A charmingly amoral club owner sets his sights — amorous and financial — on a beautiful, naïve blue collar girl and propels her to the height of celebrity thanks to her titillating dance skills.

It may sound like a contemporary, cutting edge urban drama, but French Cancan was made in 1956 by famed director Jean Renoir. The movie — a darkish comedy with a progressive take on sexuality — chronicles the birth of the Moulin Rouge. Legendary Jean Gabin plays Danglard, a world-weary hustler, club owner and anti-hero for the ages, who makes no pretense of his philandering and amorous proclivities. He's casting about for a new lover and a new money making venture when his current club fails and he grows bored with his mistress. He discovers a beautiful young washer girl, Nini, whom he convinces to headline at his new "concept" club, the Moulin Rouge, making it a hot spot and her a celebrity before the doors even open.

It doesn't hurt that Nini's moody ex-lover — a sullen baker (le petit grump) — injures Danglard in a fight and an even moodier Russian count becomes suicidal because Nini spurns his advances. As the salacious headlines drive up public interest, they learn the club will feature the cancan in all it's thigh-revealing, petticoat-flashing, bawdy glory — a disreputable dance to begin with now fallen completely out of favor.

The movie is a riot with memorable characters, beautiful, dizzying club and dance scenes, a few titillating moments that must have pushed the limits 60 years ago and swooning French girls forever throwing themselves desperately into and out of the arms of their lovers. You almost forget that it's a musical, so seamlessly are the musical and dance scenes integrated into the plot.

Danglard's gangly side kick is hilarious as is the whistler. Most delightful of all was seeing and hearing the divine Edith Piaf on screen after listening in awe to her songs all these years.

The movie is best enjoyed with absinthe in honor of the absinthe consumed on screen — as fate would have it, we had some delightful Oregon-made absinthe that night — or lots of champagne.

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This is my favorite Renoir from the Fifties. It's the story of how Henri Danglard built and launched the Moulin Rouge nightclub; we see the workmen blasting at the site to get construction underway, and the training of the dancers. Finally, the giddiness of opening night and the long sequence of cancan dancing. Financial problems and the ego displays of the performers are described.

Gabin is in great form as the easy-going Danglard--see him deal humorously with Nini's violent boyfriend. Gianni Esposito is moving as the wistful Prince who is courting Nini. Maria Felix, with that amazon's body, is imposing as the egotistical Lola, Danglard's first lover. Finally Françoise Arnoul as Nini the washing girl who ends up dancing for Danglard, and becoming his girl, is just stunning; her loveliness and pert charm will win you over.

A bonus: we get Edith Piaf, Patachou, André Claveau and other stars in cameos playing the stars of a century ago who ruled over the Moulin rouge.

Jean Renoir's gorgeous film, French Cancan, is a symphony of color, dancing, singing, and humor.

It stars Jean Gabin as Henri Danglard, a club owner who is hitting the skids with his café "Le Paravent Chinois" which features his mistress, Lola, played by the legendary, mega Mexican star, "La Dona," Maria Felix.

Danglard has an idea of reviving the cancan, which he has seen on the Montmarte. In 1890, it is considered an old dance, but he renames it French cancan and decides to have it in a fabulous new club, the Moulin Rouge.

He becomes interested in a young laundress, Nini, who impresses him with her dancing one night when he dances with her. He wants to star her in his new show.

This is easier said than done. There's jealous Lola and Nini's baker boyfriend, and a prince who falls for her. While they tug at her heart, Nini has fallen for Danglard.

This is a fun movie, and a chance for me, anyway, to see Maria Felix. I had only seen her interviewed when she was quite old, and a movie in my high school Spanish class. She was statuesque with a strong face and looks quite beautiful here, displaying sophistication and toughness.

Gabin, of course, is wonderful - this is the first time I've seen him in anything but a depressing drama - he emanates charm.

Great-looking film with the Renoir touches - so many scenes look like paintings. Highly recommended.