The Young Girls Of Rochefort: -1967- Criterion -... [better]

The Criterion Collection edition of Jacques Demy's The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)

features a variety of supplemental materials and technical upgrades. Special Edition Features

2K Digital Restoration: Features a high-definition transfer with a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.

The Young Girls Turn 25: A 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda that revisits the town of Rochefort 25 years after the original production.

Archival Interviews: A 1966 French television interview with director Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand discussing the film's music.

Behind the Screen: An episode from a 1966 Belgian television series documenting the making of the film, including behind-the-scenes footage of choreography and sets.

Costume Design Conversation: A 2014 discussion between Demy biographer Jean-Pierre Berthomé and costume designer Jacqueline Moreau.

Jonathan Rosenbaum Essay: A printed essay by the film critic, included in the accompanying booklet.

Original Trailer: The theatrical trailer for the film's restoration. Sounding Cinema - Apple Podcasts

Jacques Demy’s 1967 musical masterpiece, The Young Girls of Rochefort Les Demoiselles de Rochefort ), is a centerpiece of the Criterion Collection

. A colorful homage to Hollywood’s Golden Age, the film stars real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac as twins seeking love and adventure in their seaside town. Amazon.com Availability and Features

You can find the film in several formats through the Criterion Collection: Standalone Edition : Available on and Blu-ray, featuring a 2K digital restoration. Essential Jacques Demy Box Set : Included alongside other Demy classics like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg : Periodically available to stream on the Criterion Channel Notable Bonus Content

The Criterion release is packed with supplemental material that dives deep into the film's production and legacy: The Young Girls Turn 25

: A 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda (Demy's widow) capturing the town’s anniversary celebrations. Behind the Screen : A 1966 episode showing rare behind-the-scenes footage of the production. Archival Interviews

: Discussions with director Jacques Demy, composer Michel Legrand, and costume designer Jacqueline Moreau. Critical Essays

: Includes "The Young Girls of Rochefort: Not the Same Old Song and Dance" by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. The Criterion Collection Cultural Impact High and Low - The Criterion Collection

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) is director Jacques Demy’s effervescent masterpiece, a candy-colored tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals. Released by The Criterion Collection as spine #717, this high-definition restoration breathes new life into the film’s iconic pastel palette and jazz-infused score, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of French cinema.

The Young Girls of Rochefort (The Criterion Collection ... - Amazon.com Amazon.com

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) | The Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection Criterion's "The Essential Jacques Demy" Roger Ebert The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) - Scene by Green SceneByGreen

Critics in 1967 were divided. Some found Kelly’s presence jarring—a slab of American beefsteak in a delicate French soufflé. But viewed today, his role is the film’s thesis statement. Demy isn’t just making a French musical; he is arguing that joy is a universal language. When Kelly dances with Dorléac on a soundstage designed to look like a traveling carnival, the artifice is the point. They are not in Rochefort; they are in the shared dream of cinema. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...

The Criterion Collection Treatment

The Criterion Collection edition is the definitive way to experience the film. Key features usually included in their releases are:

• 4K Digital Restoration: The transfer was supervised by director Jacques Demy’s widow, filmmaker Agnès Varda, ensuring the colors remain true to the original artistic vision.
• Audio: An uncompressed monaural soundtrack that preserves the clarity of Legrand’s score.
• Supplements: Insightful interviews with Demy, composer Michel Legrand, and Catherine Deneuve, offering a look behind the scenes at the choreography and production design.

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)

Director: Jacques Demy
Starring: Françoise Dorléac, Catherine Deneuve, Gene Kelly, Michel Piccoli, and George Chakiris
Label: The Criterion Collection

The Synthesis of Song and Sea If The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) was Jacques Demy’s tragic opera in candy-colored pastels, then The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) is his euphoric American musical dropped into the heart of provincial France. Released in 1967 and now preserved in stunning high-definition by the Criterion Collection, this film is a dazzling celebration of chance, coincidence, and the unstoppable rhythm of life.

