Monsieur Vincent is a 1947 French historical drama film directed by Maurice Cloche about St. 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 its 1995 list of great films. Pierre Fresnay, who plays the titular role of St. Vincent, 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".
Contents
Plot
St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th-century priest and charity worker, struggles to help the poor in the face of disasters such as the Black Death. While ascending from his life as a simple parish priest to that of 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 St. 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 elder deaf woman
Robert Murzeau as Monsieur Besnier
Gabriel Gobin as servant of Monsieur Besnier
Claude Nicot as page of M. Besnier
Marcel Pérès as La Pogne
Francette Vernillat as the little girl
Georges Vitray as the Count of Châtillon
Véra Norman as Mademoiselle de Châtillon
Geneviève Morel as Marguerite Naseau
Ginette Gaubert as a lady benefactor
Renée Thorel as a lady benefactor
Marcel Vallée as administrator of hospices
Paul Demange as a sacristan with foundling children
Paul Faivre as a sacristan with foundling children
Guy Favières as a beggar
André Dumas as Cardinal Graziani
Jeanne Hardeyn as Sister Madeleine
Joëlle Janin as Jeanne
Maurice Marceau as a poor man
Maximilienne as a devotee to the church
Marthe Mellot as an old woman who overeats
Alice Reichen as the landlady
Nicole Riche as the landlady's daughter
Jean Rougerie as poor man
René Stern as Abbot
Charles Gérard as a convict
Awards
1947: Winner, Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival, Pierre Fresnay
1947: Winner, Grand Prix du Cinéma Français
1947: Nominee, Golden Lion prize, Maurice Cloche
1948: Winner, Academy Award, Best Foreign-Language Film
1949: Nominee. British Academy Film Award, Best Film
1950: Nominee, Golden Globes, Promoting International Understanding