Belle de Jour (1967)

Catherine Deneuve: Séverine Serizy, Belle de Jour

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Madame Anais : I have an idea. Would you like to be called "Belle de Jour"?

  Séverine Serizy : Belle de Jour?

  Madame Anais : Since you only come in the afternoons.

  Séverine Serizy : If you wish.

• Séverine Serizy : Pierre, please, don't let the cats out.

• Séverine Serizy : Don't tell Pierre.

  Henri Husson : Pierre? I admire him more and more.

  Séverine Serizy : Please don't tell him. At least try to understand. I'm lost. I can't help it. I can't fight it. I know I'll have to atone for everything one day. But I couldn't live without it. Fine! Do as you like with me!

  Henri Husson : No. Not now, anyway. I guess what attracted me about you was your virtue. You were the wife of a boy scout. That's all changed now. I have principals, unlike you.

• Pierre Serizy : I'd like everything to be perfect too. If only you weren't so cold.

  Séverine Serizy : Please don't mention that again.

  Pierre Serizy : I didn't mean to upset you. I feel a great tenderness for you.

  Séverine Serizy : What good is your tenderness to me?

  Pierre Serizy : You can be very cruel when you wish.

• Renee : You remember Henriette?

  Séverine Serizy : Yes, very well.

  Renee : It seems - she's turning tricks.

  Séverine Serizy : What?

  Renee : In one of those houses. They say she's there several days a week. Can you believe it? Henriette! Of course, that's all so far from your world. But, can you imagine? A woman like you or me? Can you see her going with just anybody? In those places you don't get to choose. Old or not, lousy looking or not. Even with a man you love it can be unpleasant.

• Madame Anais : You're nice and fresh. Just what they like here. I know it's hard at first, but who doesn't need money now and then? We'll split it fifty-fifty. I have my expenses.

  Séverine Serizy : Thank you very much, but I must be going.

  Madame Anais : Come on. You're just a bit nervous. I bet it's the first time you've worked. It's not really so awful.

• Madame Anais : We'll have a little something to celebrate your arrival.

  Séverine Serizy : No, thank you.

  Madame Anais : I insist. Cherries in brandy.

• Madame Anais : You're doing fine. You're a big hit already. Mr. Adolphe is a simple man, so don't get upset. Do what he wants. That's all he asks.

  Séverine Serizy : No, I want to go.

  Madame Anais : What? You about done putting on airs? Where do you think you are? Go on!

• Duke : [Fantasy sequence]  What's your name?

  Séverine Serizy : Belle de jour.

  Duke : Charming. I once had a cat named Dark Beauty. Do you come here often?

  Séverine Serizy : Everyday in my thoughts.

• Séverine Serizy : Who's Hippolyte?

  Charlotte : Wait and see. An odd sort of guy.

  Mathilde : When he has money he throws it around.

  Charlotte : And when he's broke, he wants it for free.

  Madame Anais : [Enters]  Come on, girls. All three of you.

• Séverine Serizy : How dare you! Let me go! You brutes! Let go of me! It's not my fault. I can explain everything.

  Pierre Serizy : Go on. Don't worry about roughing up the little slut! Hurry!

• [repeated line] 

  Séverine Serizy : Forgive me.

• Pierre Serizy : [referring to Husson]  I like him. He's amusing.

  Séverine Serizy : He's strange.

  Renee : Worse than that.

• Henri Husson : The mysterious Henriette! The woman with two faces. A double life. How intriguing! Did Renée tell you?

  Séverine Serizy : Yes. But why?

  Henri Husson : Simple: for the money.

• Séverine Serizy : I can't understand women like that.

  Henri Husson : It's the oldest profession in the world. It's mostly arranged by phone now, but the women in those houses are a special breed.

  Séverine Serizy : I'm sure you know them well.

  Henri Husson : Yes, I used to go a lot. I enjoyed it. There's a very special atmosphere. The women are complete slaves. I remember a few around the Opéra. Especially one run by Anaïs. 11 cité Jean de Saumur. I have marvelous memories.

• Marcel : How old are you?

  Séverine Serizy : Twenty-three.

• Marcel : Leave your stockings on. A girl tried to strangle me once. Poor thing.

  Séverine Serizy : If you like, I won't charge you.

  Marcel : Naturally. Plenty of girls would love to be in your place.

• Marcel : I don't get it. You seem to like being with me.

  Séverine Serizy : Very much, but it's not enough.

  Marcel : You love the other guy?

  [Séverine nods her head yes] 

  Marcel : Then why are you here?

  Séverine Serizy : I don't know. They're two different things.