Unlike its predecessor, where every line of dialogue is sung in recitative, Rochefort utilizes a more traditional musical structure—spoken dialogue intercut with elaborate song-and-dance numbers. Yet, Demy’s signature touch remains: the colors are hyper-saturated, the romance is destined, and the melancholy of missed connections lingers just beneath the surface of the brightest smile.

A Town Painted in Primary Colors The film takes place over a single weekend in the seaside town of Rochefort. The setting is a character in itself; Demy famously had the town repainted for the shoot, dressing the gray French architecture in vibrant blues, pinks, yellows, and greens to match the costumes of his actors. Under the cinematography of Ghislain Cloquet, the screen vibrates with energy.

The plot weaves together the lives of twin sisters, Solange and Delphine Garnier (played by real-life sisters Françoise Dorléac and Catherine Deneuve). They teach piano and dance, respectively, but dream of finding success and true love in Paris. Around them orbits a kaleidoscope of characters: a charming fairground worker (George Chakiris), an American composer passing through (Gene Kelly), a lovelorn shopkeeper (Michel Piccoli), and a mysterious murderer subplot that adds a jarring, almost Hitchcockian tension to the whimsy.

The Score of a Lifetime The music by Michel Legrand is nothing short of iconic. The main theme, with its distinctive clavichord hook, is one of the most recognizable melodies in French cinema history. The songs drive the narrative forward, expressing a longing for "the ideal man" or the excitement of "the fair." The choreography, led by Norman Maen, is robust and athletic, utilizing the open spaces of the town square and the traveling fair in a way that feels distinctly un-theatrical yet entirely staged. It captures the 1960s optimism where pop art and jazz collided.

An All-Star Crossover The Young Girls of Rochefort serves as a bridge between French New Wave cinema and the Golden Age of Hollywood. The casting of Gene Kelly—a legend of the American musical—opposite rising French stars creates a magical friction. Kelly’s presence grounds the film in the tradition of MGM musicals, while Deneuve and Dorléac represent the chic modernity of swinging sixties Europe.

A Bittersweet Legacy Watching the film today, particularly through Criterion’s meticulous restoration, is a bittersweet experience. It captures the luminous Françoise Dorléac (Catherine Deneuve’s older sister) at the height of her talent and beauty. Tragically, Dorléac died in a car accident shortly after completing the film. Her presence adds a layer of haunting poignancy; every smile and every note she sings feels preserved in amber, a testament to a star extinguished too soon.

The Criterion Treatment The Criterion Collection release restores the film to its original Technicolor glory, stripping away years of faded prints to reveal the bold palette Demy intended. The audio is crisp, allowing Legrand’s complex orchestrations to breathe. The release typically includes essential supplements, such as archival interviews with Demy and Legrand, a documentary on the making of the film, and discussions on the film’s restoration, providing context for the labor of love that preserved this masterpiece.

Conclusion The Young Girls of Rochefort is a film about the "what ifs" of life—lovers who pass on the street, missed glances, and the precise timing required for destiny to take hold. It is a work of unadulterated joy, polished to a high gloss, yet possessing the soul of a true artist. For cinephiles, it remains the ultimate French musical—a movie that doesn't just ask you to watch, but asks you to dance along.

Report: The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) – Criterion Collection Edition

1. Overview

• Original Title: Les Demoiselles de Rochefort
• Director: Jacques Demy
• Country: France
• Language: French (with English subtitles in the Criterion release)
• Runtime: 125 minutes (Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)
• Release Date (Original): March 8, 1967 (France)
• Criterion Collection Number: 715 (Blu-ray and DVD)

2. Synopsis

The Young Girls of Rochefort is a Technicolor musical romance that follows twin sisters, Delphine (Catherine Deneuve) and Solange (Françoise Dorléac), who dream of leaving their quiet Atlantic coastal town of Rochefort for the glamour and artistic opportunities of Paris. Delphine seeks true love; Solange aspires to be a renowned composer.

