The Twist (1976 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Twist

| image = The Twist film.jpg

| alt =

| caption = French theatrical release poster

| director = Claude Chabrol

| producer = Alexander Salkind
Ilya Salkind
Pierre Spengler

| screenplay = Claude Chabrol
Ennio De Concini
Norman Enfield

| based_on = {{based on|Le Malheur Fou|Lucie Faure}}

| narrator =

| starring = Bruce Dern
Stéphane Audran
Ann-Margret

| music = Manuel De Sica

| cinematography = Jean Rabier

| editing = Monique Fardoulis

| studio = Barnabe
Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)
Gloria

| distributor = FFCM

| released = {{Film date|1976|06|23|df=y}}

| runtime = 107 minutes

| country = France
Italy
West Germany

| language = French
English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Twist is a 1976 film co-written and directed by Claude Chabrol.Its title in French is Folies bourgeoises (literally - bourgeois madness).

Plot

The film follows a bored, upper class group of Parisians who embark on a series of affairs with each other.

Principal cast

class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
" ! Actor !! Role
Bruce Dern	William Brandels
Stéphane Audran	Claire Brandels
Sydne Rome	Nathalie
Jean-Pierre Cassel	Jacques Lavolet, l'éditeur
Ann-Margret	Charlie Minerva
Maria Schell	Gretel
Francis Perrin	Robert Sartre
Sybil Danning	La secrétaire
Charles Aznavour	Dr. Lartigue
Curd Jürgens	Le bijoutier
Tomás Milián	Le détective
Claude Chabrol	Le client chez l'éditeur (uncredited)

Critical reception

Glenn Davidson of Turner Classic Movies:

{{blockquote|[T]he story cannot decide whether it is a romantic farce, a serious look at relationships, or a setup for a series of erotic daydreams experienced by a troubled married couple... The Twist is a confused and halfhearted comedy of manners that never decides on an approach to its subject... Although the film does have a few interesting moments, it is cluttered with pointless digressions and unfunny comedy.{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94154/folies-bourgeoises#articles-reviews?articleId=377558 |last=Erickson |first=Glenn |title= The Twist (Folies Bourgeoises) - Bruce Dern & Ann-Margret In Claude Chabrol's THE TWIST Aka Folies Bourgeoises) |website=Turner Classic Movies |date= February 22, 2011|access-date=2024-08-07}}}}

Michael Barrett of PopMatters:

{{blockquote|Chabrol's typical themes don't fit so well into wacky-comedy mode (given that French wacky comedies usually are no funnier than American ones) and not so easily into surreal-fantasy mode either. The chicly transgressive dreams seem intended to remind us of Luis Buñuel's French films of this era, but it suffers in the comparison. Where the film wants to be frothy and sexy, it looks grating. What tries to look smart looks dumb.{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Michael |url= https://www.popmatters.com/145052-just-before-nightfalltwist-2495983822.html |title=A Double Dose of Claude Chabrol: 'Just Before Nightfall' and 'Twist' < PopMatters |website=PopMatters.com |date=27 July 2011|accessdate=2024-08-07}} }}