Les culottes rouges

1962's "The Red Culottes" (Les Culottes Rouges) tells the story of French POWs during World War II, the title referring to those unlucky escapees who failed and were forced to wear red trousers as identification. One strong willed prisoner (Laurent Terzieff) finally succeeds on his 7th try, this time accompanied by a spineless associate (Bourvil), but it won't be long before each one turns on the other to try to save himself. Critics complained that the oft told storyline had been done better before yet couldn't exactly specify, and while this rarity survives today it's available only in French with no English subtitles. Just how a war picture ended up on the 1969 schedule for Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater is anyone's guess, undoubtedly dubbed in English and likely a long lost effort.

The "red culottes" refers to tough guys in a prisoners of war camp.These die hards always try to escape ,even after several failures .On the contrary ,some prisoners are resigned to their fate ("we've lost the war") and they enjoy preferential treatment.

The camp can be looked upon an occupied France microcosm .Bourvil is the "collaborator" ,the epitome of the good prisoner .He's become indifferent to the fate of his homeland ,busy stuffing himself with sauerkraut.Laurent Terzieff is the resistant fighter ,eager to start war again.Although he forces his mate to hide him ,his contempt for this coward has no bounds.

But the two characters are not as simplistic as they appear.Antoine may be a would be hero ,but he is selfish,egocentric and intolerant.Fendard (also slang for "pants" or " hilarious" ) ,who is a bachelor who used to live with his mother ,is perhaps not as dumb as he seems to be .He's got a fiancée ,but Antoine laughs at him ,claiming he probably never took the plunge.

Bourvil and Laurent Terzieff are the perfect actors of an overlooked movie .At the same time,Terzieff also portrayed a conscientious objector in Autant-Lara's "Tu Ne Tueras Point" ,with the same aplomb.

Like this?try these....

"La Vache Et Le Prisonnier" (Verneuil ,1959;a short hint at this true story is made in "Les Culottes Rouges") "Le Caporal Epinglé " (Renoir,1961)