Over the course of a single weekend during a summer fair, their paths cross—often narrowly—with several charming men: Maxence (Jacques Perrin), a sensitive painter and poet who has drawn the face of his ideal woman (who unknowingly resembles Delphine); Simon Dame (Michel Piccoli), a music publisher; and an American composer, Andy Miller (Gene Kelly). Meanwhile, their mother, Yvonne (Danielle Darrieux), who runs a café, rekindles feelings for a former lover. The film is a tapestry of missed connections, mistaken identities, and joyous coincidences, all leading to an exuberant, dance-filled finale.

3. Criterion Collection Presentation

The Criterion edition presents the film in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (widescreen CinemaScope) on Blu-ray with a restored 4K digital transfer supervised by cinematographer Ghislain Cloquet. The audio is an uncompressed monaural soundtrack (LPCM 1.0). Key features include:

• New 4K digital restoration – Vibrant, accurate reproduction of the film’s candy-colored palette.
• Original French audio with optional English subtitles (plus English-dubbed track for Gene Kelly’s songs).
• Audio commentary featuring film scholar and Demy biographer Jean-Pierre Berthomé.
• Two short films by Agnès Varda – Les Fiancés du pont Mac Donald (1961) and L’Opéra-Mouffe (1958).
• Interview excerpts with Jacques Demy from 1964 and 1967.
• Featurettes: The Young Girls Turn 25 (1993, Agnès Varda’s documentary on the film’s legacy) and Donkey Skin bonus content (as a related Demy-Deneuve collaboration).
• Trailers and radio spots.

4. Critical and Historical Significance

• Musical Innovation: Unlike Hollywood musicals of the era, Demy’s film features all dialogue sung (recitative style, composed by Michel Legrand), merging operetta with everyday conversation. The songs advance the plot organically.
• Visual Style: The film is a masterpiece of color design. Entire town squares and buildings were repainted in pastel pinks, yellows, and blues to create a heightened, utopian reality. Every frame is meticulously composed.
• Choreography: Gene Kelly, at Demy’s request, choreographed the American-style dance numbers, most notably the balletic “Les Amants Parallèles” sequence on a rotating set piece. This marks Kelly’s only non-English-language film role.
• Tragic Subtext: While joyous on the surface, the film is infused with melancholy. The real-life death of Françoise Dorléac (the sister of Catherine Deneuve) in a car accident a few months before the film’s release lends an irreversible poignancy to the twin dynamic. Demy often used artifice to explore deep emotional vulnerability.
• Influence: The film is a touchstone for later “sun-drenched” musicals and directors like Damien Chazelle (La La Land directly references its opening crane shot and color palette) and Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch).

5. Strengths of the Criterion Edition

• Unmatched restoration: The 4K transfer corrects previous home video issues (faded colors, compression artifacts) and renders the CinemaScope compositions with sharp, gorgeous detail.
• Context-rich supplements: Agnès Varda’s documentary The Young Girls Turn 25 is essential, tracing the cast’s return to Rochefort for a 25th-anniversary celebration and reflecting on Dorléac’s legacy.
• Scholarly commentary: Berthomé’s track provides deep production history, including the logistical nightmare of painting an entire town and Legrand’s compositional process.
• No forced dubbing: The original French track is prioritized; the English dub is optional.

6. Weaknesses / Considerations

• Slow pacing for modern audiences: At 125 minutes with near-continuous sung dialogue, some viewers may find the middle act slower than Hollywood musicals.
• No isolated score track: The Criterion lacks a separate music-only audio option, which would be appreciated given Legrand’s iconic score.
• Limited digital extras compared to later Criterion releases (no video essays on Demy’s use of color, for example).

