)
1963 - THE BALCONY
85min
Prod: Joseph Strick , Ben Maddow
Dir: Joseph strick
Madam Irma: Shelly Winters
Chief of Police: Peter Falk
Roger: Leonard Nimoy
Carmen: Lee Grant
A brothel run by Madame Irma offers refuge to those who seek fantasy and fulfillment while a revolution let by the rebel leader Roger is going on in the country. A gas station attendant can be a Greek orthodox bishop there provided with all necessary costumes, a milkman becomes a general and an accountant may be Chief Justice with all which is required to pretend a real situation. These three are even made to show off in a car ride for an official appearance as their real counterparts because the chief of police (Peter Falk), who's a client in the brothel and a friend of Mme Irma, wants to demonstrate order with their help though he is wounded.
) |
) |
) |
)
Carmen is a former prostitute who's now working in Mme Irma's office with knowledge of all
customers and a good salary, )
but prefers her former involvement to her work now because she
wants to be with "the one with the eyes" (Roger) who's come into the brothel too when defeated
outside. Roger wants to play the chief of police and gets his uniform which no one wanted to
wear before. Carmen tries to advance towards Roger and when she seems to succeed, the chief
of police who was watching together with Madame Irma, interrupts the moment. He fears that his uniform might be disgraced. Both start discussing and then quarreling
about their ideals getting ready for action against each other.
) |
) |
) |
)
The ladies in the brothel
become worried, but Mme Irma reminds them: "Don't forget that nothing is real here".
)
As the two men begin to attack each other violently, Irma ring the alarm and all the ladies
get all over the two men stripping them off their clothes. "Irma will not allow death, the
one ultimate reality, at the Balcony". The two men hide together, get thrown some bath towels
and slowly leave the Balcony discussing "power" – like friends. Even agreeing that the
gunfire in the background might come from some other fraction. Mme Irma closes the film
by addressing the audience: Their illusions at home are even less realistic than hers at
the Balcony.
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
