La Maternelle (International title: Children of Montmartre) is a 1933 French film directed and written by Jean Benoît-Lévy and Marie Epstein. It was adapted from Léon Frapié's Prix Goncourt winning novel La Maternelle (1904).[1] In 1935, it was ranked as the 6th best foreign film by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures,[2] and has received a 7.3 ranking (out of 10) by 71 reviewers at the Internet Movie Database.[3]

La Maternelle (Children of Montmartre)
Scene
Directed by	Jean Benoît-Lévy Marie Epstein
Written by	Screenplay: Jean Benoît-Lévy Marie Epstein Story: Léon Frapié
Starring	Madeleine Renaud
Cinematography	Georges Asselin
Music by	Edouard Flament
Distributed by	Denmark: Kosmofilm (1934) (theatrical) United States: Metropolis Pictures (1935) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
Release dates	France: 16 September 1933 (Paris) Germany: 12 October 1933 Austria: 25 March 1934 (Wien) Finland: 14 October 1934 United States: 14 October 1935 (New York City, New York) - Nationwide: 15 November 1935
Running time	83 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

Plot

Rose, a girl from a well off family faces a series of tragic events that leaves her penniless and without a home. She is hired as an attendant at a day-care center in Paris with 150 poor children. She finds herself tenderly caring for them and soon they become very fond of her. One young girl named Marie, who is the abandoned daughter of a prostitute, becomes so attached to Rose that she becomes jealous when anyone else steals Rose's attention. Marie even tries to kill herself when she learns of Rose's plans to marry Dr. Libois, the school's physician. Despite this, La Maternelle ultimately finds its way to a happy ending.[1]

Cast

• Madeleine Renaud - Rose
• Mady Berry - Mme. Paulin
• Alice Tissot - Superintendent
• Paulette Elambert - Marie Coeuret
• Henri Debain - Dr. Libois
• Edmond van Daele - Pantin
• Alex Bernard - Professor

Critical reviews

In 1935, the New York Times called it "a film of extraordinary insight, tenderness and tragic beauty", adding "Mr. Benoit-Levy presents a heart-breaking cross-section of this tatterdemalion kindergarten in such minor portraits as the little boy who has never learned how to smile."[4]

Also known as

• Children of Montmartre: International (English title)
• La maternelle: Italy (dubbed version)
• Moderhaender: Denmark
• Mutterhände: Germany

References