Lac aux dames

Jean-Pierre Aumont was the Jeune Premier (romantic male young lead) of the thirties ,at a time the young actors were not necessarily at the top of the bill;most of the great works of that era featured experimented actors such as Harry Baur,Louis Jouvet,Michel Simon,Erich Von Stroheim (here present in a supporting part)...even Jean Gabin was in his thirties when he hit the big time in Julien Duvivier's films.It was not surprising Aumont was eclipsed by Louis Jouvet in "Hotel du Nord" (as his co-star Annabella was by Arletty).

Jean-Pierre Aumont portrays a lifeguard in "ladies lake".All the girls around are crazy about him.But he is a naive engineer on the dole who has given the plans of his invention to a shady man.And he's been waiting for his answer for one year.In the meanwhile,he falls in love with a rich man's daughter (Michel Simon/Rosine Derean);but across the lake,there lives a young girl (Simone Simon ,the future star of "La Bete Humaine" and "Cat people" );and in the hotel where he works,another one ,a blonde who appears topless in a bed-for that matter the film was ahead of its time;one wonders why the censorship did not ban it.The screenplay is not very satisfying,but the cinematography is pleasant with nice shots of the ladies lake.