Search - Yves Montand :: Les Indispensables

La Vie en Yves

Thomas J. Cunniff | New York, NY USA | 04/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yves was a human contradiction.Famously French, he was actually born in Italy. Good in European films, less good in those made in Hollywood.A good music-hall singer,discovered by Edith Piaf (who put him in her shows -- and her bed). Sometimes less good: there's an occasional whiff of fromage on some songs. But Yves gets away with this because he's so utterly charming otherwise.He was a womanizer and a devoted husband. He conducted multiple affairs -- Marilyn Monroe was the one most of us pretended to be scandalized by -- while remaining happily married to the sensual, sultry Simone Signoret until the day she died.The point is, these contradictions ultimately work for the music.The overall effect is unique. A little odd. Occasionally cheesy. But charming and seductive -- all the more so if you have some decent Bordeaux in the house.A little like Yves himself was, I suspect."