Search

» » Le bain des dames de la cour (1904)

Short summary

Against a backdrop of administrative regulations, women of all classes have always struggled to achieve an unsegregated access to swimming pools or public beaches, from the dawn of the nineteenth century until the first half of our century. In this lively and appetising short film, the viewer peeps through an invisible keyhole at the leisure activities of a carefree group of noblewomen who enjoy the water, as well as a hearty slice of emancipation. Unlike the tantalising portrayal of the beauty standards of the time in "Nach dem Ball (1897)", the nudity here is unsimulated, depicting discreet instances of ample bosoms, as well as a fleeting glance at the Ladies' Rubenesque figures through their diaphanous underwear.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Saintrius
    Half a dozen well-dressed ladies saunter poolside, while some go into the water and splash each other in this mildly titillating Pathe film from 1902.

    The copy I saw was attributed to Ferdinand Zecca, who was one of their house directors, remembered for racy works like "Seen Through a Keyhole" and their "Life and Passion of Christ". As a minute in length, this noble wet t-shirt competition looks like peep-show fare, something to look at for a few centimes. It shows greater production value than a lot of Pathe's competitors' work from the era; for the time. The company maintained a sizable cast of young ladies, a corps de ballet and had access to good costuming and sets.
  • All rights reserved © 2017-2024 hd.thomson-multimedia.com