age and reconciliation with his son.

6.4

95 min

Cast

Jean-Louis Barrault

as Hector Berlioz

Renée Saint-Cyr

as Marie Martin

Lise Delamare

as Harriet Smithson

Jules Berry

as Schlesinger

Bernard Blier

as Antoine Charbonnel

Gilbert Gil

as Louis Berlioz

Julien Bertheau

as Victor Hugo (uncredited)

Catherine Fonteney

as Madame Berlioz mother (uncredited)

Louis Seigner

as Habeneck (uncredited)

Noël Roquevert

as Gendarme (uncredited)

Roland Armontel

as Eugène Delacroix (uncredited)

Rivers Cadet

as Consumer (uncredited)

Fabienne Clery

as (uncredited)

Jacques Cossin

as (uncredited)

Lucien Coëdel

as Typographer (uncredited)

Jean Darcante

as Prosper Mérimée (uncredited)

Joé Davray

as Student (uncredited)

Mona Dol

as Housekeeper (uncredited)

Maurice Dorléac

as Consumer (uncredited)

Jacques Dynam

as (uncredited)

René Fluet

as Jules Janin (uncredited)

Georges Gosset

as Alexandre Dumas (uncredited)

Georges Lafon

as Russian Chamberlain (uncredited)

Pierre Magnier

as Professor (uncredited)

Georges Mauloy

as Dean of the Academies (uncredited)

Marcelle Monthil

as Dresser (uncredited

Martial Rèbe

as Coachman (uncredited)

Louis Salou

as Director of the Opéra (uncredited)

Maurice Schutz

as Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)

Roger Vincent

as (uncredited)

Michel Vitold

as Orchestra conductor (uncredited)

Georges Vitray

as Ship's commander (uncredited)

Eugène Yvernès

as (uncredited)

Director

Christian-Jaque