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Drama

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947): Cast & Plot

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947) movie poster

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami is a 1947 drama directed by Albert Lewin, starring George Sanders as Georges Duroy, John Carradine and Marie Wilson. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes.

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The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 52m (112 min)
Director
Albert Lewin
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Private Affairs of Bel Ami About?

The premise of The Private Affairs of Bel Ami without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

All women take to men who have the appearance of wickedness A self-serving journalist uses influential women in late-1800s Paris and denies the one who truly loves him.

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami Themes & Keywords

· 32 tags
  • ruthless
  • cynical
  • evil lead character
  • anthony the great
  • cheating wife
  • love
  • profiteer
  • upper class
  • letter
  • shaving
  • trick
  • deception
+20 more
  • wealth
  • widow
  • horse and carriage
  • gunshot wound
  • death
  • painting
  • dance scene
  • scoundrel
  • photograph
  • journalist
  • accordion
  • honor
  • ambition
  • rain
  • pistol
  • duel
  • marriage
  • paris france
  • newspaper
  • morality
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Cast & crew

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami Cast & Characters

George Sanders leads the cast as Georges Duroy, with John Carradine as Charles Forestier and Marie Wilson as Rachel Michot. Directed by Albert Lewin; 34 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Albert Lewin

More films directed by Albert Lewin, best-rated first: Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, The Living Idol, Saadia and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Full filmography
Plot

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami Plot Summary

What happens in The Private Affairs of Bel Ami from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Georges Duroy, an ex-soldier turned underpaid clerk in 1880s Paris, edges into the glittering, ruthless world of journalism and influence. At a caf� table he shares with his old comrade, the frail journalist Charles Forestier, he encounters Rachel Michot, a dancer who has already rebuffed him once, and who then becomes a catalyst for Georges’s ambition. Charles bluntly insists that in Paris the quickest route to power is to charm the city’s women, and he even nudges Georges toward a vacancy at his newspaper, La Vie Française, despite Georges’s own lack of writing experience.

Full summary

The whole story of The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Private Affairs of Bel Ami?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the ex‑soldier turned underpaid clerk at the start of the film?

Details

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “La vida privada de Bel Ami” and “Il disonesto”.

Also known as
  • La vida privada de Bel Ami
  • Il disonesto
  • 벨아미의 고백
  • 漂亮朋友
  • O Homem Sem Coração
  • Bel Amis kärleksaffärer

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FAQ

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Private Affairs of Bel Ami?

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).

When was The Private Affairs of Bel Ami released?

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami was released on April 25, 1947.

Who directed The Private Affairs of Bel Ami?

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami was directed by Albert Lewin.

More films by Albert Lewin

Who is in the cast of The Private Affairs of Bel Ami?

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami stars George Sanders as Georges Duroy, John Carradine as Charles Forestier and Marie Wilson as Rachel Michot, among 34 credited actors.

Does The Private Affairs of Bel Ami have a post-credit scene?

No. The Private Affairs of Bel Ami has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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