Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueA young man falls in with a society whose principle is a complete disregard for work, and chaos ensues when the society decides to help run the hotel of his father.A young man falls in with a society whose principle is a complete disregard for work, and chaos ensues when the society decides to help run the hotel of his father.A young man falls in with a society whose principle is a complete disregard for work, and chaos ensues when the society decides to help run the hotel of his father.
Histoire
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesThis was Jean Simmons's film debut. She was selected from about two hundred applicants.
- Citations
Sascha: [Reads the White Elephants Oath to Peter Pyke] I solemnly promise not to notice anything anyone leaves undone. I promise to never use such phrases as, "Pull yourself together, man;" "Why don't you get a job;" "If I was in your place;" or any reference to the word, "work." Penalty for infringement, four pence. Should I find myself a useful member of society, I swear to inform the committee. All elephants are my brothers.
[He concludes]
Sascha: I now pronounce you a White Elephant.
- Crédits fousOpening credits: IF ANY CHARACTER IN THIS FILM RESEMBLES ANY CHARACTER, LIVING OR DEAD, THEN THAT CHARACTER HAS NO CHARACTER
Groucho Marx or Someone.
- ConnexionsReferences Casablanca (1942)
The script is as eccentric as they come, and the dialogue is very witty. It's nonsensical at times, but this only adds to the humour. The best part about this film though, is the wonderful characters. Nina's tall tales about her troubled childhood are hilarious, Sacha, the quintessential con-artist is great and Peter, a playboy with morals, is an excellent lead. For me though, the best character is the dry old fogey Ferdinand, who wouldn't look out of place as the professor of classics in a university, and whose whole life is dedicated to writing a thesis on jealousy. He never gets around to actually putting pen to paper, but he spends plenty of time doing research - by making love to married women and then observing their husbands' reactions. This habit results in him being challenged to a duel by one of his subjects' husbands, and the entire episode is hilarious.
The characters are very likable and I found myself empathising somewhat with their strange and sober logic. For example, Nina tells Peter that she wants her daughter to go to school, because school is where people are taught to be stupid. She wants her daughter to become stupid, she says, because only stupid people are happy. Thus the White Elephants provide an oblique and refreshing view of the world - a cynical picture of humanity from a fencesitter's perspective. The cares of the world do not bother this family of oddballs and by the end of the film, one almost feels as though there is something to be said for avoiding work and contributing nothing to society. The microcosm of the White Elephants Club seems like a much more pleasant place than the world around it. This weird and wonderful film, which is playfully directed, should not be missed!
- heebie_jeebies
- 25 juil. 2003
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Détails
- Date de sortie
- Pays d’origine
- Langue
- Aussi connu sous le nom de
- Daj nam księżyc
- Lieux de tournage
- Gainsborough Studios, Islington, Londres, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni(studio: made at the Gainsborough Studios, London)
- Société de production
- Voir plus de crédits d'entreprise sur IMDbPro
- Durée1 heure 35 minutes
- Couleur
- Rapport de forme
- 1.37 : 1