My guide on Brigitte Bardot-movies tells me that 'Le portrait de son pere' (= his father's portrait) was never issued in the USA or in England. Not even in the late fifties, when Bardot's fame had rocketed skyhigh, and her earlier movies were eagerly re-issued for a quick cash-in.
One can well wonder why. In 'Le portrait de son pere' French actor Jean Richard convincingly plays a simple country lad. He inherites the shares of a Paris department store, and becomes its succesful manager.
This very French comedy provides us with a good and consistent story, emphasizing on family values. The acting is good, too. Young Brigitte Bardot plays the manager's Parisian step-sister. She is a well educated young girl here, without even the slightest hint to sex and nudity. Throughout the entire movie the manager's behaviour towards Brigitte is strictly one of brotherly love and concern; Brigitte's behaviour towards him follows the same pattern. In the end both Brigitte and her step-brother run off with a different partner, and not with each other.
I guess it's this lack of anything immoral that makes this BB-movie so unknown outside France. Quite unjustified in my opinion, because 'Le portrait de son pere' is good. To appreciate it, maybe in your mind you should first disconnect Brigitte Bardot with her usual trademarks of slight immorality, sex and nudity.