7. Conclusion

The Young Girls of Rochefort is not merely a musical; it is a cinematic prayer to chance, art, and the bittersweet optimism of youth. The Criterion Collection’s edition is the definitive home video release, presenting Jacques Demy’s masterpiece with the vibrant, restorative care it deserves. For cinephiles, fans of French New Wave-adjacent cinema, and lovers of Technicolor musicals, this release is essential.

Final Rating (for the Criterion release): ★★★★½ (4.5/5) – A near-flawless presentation of a joyful, wistful classic.

Keywords: Jacques Demy, Michel Legrand, Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Gene Kelly, French musical, Criterion Collection, Technicolor, cinema du look, romantic coincidence.

Conclusion: A Timeless Antidote

In an era of cynical reboots and grey superhero blockbusters, The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) feels like a revolutionary act. It insists that beauty is not frivolous, that melody is not escapism, and that a twin sister’s smile is worth capturing in the highest possible definition.

The Criterion Collection has done more than preserve a film; they have preserved a specific frequency of happiness. To watch this restored version is to understand why Jacques Demy is a saint to directors from Damien Chazelle (La La Land owes this film its entire color palette) to Wes Anderson.

So, pour a pastis, turn up the Michel Legrand soundtrack, and prepare to be blinded by the light of Rochefort. You will leave with the "Chanson des Jumelles" stuck in your head for a week. And you won’t mind at all.

Keywords integrated: The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Jacques Demy, Michel Legrand, Gene Kelly, French New Wave musical, Criterion Collection restoration.

The Criterion Collection edition of Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) is available as a standalone Blu-ray/DVD or as part of "The Essential Jacques Demy" box set. This release features 2K digital restoration

and a comprehensive suite of historical and retrospective supplements The Criterion Collection Criterion Special Features

The following supplements are included in the Criterion edition: The Young Girls Turn 25

: A feature-length 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda (Demy’s widow). It revisits the town of Rochefort for the film's 25th anniversary, featuring interviews with stars like Catherine Deneuve and behind-the-scenes stories from the production. Behind the Screen

: Part two of a 1966 six-part Belgian television series about the film's production. It includes rare footage of rehearsals, set construction, and production designer Bernard Evein discussing his vibrant pastel aesthetics. Archival Interview (1966)

: A French television segment featuring director Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand discussing their collaboration and the film's jazz-infused score. Jacqueline Moreau & Jean-Pierre Berthomé

: A 2014 conversation between Demy's biographer and the film's costume designer, focusing on the iconic "pastel paradise" of the wardrobe. Theatrical Trailer : The original promotional trailer for the film. Printed Essay

: A booklet (or foldout) featuring "Not the Same Old Song and Dance," an essay by renowned film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum The Criterion Collection Technical Specifications

Jacques Demy’s 1967 film The Young Girls of Rochefort is a stylized, pastel-colored musical that operates as both a joyous tribute to and a subversive take on the Hollywood musical tradition, set against a backdrop of complex human connection and fleeting chance. Despite its vibrant, romantic exterior, the film, starring sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac, explores underlying themes of existential anxiety, missed connections, and the somber realities of life, often described as a "darkly French" comedy. For more insights into this classic, visit the Criterion Collection.

Jacques Demy's 1967 film The Young Girls of Rochefort Les demoiselles de Rochefort

) is a vibrant, candy-colored tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals, famously starring real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac. Set in the seaside town of Rochefort, the story follows twins Delphine and Solange Garnier—a dance instructor and a music teacher—who dream of escaping their provincial lives for fame and romance in Paris. Criterion Collection edition The Criterion Collection edition of Jacques Demy's The

of this film features a high-definition digital restoration and extensive supplemental materials that delve into the film's production and legacy. Key Highlights of the Criterion Release Agnès Varda’s The Young Girls Turn 25

A poignant 1993 documentary by Demy’s widow, Agnès Varda, that reunites cast members and locals to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary while reflecting on the production and the tragic loss of Françoise Dorléac shortly after the film's release. Restored Visuals and Audio:

