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French Cancan (1954)
French Cancan (1954) poster
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French Cancan (1954)

Comedy, Drama, Romance, Music • 1h 42m

Overview

Nineteenth-century Paris comes vibrantly alive in Jean Renoir’s exhilarating tale of the opening of the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. Jean Gabin plays the wily impresario Danglard, who makes the cancan all the rage while juggling the love of two beautiful women—an Egyptian belly-dancer and a naive working girl turned cancan star.

Director: Jean Renoir

Cast: Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix, Anna Amendola, Jean-Roger Caussimon, Dora Doll, Giani Esposito, Gaston Gabaroche, Jacques Jouanneau, Jean Parédès, Franco Pastorino, Michèle Philippe, Michel Piccoli, Albert Rémy, France Roche, Jean-Marc Tennberg, Valentine Tessier, Philippe Clay, Édith Piaf, Patachou, Cora Vaucaire, André Claveau, Mario Juillard, Jean Raymond, Martine Alexis, Claude Arnay, Robert Auboyneau, Bruno Balp, Maurice Barnay, Laurence Bataille, Claude Berri, Dorothée Blanck, Geneviève Bujold, Léo Campion, Jaque Catelain, René-Jean Chauffard, Jacques Ciron, Max Dalban, Sylvine Delannoy, Hubert Deschamps, Valentino Garavani, Henri-Roland Hercé, Jacques Hilling, Corinne Jansen, Jedlinska, Lydia Johnson, François Joux, Maïa Jusanova, Ursula Vian-Kübler, Palmyre Levasseur, Jacques Marin, Paul Mercey, Anne-Marie Mersen, Gaston Modot, Pierre Moncorbier, Annik Morice, Jean Mortier, Michèle Nadal, André Numès, Pierre Olaf, René Pascal, André Philip, Jean Sylvère, Rosy Varte, Madame Pâquerette

Best English-Friendly Release

BFI Blu-ray (flawed restoration)

Best Video Release

BFI or Gaumont Blu-ray (both from the same flawed restoration)

Best Audio Release

Additional Info

The BFI and Gaumont Blu-ray releases are both from the same restoration by Éclair. Although this restoration is much superior in detail to the old Criterion DVD, like many Éclair restorations, it has issues with colour. There is a definite yellow cast to the footage, making skin tones appear sickly and dampening the impact of the colour. The image is also murkier than the Criterion

As Renoir scholar Tag Gallagher notes: "I talked a lot toward the end about the light blue walls (Criterion); but when I got the BFI blu I was greatly deflated, because the walls are light gray!"

That said, as visible in the screen caps at DVD Beaver, the Criterion has compromised colour too, and often looks too blue/magenta. There is a regraded edition of the BFI Blu-ray out there on the high seas.

The audio on the Blu-ray releases is slightly compressed, but better than earlier DVD releases and relatively full frequency.

The BFI is most likely the best English-friendly release as it includes English subtitles for the bonus features.

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #444
2025: #451
2024: #440
2023: #426
2022: #426

Length

102 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Only the French Can, French Can-Can

Last Updated

23 days ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

BFI Blu-ray (flawed restoration)

Best Video Release

BFI or Gaumont Blu-ray (both from the same flawed restoration)

Best Audio Release
Additional Info

The BFI and Gaumont Blu-ray releases are both from the same restoration by Éclair. Although this restoration is much superior in detail to the old Criterion DVD, like many Éclair restorations, it has issues with colour. There is a definite yellow cast to the footage, making skin tones appear sickly and dampening the impact of the colour. The image is also murkier than the Criterion

As Renoir scholar Tag Gallagher notes: "I talked a lot toward the end about the light blue walls (Criterion); but when I got the BFI blu I was greatly deflated, because the walls are light gray!"

That said, as visible in the screen caps at DVD Beaver, the Criterion has compromised colour too, and often looks too blue/magenta. There is a regraded edition of the BFI Blu-ray out there on the high seas.

The audio on the Blu-ray releases is slightly compressed, but better than earlier DVD releases and relatively full frequency.

The BFI is most likely the best English-friendly release as it includes English subtitles for the bonus features.

Format
1080p Blu-ray
TSPDT
2026: #444
2025: #451
2024: #440
2023: #426
2022: #426
Length
102 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Only the French Can, French Can-Can
Last Updated
23 days ago
Contributors

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Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

The 2023 BFI Blu-ray and Criterion Blu-ray are similar, from the same restoration.

The audio on the 2005 StudioCanal DVD is still the best version of the audio.

Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

2005 StudioCanal DVD > Criterion

Additional Info:

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The audio on the 2005 StudioCanal DVD is still the best version of the audio.

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Best Audio:

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Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

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French Cancan (1954) backdrop

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