The Sign of Leo
| The Sign of Leo | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Éric Rohmer |
| Produced by | Claude Chabrol |
| Written by | Éric Rohmer (scenario) Paul Gégauff (dialogue) |
| Starring |
Jess Hahn Michèle Girardon Van Doude |
| Music by | Louis Saguer |
| Cinematography | Nicholas Hayer |
| Edited by |
Anne-Marie Cotret Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Le Signe du lion (The Sign of Leo) is a French film directed by Éric Rohmer, his feature debut; although filmed in the summer of 1959, it was first released in France in May 1962. Along with Le Beau Serge, directed by Claude Chabrol (who produced The Sign of Leo), it was one of the first films of the French New Wave. The title refers to the Zodiac sign Leo, under which the protagonist says he was born. Much of the film's plot is concerned with notions of luck and fate. The film was not a commercial success and Rohmer didn't make another feature for 8 years, instead concentrating on short films and his position at the influential film magazine Cahiers du cinéma.
It stars Jess Hahn, Michèle Girardon, and Van Doude.
Pierre (Jess Hahn) is an American-born, 39-year-old bohemian and aspiring composer living in Paris. One morning he receives a telegram informing him that his wealthy aunt has died. Assuming that he has inherited her factories in Germany and Switzerland, he throws a lavish party with his friend Jean-Francois (Van Doude), a reporter for Paris-Match. Pierre borrows large sums of money, believing that he'll be able to pay everyone back with his inheritance; however, he soon discovers that his aunt left everything to his cousin. Penniless and abandoned by his friends, he soon finds himself homeless.
The film was photographed in black and white by Nicholas Hayer and printed at Laboratoires GTC in Joinville-le-Pont. Most of the shooting, including all outdoor scenes, was done on location. Rohmer, the eldest of the members of the Cahiers du cinéma circle of the Nouvelle Vague, was 38 at the time of production.
The film was produced by fellow New Wave director and Cahiers du cinéma critic Claude Chabrol through Ajym Films, which had produced his debut feature, Le Beau Serge and would go on to produce Paris nous appartient, the debut feature of their colleague and friend Jacques Rivette.
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