AuthorAuthor
Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry
(21 February 1885 – 24 July 1957) was (21 February 1885 – 24 July 1957) was
a French stage actor, film actor, director, a French stage actor, film actor, director,
screenwriter, and playwright of the screenwriter, and playwright of the
Boulevard theatre. He was born in Saint Boulevard theatre. He was born in Saint
Petersburg, Russia, in 1885,the son of the Petersburg, Russia, in 1885,the son of the
well-known actor Lucien Guitry. Sacha well-known actor Lucien Guitry. Sacha
was first on stage at age five. He was first on stage at age five. He
developed a charming, witty stage developed a charming, witty stage
persona, often appearing in period-dress persona, often appearing in period-dress
light comedies, light comedies,
for instance his 1925 pastiche Mozart , for instance his 1925 pastiche Mozart ,
which contains a story about the which contains a story about the
fictional adventures of Wolfgang fictional adventures of Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart on a visit to Paris. In Amadeus Mozart on a visit to Paris. In
his 1937 film Pearls of the Crown he his 1937 film Pearls of the Crown he
plays four roles, one of them plays four roles, one of them
being Napoleon III. "Our wisdom being Napoleon III. "Our wisdom
comes from our experience, and our comes from our experience, and our
experience comes from our experience comes from our
foolishness" - Sacha Guitry About the foolishness" - Sacha Guitry About the
Author Author
Character sketch of JullietteCharacter sketch of Julliette
Julliette was a cunning lady.she Julliette was a cunning lady.she
was a good dealer. she knew how to was a good dealer. she knew how to
do business.first thing is that she do business.first thing is that she
didn't let her tongue slip and told a didn't let her tongue slip and told a
lot good about jeanne and gaston. lot good about jeanne and gaston.
the villa was a big headache for her the villa was a big headache for her
and she wanted to sell it at any rate, and she wanted to sell it at any rate,
even if it is the cheapest rate. even if it is the cheapest rate.
but while coming to the point she
didn't keep her word. she
demanded a higher amount.but she
is a good dealer
Character sketch of JeanneCharacter sketch of Jeanne
She is a very cunning lady. the way she She is a very cunning lady. the way she
got Gaston in her pocket was very got Gaston in her pocket was very
funny. she actually wanted the house funny. she actually wanted the house
for her parents but she was not for her parents but she was not
agreeing with her fault although her agreeing with her fault although her
fault was out. but she was very sensitive fault was out. but she was very sensitive
too and a caring women. she cared too and a caring women. she cared
about her parents about her parents
Character sketch of GastonCharacter sketch of Gaston
Gaston's character was that of a witty, clever Gaston's character was that of a witty, clever
and a selfish man. He doesn't care about other's and a selfish man. He doesn't care about other's
feelings but jumps on every opportunity that feelings but jumps on every opportunity that
earns him wealth. He is a specimen of earns him wealth. He is a specimen of
meanness,greediness,craftiness,cleverness and meanness,greediness,craftiness,cleverness and
dishonesty. He is non co-operative and dishonesty. He is non co-operative and
uncaring for his wife. He is a cheater in striking uncaring for his wife. He is a cheater in striking
a deal with Mrs.AI Smith, who was a stupid a deal with Mrs.AI Smith, who was a stupid
lady, in a hurry to buy the villa. Through his lady, in a hurry to buy the villa. Through his
greed, craftiness and black villainy nature he greed, craftiness and black villainy nature he
has made 1,00,000 francs without spending a has made 1,00,000 francs without spending a
single penny. single penny.
SUMMARYSUMMARY
Juliette wants to sell her villaJuliette wants to sell her villa
Summary Juliette wants to sell her villa Summary Juliette wants to sell her villa
When the scene opens, we see that When the scene opens, we see that
Juliette and her maid are discussing Juliette and her maid are discussing
the sale of the villa. She wonders if her the sale of the villa. She wonders if her
mistress, Juliette, would be sorry for mistress, Juliette, would be sorry for
selling the villa. Juliette says that since selling the villa. Juliette says that since
the villa had been up for sale for the the villa had been up for sale for the
past month with no one willing to buy, past month with no one willing to buy,
she would be glad if it is sold off. she would be glad if it is sold off.
However, the maid reminds her that However, the maid reminds her that
she had put up the ‘For Sale’ sign at she had put up the ‘For Sale’ sign at
night. night.
Juliette agrees that she had done this Juliette agrees that she had done this
thinking that as soon as people saw thinking that as soon as people saw
the sign, they would rush to buy it. the sign, they would rush to buy it.
But no one has shown much interest But no one has shown much interest
in the place and Juliette wants to get it in the place and Juliette wants to get it
off her hands fast. off her hands fast.
A prospective buyer wants to see A prospective buyer wants to see
the villathe villa
The agency through which Juliette is trying The agency through which Juliette is trying
to sell the villa has informed her that a lady to sell the villa has informed her that a lady
is interested in buying the villa. Juliette asks is interested in buying the villa. Juliette asks
her maid as to what time the lady will come. her maid as to what time the lady will come.
The maid replies that she will come between The maid replies that she will come between
four and five in the evening. The maid tries four and five in the evening. The maid tries
to talk Juliette out of selling the villa as it to talk Juliette out of selling the villa as it
had been be a good place to spend her had been be a good place to spend her
weekends. But as Juliette is in need of weekends. But as Juliette is in need of
money, she thinks her decision is right. money, she thinks her decision is right.
