Le Mouton Enragé de (1974)

Love at the Top (French: Le Mouton enragé, lit. 'The Rabid Sheep') is a 1974 satirical comedy-drama film directed by Mich...

Love at the Top (French: Le Mouton enragé, lit. 'The Rabid Sheep') is a 1974 satirical comedy-drama film directed by Michel Deville from a screenplay by Christopher Frank, based on the 1956 novel Le Mouton enragé by Roger Blondel.{full_page}

"Le Mouton enragé" (1974), also known as "The French Way" or "Love at the Top" in English, is a stylish French social satire directed by Michel Deville. The film explores the fluidity and fickleness of social status and wealth, using the unique setting of 1970s Paris as a backdrop.

The film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as Nicolas, a bank clerk with few prospects, and Romy Schneider as Maria, a beautiful woman who becomes an instrument in Nicolas' sudden rise in Parisian society. It's fascinating to watch the transformation of Nicolas from a meek underdog into a ruthless player in the world of finance and politics, a commentary perhaps on the corrupting nature of power.

"Le Mouton enragé" is a masterfully executed film, from the stylish costume and set designs that perfectly encapsulate the era, to the sharp and witty screenplay. Deville's film is filled with delicious ironies and sly commentary about the bourgeoisie, giving it a depth that persists beneath its stylish exterior.

Despite its satirical edge, "Le Mouton enragé" is also a character study. The performances are excellent across the board, with Trintignant and Schneider having a magnetic on-screen presence. Trintignant effectively portrays Nicolas' journey from innocence to cynicism, while Schneider's Maria is the embodiment of seduction and mystery, a woman who's seemingly a puppet in the men's world but possesses her own agency.

In short, "Le Mouton enragé" is an engaging social satire that combines sharp commentary with fascinating character study, all against the vibrant backdrop of 1970s Paris.

CAST

Jean-Louis Trintignant as Nicolas Mallet 

Jean-Pierre Cassel as Claude Fabre 

Romy Schneider as Roberte Groult 

Florinda Bolkan as Flora Danieli 

Jane Birkin as Marie-Paule 

Henri Garcin as Berthoud 

Michel Vitold as Georges Groult 

Jean-François Balmer as Vischenko 

Dominique Constanza  as Sabine 

Betty Berr as Sylvie 

Georges Beller as Marie-Paule's friend 

Estella Blain as Shirley Douglas 

Mary Marquet as Mme Hermens 

Georges Wilson as Lourceuil 

Gisèle Casadesus as Mme Lourceuil

Origin Wikipedia.....