Some slapstick is afoot as sexy maid Celestine (Paulette Goddard) comes to work for a rich couple in the French countryside. I've never read the novel on which "The Diary of a Chambermaid" is based, nor seen the later movie version of it, but Jean Renoir's version is a treat. The movie starts out presenting itself as though Celestine is going to spend the whole time seducing men, but it turns out that she's got something else in store. And so does her neighbor (Burgess Meredith).
It's not any kind of masterpiece, but still a fun look at the French class system of the 1880s, as well as topics such as womanizing. The only other Renoir movie that I've seen is "The Grand Illusion", but these two have convinced me that he was one fine director.
The rest of the cast includes Judith Anderson (Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca") and Irene Ryan (Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies").
It's not any kind of masterpiece, but still a fun look at the French class system of the 1880s, as well as topics such as womanizing. The only other Renoir movie that I've seen is "The Grand Illusion", but these two have convinced me that he was one fine director.
The rest of the cast includes Judith Anderson (Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca") and Irene Ryan (Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies").