Sacha Guitry exchanges his usual top hat for a uniform in Désiré, playing a cavalier valet embroiled in an awkward flirtation with his new employer (played by the actor-director's real-life wife, Jacqueline Delubac), who is involved with a stuffy politician. A carefree class farce filled with memorable supporting characters, Désiré blurs the distinction between upstairs and downstairs.
Writing
Guitry's dialogue sparkles like weaponized champagne.
Acting
Real married couple chemistry crackles through every scene.
Direction
Guitry directs himself with theatrical precision and ego.

Director
Sacha Guitry
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Guitry was the ultimate theatrical autocrat, writing, directing, and starring in his own films while critics called him an egomaniac and audiences called him genius.
Guitry and Delubac were in the middle of their brief, tempestuous marriage—she divorced him two years later, making their on-screen flirtations accidentally poignant.