Review of Club de femmes

CLUB DE FEMMES is a light comedy-drama about a women's residence similar to HOTEL FOR WOMEN or STAGE DOOR [minus the stage context and the witty repartee]. The 19 year-old Danielle Darrieux is charming [and gets top billing] as a dancer trying to sneak her boyfriend in "where no man can enter". More dramatic plot threads involve a tortured lesbian, a Danish gold-digger, and a switchboard operator who fronts for some kind of call-girl racket. Enjoyable for its fast pace, its generous acceptance of unwed motherhood [though not lesbianhood], and an elaborate Art Deco set. The director misses few opportunities to display cheesecake in bathing suits, nighties, and bath towels. The U.S. release print I saw runs only 88 minutes, which suggests some transatlantic cutting [this could explain some odd leaps in the plot].