El gendarme de Saint-Tropez

THE TROOPS OF ST. TROPEZ is a hilarious comedy, which brings an abundance of a cheap humor and fast fun. This is a somewhat satirical look at some serious social issues that rotate continuously in the story. That is, from the beginning, very frivolous.

Ludovic Cruchot, a gendarme is the embodiment of the law in a small French village. He has been re-assigned to the seaside commune of Saint-Tropez under the orders of command sergeant major Gerber. His beautiful and rebellious daughter goes with him. The gendarmes have a serious problem: a group of persistent nudists. However, Cruchot has an "ingenious" plan. Meanwhile, his daughter comes in contact with a gang of thieves...

This is a very pleasant and short amusement, regardless of the whole range of unpleasant coincidence. The scenery is is a big hit, because it distracts attention from a distorted perspective on society. There is no place for a parody, this is a comic charade with unclear directions. Mr. Girauld has managed to shuffle all the elements, such as family, crime, religion, youthful rebellious spirit and incompetent guardians of law and order.

Louis de Funès as Ludovic Cruchot has, given to his movements, noises, grimaces and gestures, completely stole the show. He has an aesthetic sense of humor, which is accompanied with his enormous energy. Well, Cruchot somewhat reminiscent on well known inspector Clouseau. Geneviève Grad as Nicole Cruchot is a beautiful girl from a province who comes into a tourist paradise. She has two problems: her youthful rebellious nature and a strict father, who happens to be a hyperactive gendarme. Michel Galabru as warrant officer Jérôme Gerber is preparing for the madness, at least for now.

The films about gendarmes from a hot French coast are, like many other things, a part of my childhood.

This first part of the incredible gendarme-series sets the tone for the follow up. Funes and Galabru are the stars, but the lovely Geneviève Grad as Cruchot's daughter Nicole has a fine performance including singing a catchy tune. She's is trying to make a good impression at her new friends by claiming she's the daughter of a famous businessman instead of a gendarme. This is the start of a fine mess, which includes a kidnapping,some hilarious impersonations and a Rembrandt painting. Cruchot puts himself in some awkward positions to save him and his daughters ass. Surely 4 out of 5.

Very much a 1960s style European beach comedy. The plot won't win any literary prizes, the gags are little better than average, but the comic timing of Funes, Lefebvre, Galabru, etc. is brilliant, study material for acting school. This is very much a feel-good slapstick comedy with the usual towering central performance of Louis de Funes in the title role, a prime example of a central character carrying a movie.

The best bit of the film is the black-and-white pre-credit opening sequence, set before Cruchot's move to St.Tropez. The scene with the chicken-thief and the choir is priceless.

The Gendarm is one of these movies which get aired in Germany at least twice a year on television on public holidays. Shame on me I never took the opportunity to give it my full attendance. So now when it got re-released on DVD in a box containing the first 3 flix with Louis De Funes as Gendarm Cruchot I gripped my chance – and was in no way disappointed.

In the first 10 minutes of his movie (which I never saw before) we are introduced to the choleric character of a county policeman arresting fish and chicken thieves and singing in the church choir. This piece of film is in black and white contrasting the colorful scenes at St Tropez later on. Already these first 10 minutes are the work of a genius in humor. De Funes never fails to amuse with his extraordinary combination of being the law abiding correct police officer and same time unable to control his overwhelming emotions as depicted in his facial expression and excessive gestures. With this he is throughout the movie never overacting like in some of his later works.

About the main part of the movie we see him elevated to lead a fearless four of flics in the mundane town of St Tropez on Mediterranean Cote D'Azur. Some story lines are welded together about nudist bathers (are they in existence still?), young folks doing some vandalism and finally a big robbery of a classical painting which he can (by chance for sure) resolve. These are used to include some extraordinary political and social satire sub-tones like Louis leading his flics into assault on nude people on the beach like famous French Foreign Legion soldiers in desert wars.

I was brilliantly entertained by this comedy and could laugh out loud on some of the punchlines and almost dadaist slapstick. Oh, and you won't forget the catchy St Tropez tune performed by his film daughter and featured 3 times in the film. I give it 8 out of 10.

Additional trivia for German version: In the restored version on DVD we see some short scenes which were cut from the theatrical version, recognizable by not being overdubbed with German synchro. They do not add much to the story but fit into the picture of a great comedy.

This is the movie that made of De funes an international star and is considered the first of his great "hits".Almost everything that made De funes great in his later movies is present in this one.His typical "brownosing the boss-small tyrant to his inferiors" character,his relationship with daughter/son,the easy going"french" mentality of others around him that makes for most of the jokes, and the feel good sence of his movies. Add to all this the 60's scenery of st.tropez and you have an unbeatable combination.But of course,the central piece is De funes himself and his comic genious.I watched this movie when i was a kid, and watched it again almost 20 years later and i still laughed.An absolute must to any one who appreciates french humour and wants to taste the-in my opinion-greatest funny man ever.