Désiré (1937) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A domestic comedy follows a theatrical valet whose fascination with Odette unfolds alongside the household's overheard secrets and her conflict with the minister.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Household Needs Help

Adrien and Mme Henriette discuss their Deauville trip and the problem of traveling without a valet. They reorganize the domestic staff and seek additional help.

Key Events

• Album of Household Images — The film introduces the household and acknowledges the craftsmen who created the film. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: The household
• The Corniche Household — The story settles in the home of Adrien and Mme Henriette Corniche. Characters: Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• Plans for Deauville — The couple discusses a trip to Deauville and the problem of traveling without a valet. Characters: Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• Domestic Duties Rearranged — Adèle is assigned to the sitting and dining rooms while Madeleine takes serving duties. Characters: Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• A Vacancy Opens — The household looks for additional help because its domestic staffing is insufficient. Characters: Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• Désiré Applies — Désiré applies for the vacant valet position with a reference from his former employer. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home

Désiré Enters the House

Désiré applies for the vacant position with Comtesse Diepchinska's reference. He is hired despite his salary demands and quickly becomes a theatrical, observant presence among the servants.

Key Events

• Désiré Applies — Désiré applies for the vacant valet position with a reference from his former employer. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• The Reference Arrives — Comtesse Diepchinska serves as Désiré's former employer and professional reference. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Comtesse Diepchinska Location: Corniche home
• Désiré Is Hired — Désiré is hired despite requesting a relatively high salary. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adrien Corniche, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home
• A Theatrical New Servant — Désiré proves observant and theatrical while becoming involved in the household's servant conversations. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre Location: Corniche home
• Odette Draws Attention — Désiré becomes particularly fascinated by Odette, who is connected to the family. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home
• Servants Trade Observations — The servants tease one another about employers, romantic interests, and concealed meanings. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre Location: Corniche home

Secrets Behind the Walls

Désiré becomes fascinated by Odette, while the servants tease one another and overhear private conversations. Odette prepares for an evening gathering in the household.

Key Events

• Servants Trade Observations — The servants tease one another about employers, romantic interests, and concealed meanings. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre Location: Corniche home
• Désiré's Dreamed Attraction — Désiré indirectly reveals through dreams that Odette has made a strong impression on him. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home
• Voices Through the House — The servants overhear private conversations through the floors and walls. Characters: Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre Location: Floors and walls of the household
• Odette Prepares for Evening — Odette carefully prepares herself for an evening out while Désiré remains attentive to her. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac, Désiré, le valet de chambre Location: Corniche home
• Waiting for Adrien — The household waits for Adrien to return during the evening gathering. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien, Désiré, le valet de chambre Location: Corniche home

The Offensive Proposal

The minister offers Odette one million francs to accompany him to Egypt and insists that the offer is motivated by love. Odette is offended by the comparison with prostitution.

Key Events

• The Million-Franc Proposal — The minister offers Odette one million francs to accompany him to Egypt. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home
• Odette Rejects the Comparison — Odette is deeply offended when the proposal is compared with prostitution. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home
• A Conditional Marriage Promise — The minister says he may soon cease to be a minister and promises to marry Odette if that happens. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home

A Bitter Departure

The minister leaves abruptly for Paris after promising to return for lunch. Odette hides the nature of the departure from the household, goes to bed, and condemns his boorish behavior.

Key Events

• The Abrupt Departure — The minister abruptly leaves for Paris and promises to return for lunch. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac Location: Corniche home and Paris
• Odette's Bitter Night — Odette tells the household he left on urgent business, goes to bed, and condemns his boorish behavior. Characters: Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac, Désiré, le valet de chambre, Adèle, la cuisinière, Madeleine, la femme de chambre, Mme Henriette Corniche, épouse d'Adrien Location: Corniche home

Story Breakdown

• Corniche Household — The film introduces the home, its married owners, and its domestic staff.
  • Household Introduction — The opening presents the mistress, master, maid, cook, and valet within the film's image-based world.
  • Married Household — Adrien and Mme Henriette Corniche discuss their home and upcoming travel.
• Deauville Preparations — Travel plans expose the household's need for a valet and lead to staff reorganization.
  • Travel Without Valet — Adrien and Mme Henriette discuss the difficulty of going to Deauville without a valet.
  • Staff Reorganization — Adèle and Madeleine receive revised duties while the household looks for additional help.
• Désiré's Arrival — Désiré enters the household through a professional reference and negotiates his employment.
  • Former Employer Reference — Comtesse Diepchinska is identified as Désiré's former employer and reference.
  • High Salary Demand — Désiré is hired despite his relatively high salary demands.
• Servant Observations — The servants create a comic network of teasing, questions, and overheard private conversations.
  • Theatrical Valet — Désiré is observant and theatrical after joining the household.
  • Secrets Through Walls — The servants overhear private conversations through the floors and walls.
• Désiré's Fascination — Désiré's attention centers on Odette, whose presence affects his imagination and behavior.
  • Odette's Strong Impression — Désiré indirectly admits that Odette has made a powerful impression on him.
  • Dreamed Attraction — His fascination with Odette emerges through dreams rather than a direct declaration.
• Odette's Evening Crisis — The evening gathering turns into a confrontation over money, love, and social respectability.
  • Million-Franc Offer — The minister offers Odette one million francs to accompany him to Egypt.
  • Offended Dignity — Odette rejects the comparison with prostitution and condemns the minister's behavior.
• Abrupt Departure — The minister leaves for Paris, leaving Odette to manage the household's understanding of the event.
  • Conditional Marriage — He promises marriage if he ceases to be a minister.
  • Bitter Bedtime — Odette claims he left on urgent business, goes to bed, and bitterly condemns him.

Directed by

Sacha Guitry

Key Cast

• Sacha Guitry — Désiré, le valet de chambre
• Jacqueline Delubac — Odette Cléry, maitresse du ministre Montignac
• Jacques Baumer — Félix Montignac, ministre des P.T.T.
• Pauline Carton — Adèle, la cuisinière
• Saturnin Fabre — Adrien Corniche