Ce joli monde

This is an enjoyable little comedy ,with lot of madness,which is fine with me.

A gangster (Yves Deniaud) learns that his long estranged wife , a respectable posh lady has just died and it's high time he took care of his only child.(Darry Cowl ) ;this boy stayed on the straight and narrow ,and now he's a lit teacher in Aix-En-Provence .

Having a look at his band and at his moll (Micheline Dax) ,the outlaw who's just burglarized a bank , wants to make a strong impression on his offspring ,will welcome him in a castle where they hide their loot ,and all the gang will turn in chic jet society people.

Then the screeenplay goes crazy with sudden new developments galore: boy and dad have almost nothing to say to each other ("you've grown up since the last time I saw you (in his cradle)" " in Aix ,they make delicious candies called "Calisson" ,will you savour one?".Fortunately a scout leader (Noel Roquevert !who else?) arrives with his boys ,and along the local curate ,urges the gangster to celebrate a midnight mass (for it's Xmas!) in the chapel of the castle.This is a tradition to rekindle .

Never a dull moment : during heavenly choirs singing ("Minuit Chretiens "(ô holy night") "les anges dans nos campagnes " (angels we heard on high")) and as the priest is praising Joseph ,"Mary's admirable husband" , a rival band ,led by another Joseph-who isn't a saint- enters the scene .They want the loot too.

Then begins a treasure hunt in the castle ,caused by the scouts leader who's also a conjurer who makes an armor (the place where ...) disappear.

This is no food for thought , but Carlo Rim is a minor but talented comedy director;enjoy his film on a Xmas night if you're brooding.