A Great Beauty Passed

As I don’t live in France I am almost two years behind finding out that this great beauty died in April of 2011. Marie-France Pisier wasn’t widely known to most Americans unless you happen to be a fan of “The Other Side of Midnight.” She seemed to be a cross between Catherine Deneuve and Audrey Hepburn. In fact, last evening while watching Catherine in “The Beloved,” (French 2011), I saw at the end that the credits mentioned Marie-France and I immediately researched this.

While I never got a chance to meet her, I did meet the man who played her leading partner in The Other Side of Midnight. I was managing a store in Montecito and I looked up just as he was walking in. Most actors  have that look when they know that you have recognized them. I said “Hey, didn’t you play Larry in the Other Side of Midnight?” This was not what he had expected to hear. It wasn’t widely acclaimed in America so he was surprised. I told him that this was the first rated R movie that my best friend and I were permitted to see. I explained that we were in awe of Marie-France’s beauty, next to Catherine D. they were two of the most beautiful women ever.

The other odd thing about this movie is that I had an ex-boyfriend who’s uncle had been one of the associate producers on the film. He too was stunned when I told him I was a great fan of this movie.

Alas, I never got to meet this woman but her personality and looks have captivated me over the years. I had seen her in a couple of other films and an interview and saw that her charisma from the screen seemed to play out in a more suttle way in real life. If you look at photos of her aging online you will see that she aged gracefully just like that of Catherine D.

What makes a woman so beautiful? To me it is someone who is so stunning that they could be a work of art. A person who carries them self with grace and charm. A woman who knows how to cross the room in a pair of pumps that are just the right heel height. They are elegant, well spoken, well mannered, well read, you imagine that they are fragile but know that they are not. Someone with this much to offer has to be very careful how she presents herself in public. It requires strict boundaries. Her sexuality is not so easily given away but when it is, it is the romantic scenes a girl dreams of. I am not thinking of the horrible rape scene in OSOM but some of the other scenes later on. If you get a chance to see this film, you won’t be sorry you did. Definitely a classic and one that should have been seen by more viewers than it did. It may be a Sidney Sheldon but I think it was probably one of his best. (Netflix 1977). She won a César for her work in Cousin, Cousine but unfortunately this is not available on Netflix.

• Posted in: Movies
• Tagged: Art, Arts, Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve, Celebrity, Film, France, Marie-France Pisier, Movies, Other Side of Midnight, United States, Women