Madame Bovary (1949): cast, story & where to watch
1949 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1949, Madame Bovary is a drama and romance film directed by Vincente Minnelli, running about 115 minutes. “Whatever it is that French women have ... Madame Bovary had more of it!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After marrying small-town doctor Charles Bovary, Emma becomes tired of her limited social status and begins to have affairs, first with the young Leon Dupuis and later with the wealthy Rodolphe Boulanger. Eventually, however, her self-involved behavior catches up with her.
Who’s in it. Madame Bovary stars Jennifer Jones as Emma Bovary, James Mason as Gustave Flaubert, Van Heflin as Charles Bovary and Louis Jourdan as Rodolphe Boulanger, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Madame Bovary has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Madame Bovary page.
If you liked it. Fans of Madame Bovary tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Madame Bovary (1949)?
- In US, Madame Bovary is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Madame Bovary worth watching?
- Madame Bovary holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Madame Bovary?
- Madame Bovary stars Jennifer Jones, James Mason, Van Heflin, Louis Jourdan and Alf Kjellin.
- When was Madame Bovary released?
- Madame Bovary was released in 1949, with a runtime of about 115 minutes.