Overview
A whimsical exploration of love's fleeting nature set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Vienna.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- urbane
- playful
- classic film night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film as a charming, sophisticated, and visually elegant romantic comedy with a charismatic guide and refined treatment of sexual relationships.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Anton Walbrook's raconteur guides the audience through the carousel of affairs and also appears in ancillary roles.
The soldier, prostitute, maid, young man, and married woman connect through successive affairs that keep the narrative rotating.
The carousel functions as the raconteur's prop and as an emblem for the film's repeating cycle of seduction and infidelity.
Affairs link a poverty-stricken soldier, a prostitute, a maid, a wealthy young man, and a married woman.
Films like La Ronde, and why
The Earrings of Madame de...
shared elegant romantic entanglements, theatrical framing, and witty social observation
The Rules of the Game
shared period romance, sophisticated irony, and fluid circular storytelling
Love Actually
shared interconnected affairs, class-conscious satire, and bittersweet romantic comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Max Ophüls
- Release Date
- 1950-09-27
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (148)
Cast
- Anton Walbrook
- Simone Signoret
- Serge Reggiani
- Simone Simon
- Daniel Gélin
- Fernand Gravey
- Gérard Philipe
- Danielle Darrieux
- Jean-Louis Barrault
- Odette Joyeux
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel, France Channel Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is La Ronde about?
- A witty Viennese carousel of desire links lovers, spouses, servants, and strangers in an elegantly theatrical chain of affairs.
- What is La Ronde like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of La Ronde as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is La Ronde violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in La Ronde.
- What did critics think of La Ronde?
- Critics broadly praise the film as a charming, sophisticated, and visually elegant romantic comedy with a charismatic guide and refined treatment of sexual relationships.
- Which films are like La Ronde?
- Films with a similar feel include The Earrings of Madame de..., The Rules of the Game, and Love Actually.
- How long is La Ronde?
- La Ronde runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch La Ronde?
- In United States, La Ronde streams on Criterion Channel, France Channel Amazon Channel.
