Wednesday, December 29, 2004

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES




Biography
In French with English subtitles
Original title: Ma vie en cinemascope

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Pascale Bussières: Alys Robi, nee Alice Robitaille, born 1923
Serge Postigo: Oliver Guimond, vaudeville stage performer and Alys’ first lover
Denis Bernard: Lucio Agostini, well known orchestra leader

REVIEW
The movie spans the career of the first female French-Canadian to achieve international stardom. Even at the age of seven when she first performed in public, she had her eyes on the future. She chose her stage name “because it will be easier for Hollywood producers to pronounce when I make it big time”. She became famous for her Latin American repertoire with hits such as 'Tico-Tico', 'Amor, Amor', 'Besame mucho' and 'Jalousie’. It’s a very entertaining film with great singing throughout.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Up until 1979, Quebec license plates had to be replaced each year. The plate was valid for and could only be used during the year it was issued. During the movie year 1948 Alys gets into a black Ford having an illegal out-of-date 1944 license plate.

P.S.
The original title of the movie comes from the song based on her life sung by Diane Dufresne called "Alys in cinemascope"

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