A fascinating portrait of gambling addiction, marred by a simplistic and implausible happy ending.
Fresh off of her star turn in 1962's "Jules et Jim," Jeanne Moreau is riveting as Jackie, a casino habitué who has given up her husband and son for the thrill of the roulette table. She's as dead on the inside as she is sexy in her Pierre Cardin suit.
Joining in her debauchery along the French Riviera is Jean (Claude Moran), who, although initially reticent to part with his cash, gets sucked into the betting habit after a couple big, easy wins.
"Bay of Angels" examines this dysfunctional couple's appalling ups and downs, as they exult over a ball hitting lucky-number 17; walk away zombified when they lose hundreds of thousands of francs on a single bet, hock everything they own -- from a sportscar down to a watch -- for one more chance at luck, and alienate everyone they know as they grovel for a loan.
Director Jacques Demy is better-known for colorful musicals like "Les parapluies de Cherbourg," but this film showed his potential with more sober material. His taking a gamble on a happy ending parallels the poor judgment of his protagonists here. An earlier reviewer recommends "The Lady Gambles" as a better movie on the betting sickness, and I'm eager to see it.
Despite its serious flaw, "Bay of Angels" is worth seeing. As when one is in a real casino, you won't be checking your watch. It makes a good companion piece to the similarly themed "Tricheurs" of 1984.
Fresh off of her star turn in 1962's "Jules et Jim," Jeanne Moreau is riveting as Jackie, a casino habitué who has given up her husband and son for the thrill of the roulette table. She's as dead on the inside as she is sexy in her Pierre Cardin suit.
Joining in her debauchery along the French Riviera is Jean (Claude Moran), who, although initially reticent to part with his cash, gets sucked into the betting habit after a couple big, easy wins.
"Bay of Angels" examines this dysfunctional couple's appalling ups and downs, as they exult over a ball hitting lucky-number 17; walk away zombified when they lose hundreds of thousands of francs on a single bet, hock everything they own -- from a sportscar down to a watch -- for one more chance at luck, and alienate everyone they know as they grovel for a loan.
Director Jacques Demy is better-known for colorful musicals like "Les parapluies de Cherbourg," but this film showed his potential with more sober material. His taking a gamble on a happy ending parallels the poor judgment of his protagonists here. An earlier reviewer recommends "The Lady Gambles" as a better movie on the betting sickness, and I'm eager to see it.
Despite its serious flaw, "Bay of Angels" is worth seeing. As when one is in a real casino, you won't be checking your watch. It makes a good companion piece to the similarly themed "Tricheurs" of 1984.