Watch The French Line For Free

Strong and Moving!

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Jane Russell does look great in "The French Line", and she wears some smashing outfits, a few of which probably pushed the boundaries of censorship at that era. She doesn't manage to make us believe that she has fallen madly in love with Gilbert Roland, though - but who can hold that against her? Roland - or Roland's character in the film, if you prefer - is sleazy, charmless, and old. And in the supporting cast, Arthur Hunnicutt plays an insufferable Texas caricature. The story is stupid, the songs are forgettable and the comedy never really starts - so all you're left with is Jane, who, in this case, is not quite enough for "The French Line" to merit a recommendation. *1/2 out of 4.

It seems that the majority of people who have posted comments on this can't wait to note that it is both a rip-off of and inferior to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. There is, of course, something in this; both begin in the US, wind up in Paris with the bulk of the running time spent on the transatlantic crossing. Oh, yes, both also have songs. On the other hand I think it's possible to trace a more direct link to Warners' Romance On The High Seas in which Doris Day (in her first film) is travelling incognito, as is Jane Russell here, both girls are the subject of scrutiny by men hired to monitor their every moves and both men fall reciprocally in love with the girls they are tailing BUT not before ten reels or so of mistaken-identity plotting which itself is reminiscent of Top Hat. While GPB had to-drawer songs by Jule Styne and Leo Robin this time around Styne has been replaced by the bush league Josef Myrow and Robin has to settle for a co-lyricist credit with Robert Wells. It's worth watching without being memorable.

This is what "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" could've been without Hawks. It's as close to a remake as you can get. If you want to see a really BAD version, see "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes." I really only posted this to let everyone know that the FULL "Looking For Trouble" scene is posted on You-Tube. Makes it pretty obvious (the watchword for the whole flick) what the censors were up in arms about. Not to defend the CLD though they were the most effective publicity machine Hollywood never came up with, but JR does a WHOLE LOT of shaking' in the complete version. And it's definitely worth the trouble to check out. Amazing what "devout Christians" allowed themselves. We can only hope that if they ever put this out on DVD (and it isn't looking good) they'll include the whole thing instead of the prim careful official version.

Gilbert Rowland must have had some dirt on someone to get this picture. He has been around since silent films, and a close friend of Raymond Novaro. Gilbert Rowland knew lots of people, off to the side, never the big lead, but in the action just the same.Saw him once in a Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills called the Fortune Cookie near the Beverly Center, on Fountain. 1979 I forget.He and his wife came in and he sat in the back facing the café. He noticed that I noticed who he was and we just grinned at each other. I learned while living in Hollywood, to leave them alone, as they know that you know who they are. So at the super market, dry cleaners, and the West Hollywood car wash place, you nod and let them go about they lives.Gilbert seemed amused that someone remembered him. My pleasure to make him grin three tables away.So here is the French Line, and I found it amusing Gilbert Roland is in a musical with Jane Russell. He was great and when he pulls up his cuffs, there is the wrist band he usually wore. Women, breasts, gowns by the ton were coming at you 24/7 in this piece of 1950 fluff. Abrabs would go to hell if they were caught watching such a film.Rowlands voice is dubbed, he lip cynics well, and carries himself, delivers his lines, very professional, and I hope he got tons of money.He had a small house in Beverly Hills near down town Rodeo Drive. He managed his career well, stayed out of the papers, knew everyone from the golden age of film, Garbo would have been comfortable with him as well. Rowland adored John Gilbert, and took his first name, Gilbert from John.Gibert Rowland is "Hollywood Royality", was a gentleman, kept everyone's secrets, was respected by stars, and I wish he had written a book. I believe he is entombed at Glendale Forest Lawn. John Gilbert is there as well He did a film with Barbara Stanwick, a western, and he should have gotten an Oscar for his performance.I believe he had more fun and durability with his career, than being the big star, "hot dog", macho stud. Gilbert was macho without being TOO macho, and was fondly remember for his quality classic style and quiet masculine character actor. Bad and the Beauty, and Beneath the 12 Mile Reef are also good examples of his craft. BRAVO Gilbert Rowland. VSS