The precarious intersection between gambling and love quickly turns dangerous in the French new wave film Bay of Angels (La Baie des Anges). Directed and written by Jacques Demy, the film was shot in 1962 between two of Demy's masterpieces—Lola, his first film, and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
Bay of Angels co-stars Jeanne Moreau (above), as Jacqueline "Jackie" Demaistre, and Claude Mann, as Jean Fournier. Jackie is a hard-core roulette addict who uses her sexual appeal to raise cash during losing streaks. Jean is new to the game and falls hard for the wheel and Jackie.
The movie is a tale of addition and obsession, but the film's direction and Moreau should be your point of focus. From the opening credits, with the camera mounted on the back of a vehicle pulling away from Moreau to the interior and exterior scenes shot from various angles in Monte Carlo, the sophisticated film unfolds with suspense and nothing is telegraphed in advance. [Photo above of Jeanne Moreau and Claude Mann]
As for Moreau, she plays her part brilliantly—manic during winning streaks and manipulative and craven during deep lows. What begins glamorously soon becomes seedy, and a choice must be made. [Photo above of Jeanne Moreau]
A few notes: The costumes are by Pierre Cardin, and the music is by Michel Legrand. [Photo above of Jeanne Moreau behind the scenes in Monte Carlo while shooting Bay of Angels in 1962]
Here's Bay of Angels (1963)...