A 2K digital restoration and a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio track that emphasizes Michel Legrand’s iconic, jazzy score. Historical Context:

Includes a 1966 French TV interview with Demy and Legrand, as well as a modern conversation with Demy’s biographer and the film's costume designer. Scholarly Essay: A printed essay by renowned film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum

, providing deep analysis of the film’s "musical logic" and its place in French cinema. Film Significance

Legacy: All the World’s a Décor

The Young Girls of Rochefort has aged into a curious artifact: a musical about failure that feels like a triumph. Damien Chazelle has cited its color palette for La La Land; Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch owes a debt to its theatricalized streets. But the film’s true heir is perhaps the lonely viewer who, after the final curtain call (and that breathtaking crane shot lifting over the sisters’ departing bus), rewinds to the opening number. Because Rochefort is a film that does not end—it only loops. Like the carnival’s mechanical organ, like the twins’ unanswered letters, like Dorléac’s ghost.

The Young Girls of Rochefort is now streaming on The Criterion Channel and available on Blu-ray (4K restoration). For those who believe the musical is a frivolous genre, Demy leaves his parting shot: “La vie, c’est la vie. Mais la la la vie…” — Life is life. But la la la life… is another story.

Rating (Criterion Edition): ★★★★ ½ (Essential for all musical lovers and French New Wave completists) Final Note: Do not skip the restoration demonstration. Watching the “before” footage—faded, pinkish, flat—is necessary to appreciate the miracle of the “after.”

The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray release of The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) features a 2K digital restoration of Jacques Demy’s musical, starring Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, and Gene Kelly. This edition includes special features such as the 1993 documentary "The Young Girls Turn 25" and archival interviews with Demy and composer Michel Legrand. For more details, visit Criterion Collection.

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) - The Criterion Collection

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967): A Pastel Masterpiece in the Criterion Collection

Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) is a cinematic explosion of color, jazz, and joy. Released in 1967, this French musical serves as a spiritual successor to Demy's 1964 hit The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but trades that film’s operatic heartbreak for a whirlwind of "missed connections" and pure Hollywood-inspired spectacle. The Criterion Collection Restoration

The Criterion Collection has worked tirelessly to restore this film to its former glory. Given Criterion's mission to publish important classic and contemporary films with the highest technical quality, their edition of The Young Girls of Rochefort is widely considered the definitive way to experience the film. The restoration highlights:

Vibrant Color Palette: The sun-drenched pastels of the coastal town of Rochefort are sharper than ever.

High-Fidelity Audio: Michel Legrand’s iconic jazz score is presented in a way that captures every nuance of the orchestration.

Original Supplements: Like many titles in the catalog, this release includes award-winning supplements, such as behind-the-scenes documentaries and interviews with the cast. A Convergence of Legends

The film is notable for its incredible ensemble cast, bringing together French cinema royalty and Hollywood icons:

Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac: The real-life sisters play Delphine and Solange Garnier, twin sisters teaching music and dance in Rochefort. Sadly, this was Dorléac's final film before her tragic death shortly after its release.

Gene Kelly: In a nod to the MGM musicals that inspired him, Demy cast the Singin' in the Rain star as Andy Miller, an American pianist who falls for Solange.

Michel Legrand: His score is the heartbeat of the film, blending traditional French sensibilities with American big-band jazz. Why It Matters Today Gene Kelly in France: The Bridge to Hollywood

In an era of gritty realism, The Young Girls of Rochefort remains a vital reminder of cinema's power to enchant. As a standout entry in the Criterion Collection, it is frequently featured in community events like the Criterion Challenge, where fans celebrate "exemplary films of their kind".

Whether you are a lifelong cinephile or a newcomer to French New Wave, Demy’s masterpiece—available on the Criterion Channel and in physical formats—is an essential watch that proves happiness can be just as profound as sorrow. General | FAQ | The Criterion Collection