“Sister Morphine” herself, singer, songwriter, actress, author—and goddess—Marianne Faithfull turns 65-years-old today.

Below, a stunning young Marianne Faithfull sings an a cappella version of “As Tears Go By” in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1966 film, Made in USA., as Anna Karina looks on.
 

 
Marianne Faithfull sings “Hier ou Demian” (“Yesterday or Tomorrow”) in a scene from the incredible 1967 French TV movie musical, Anna. Directed by Pierre Koralnik, and with songs written by Serge Gainsbourg (who also appears in the film). Anna starred Godard muse Anna Karina. The film is practically a pop art, musical paen to her beauty. Suits me fine!

I’ll be posting more about Anna in the future, but for now savor this short clip of a gorgeous young Marianne Faithful, who never looked better (and that’s saying a lot), singing a Gainsbourg-penned tune. What more could you ask for? The entire film? Well, you’re in luck, because you can purchase a copy of Anna (with English subtitles) from Mod Cinema.
 

 
Via PCL Linkdump

 
Criterion just released the Blu-Ray version of 1962’s Vivre sa Vie, starring Jean-Luc Godard‘s one-time wife, but always expressive muse, Anna Karina.  Much like many a real-life Hollywood story, Vivre sa Vie charts an aspiring creative type’s descent into prostitution.  And while it may end in tragedy, the surfaces along the way are typically gorgeous to look at.

Karina would, of course, continue to appear in such essential Godard films as Band of Outsiders and Pierrot le Fou, but she was first introduced to the director in the French soap commercial below:

 
Interestingly enough, Karina’s soap commercial also makes an appearance in the Guy Debord film, On the Passage of a Few People Through a Rather Brief Period of Time (previously on Dangerous Minds here).

As Karina lathers up, the Situationist engineer himself intones in a voice-over: “The advertisements during intermissions are the truest reflection of an intermission from life.”  While you’re left to ponder that one, check out what many feel to be one of Vivre sa Vie‘s more sublime moments, Nana’s Dance:

 
Bonus: Luc Sante on Vivre sa Vie