Catherine & Co.

Catherine & Co.
Catherine & Co.
	French theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michel Boisrond
Screenplay by	Catherine Breillat; Léo L. Fuchs;
Based on	Catherine and CoEdouard De Segonzac
Produced by	Léo L. Fuchs
Starring	Jane Birkin; Patrick Dewaere; Jean-Pierre Aumont; Vittorio Caprioli; Jean-Claude Brialy; Nathalie Courval; Mehdi; Henri Garcin;
Cinematography	Richard Suzuki
Edited by	Jacques Witta
Music by	Vladimir Cosma
Production; companies	Viaduc Productions; Produzione Intercontinentale Cinematografica;
Distributed by	Warner-Columbia Film (France)
Release date	29 October 1975 (France);
Running time	100 minutes
Countries	France; Italy;
Language	French

Catherine & Co. (French: Catherine et Cie) is a 1975 sex comedy film directed by Michel Boisrond, Screenplay by Catherine Breillat and Léo L. Fuchs, based on a 1967 novel by Edouard De Segonzac. Starring Jane Birkin, Patrick Dewaere, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Vittorio Caprioli, and Jean-Claude Brialy.^[1]

Plot[]

Catherine is a young British prostitute who decides to make money living in Paris. After learning about corporate practices and business ins and outs from her clients, she decides to incorporate as an official escort business. Searching for people to invest in her scheme, she encounters both interest and setbacks.

Cast[]

Jane Birkin as Catherine
Patrick Dewaere as François
Jean-Pierre Aumont as Marquis Puisargue
Vittorio Caprioli as Moretti
Jean-Claude Brialy as Guillaume
Mehdi El Glaoui as Thomas
Henri Garcin as Robert Grandin
Dora Doll as Catherine's Mother
Hélène Duc as
Jacques Legras as The Gentleman
Jacques Marin as Car Rental Agency Owner
Bernard Musson Cartier Watch Salesman
Nathalie Courval as Mauve
Jacques Rosny as Jean-Pierre
Jean Barney as Bernard
Robert Favart
Alexandra Delli Colli as Osmane
Carlo Nell as Duguet
Maurice Travail as Driver's License Official

Reception[]

On the film's initial US release in February 1976, Richard Eder of The New York Times described the film as a "sex farce", "sloppy, ill-shaped and very familiar", but with an air of sincerity that allowed the audience to enjoy its positive attributes. Eder particularly praised the acting of Vittorio Caprioli as an Italian businessman who is one of the protagonist's lovers.^[2] On the other hand, John Simon's review for New York described Birkin as "a nasty baggage" and the film as "the most offensive dungheap masquerading as a movie to be seen in years, perhaps ever."^[3] In a review for Time Out, Geoff Brown said the film was "not hot enough to be a sexploiter, but not sophisticated enough to be anything better".^[4]

In a 2012 retrospective article about Birkin's films, Australian critic Simon Foster called Catherine & Co. "one of the key films in Birkin's extensive filmography to take advantage of her sexuality at the height of her fame".^[5]

References[]

^ The New York Times
^ Richard Eder, "Screen: 'Catherine & Co.,' Sex Farce:English Girl Is Lured by Vague Offers", The New York Times, February 26, 1976.
^ "Movies around town", New York, March 15, 1976 (excerpted from John Simon's review).
^ John Pym, ed. (2010). Time Out Film Guide 2011. Time Out Guides Limited. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-84670-208-2.
^ Simon Foster, "Retrospective: Jane Birkin", Special Broadcasting Service, March 16, 2012.

External links[]

Catherine & Co. at IMDb

[1] The New York Times

[2] Richard Eder, "Screen: 'Catherine & Co.,' Sex Farce:English Girl Is Lured by Vague Offers", The New York Times, February 26, 1976.

[3] "Movies around town", New York, March 15, 1976 (excerpted from John Simon's review).

[Pym2010-4] John Pym, ed. (2010). Time Out Film Guide 2011. Time Out Guides Limited. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-84670-208-2.

[5] Simon Foster, "Retrospective: Jane Birkin", Special Broadcasting Service, March 16, 2012.

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