Candide or The Optimism in the 20th Century
5.7
Charming and innocent, Candide is vigorously chased away by the Baron, for his close encounters with the pretty Cunégonde. World War II breaks out, and when he is drafted and taken prisoner, he is forced to take German nationality and ends up guarding the camp where he was imprisoned. He crossed into Switzerland, but as he had no bank account, he was incarcerated for eight days for trespassing. Hunted by the Gestapo, he kills two men to free Cunégonde, who has finally been found. They both flee to Argentina, and their world tour begins. In Paris, Moscow, New York, Borneo and Alexandria. They try to follow Dr. Pangloss' optimistic rule of life. Tossed about, separated, they find themselves grown old and wiser, thinking only of cultivating their garden on the shores of the Mediterranean.
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Cast
38 people
Jean-Pierre Cassel
Candide
Known for
Asterix at the Olympic Games
Army of Shadows
Daliah Lavi
Cunégonde
Known for
The Whip and the Body
Casino Royale
Pierre Brasseur
Pangloss
Known for
Eyes Without a Face
Children of Paradise
Louis de Funès
Officier de la Gestapo
Known for
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob
The Wing or the Thigh?
Michel Simon
Colonel Nanar, du cadre de réserve
Known for
L'Atalante
Port of Shadows
Jean Poiret
Le premier policier / Policeman
Known for
The Last Metro
Cop au Vin
Michel Serrault
Le second policier / Policeman
Known for
La Cage aux Folles
Happiness Is in the Field
Jean Tissier
Le docteur Jacques
Known for
The Murderer Lives at Number 21
...And God Created Woman
Luis Mariano
Un dictateur sud américain / South American Dictator
Also in
The Singer from Mexico
La belle de Cadix
Nadia Gray
La dame de compagnie / Dame
Known for
Two for the Road
Letto a tre piazze
Mathilde Casadesus
La baronne de Thunder-Ten-Tronck
Known for
Gervaise
Le Plaisir
Darío Moreno
Un dictateur sud américain / South American Dictator
Known for
The Wages of Fear
Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece
Norbert Carbonnaux Director · Voltaire Author Robert Lefebvre Cinematographer
United States release November 19, 1962 · Produced in France · Production Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Production
Courts et Longs Métrages (C.L.M.)
Production
Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Candide ou l’optimisme au XXᵉ siècle
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · December 16, 1960
Theatrical
United States · November 19, 1962
Limited theatrical · New York City, New York
Finland
January 19, 1962 · Theatrical
France
September 6, 1983 · TV · France 3 Limousin
Germany
February 8, 1962 · Theatrical · West Germany
Hungary
October 18, 1962 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.