The maid gets an offer to act in The maid gets an offer to act in
filmsfilms
The maid asks for a favour from her The maid asks for a favour from her
mistress. She has been offered a role in a mistress. She has been offered a role in a
film and for that she asks Juliette to let her film and for that she asks Juliette to let her
go between nine and noon the next day. go between nine and noon the next day.
She informs that her role is that of a maid She informs that her role is that of a maid
and she will get a hundred francs for it. and she will get a hundred francs for it.
Juliette is happy for her. The maid wants to Juliette is happy for her. The maid wants to
know whether Juliette is willing to work in know whether Juliette is willing to work in
the film as well because they need a cook. the film as well because they need a cook.
Very impertinently she tells her mistress Very impertinently she tells her mistress
that since she has a funny face, she can get that since she has a funny face, she can get
the role. the role.
She also tells her that as she is hard She also tells her that as she is hard
pressed for money, she should accept pressed for money, she should accept
the offer. Juliette thanks her maid the offer. Juliette thanks her maid
and agrees to think it over. and agrees to think it over.
The arrival of the buyerThe arrival of the buyer
Just then, they hear the door bell and Just then, they hear the door bell and
Juliette tells the maid to open the door Juliette tells the maid to open the door
while she goes upstairs. A couple enter while she goes upstairs. A couple enter
and the maid tells them to be seated and the maid tells them to be seated
while she goes to call her mistress. while she goes to call her mistress.
Gaston and his wife, Jeanne, sit down, Gaston and his wife, Jeanne, sit down,
but it is obvious that Gaston does not but it is obvious that Gaston does not
want to buy the villa. He tries to find want to buy the villa. He tries to find
faults with everything, the first being faults with everything, the first being
the garden that is too small. The salon the garden that is too small. The salon
too is not appropriate.too is not appropriate.
An argument between the two ensues and An argument between the two ensues and
Gaston tells his wife that he is not Gaston tells his wife that he is not
interested in buying any villa, but just to interested in buying any villa, but just to
please her he is looking at the villa. He please her he is looking at the villa. He
also reminds her that for the past month also reminds her that for the past month
she has been keen on buying a villa and she has been keen on buying a villa and
this is only so that her parents can stay this is only so that her parents can stay
there. He further declares that he will not there. He further declares that he will not
pay the money to buy a villa for her pay the money to buy a villa for her
parents. This leads to another argument parents. This leads to another argument
about the dowry that Jeanne had brought about the dowry that Jeanne had brought
with her. Gaston announces that the with her. Gaston announces that the
money of her dowry has been spent long money of her dowry has been spent long
back back
Jeanne is being kind to JulietteJeanne is being kind to Juliette
After the argument, both are willing to After the argument, both are willing to
go away from there without looking at go away from there without looking at
the villa but the entry of Juliette stops the villa but the entry of Juliette stops
them. Jeanne talks to her about the them. Jeanne talks to her about the
house and Juliette tries to convince her house and Juliette tries to convince her
that the house is very nice and will be that the house is very nice and will be
suitable for them. She points out all the suitable for them. She points out all the
good things about the house, to which good things about the house, to which
Gaston replies sarcastically. Juliette tells Gaston replies sarcastically. Juliette tells
them the price of the villa is two them the price of the villa is two
hundred and fifty thousand francs. hundred and fifty thousand francs.
Gaston exclaims that it is a very high Gaston exclaims that it is a very high
price and puts up the price of sixty price and puts up the price of sixty
thousand francs. Juliette agrees for thousand francs. Juliette agrees for
two thousand francs and takes two thousand francs and takes
Jeanne upstairs to see the rest of the Jeanne upstairs to see the rest of the
house. house.
A new buyer appears on the A new buyer appears on the
scenescene
While both of them are upstairs, a lady While both of them are upstairs, a lady
comes to see the villa. She is very comes to see the villa. She is very
arrogant with the maid and thinks that arrogant with the maid and thinks that
Gaston is the owner of the villa. Gaston, Gaston is the owner of the villa. Gaston,
too, good naturedly talks to her about too, good naturedly talks to her about
the amenities of the house. The lady is the amenities of the house. The lady is
least bothered about all that because least bothered about all that because
she plans to knock down the house and she plans to knock down the house and
build a new one. build a new one.
A very good deal indeed!A very good deal indeed!
Gaston tells her he wants to sell it for Gaston tells her he wants to sell it for
three hundred thousand francs and the three hundred thousand francs and the
lady agrees. She gives him the lady agrees. She gives him the
necessary details and tells him to necessary details and tells him to
vacate the villa by the next day. vacate the villa by the next day.
Gaston makes a deal with her and Gaston makes a deal with her and
when Juliette and Jeanne come down, when Juliette and Jeanne come down,
he informs them that he is willing to he informs them that he is willing to
buy the villa for two hundred thousand buy the villa for two hundred thousand
francsfrancs
and asks Juliette to vacate the villa by and asks Juliette to vacate the villa by
the next day. Both the ladies are the next day. Both the ladies are
surprised at the turn of events and surprised at the turn of events and
Gaston is happy at the profit he has Gaston is happy at the profit he has
made. made.