Julie pot-de-colle

I have not read any of the works of prolific Hungarian writer Peter de Polnay and confess to being intrigued as to how his 'Chains of Pity' has, in Jean-Claude Carriere's adaptation, become 'Julie Gluepot'. Strange indeed are the ways of film!

I cannot speak for the original but this is essentially a Rom-Com featuring the misadventures of two people who are obviously destined to be together despite having existing partners. Jean-Luc is engaged to his boss's daughter who is a high maintenance pain in the neck so no great loss there while Julie's abusive husband is soon disposed of, literally!

This is an endearing, engaging piece with a some comic moments typical of Carriere but like so many of its type doesn't really add up to much. This is really all about Jean-Claude Brialy as Jean-Luc and Marlene Jobert as Julie. He is wonderfully bewitched, bothered and bewildered throughout and her blitheness of spirit is irresistible. Their comedy timing is perfect and their chemistry is palpable. Elegant Alexandra Stewart does her best with the rather thankless role of Delphine, his affianced.

This is the kind of film that is usually referred to by critics as being 'very French' and with Philippe de Broca at the helm has plenty of Gallic quirkiness and charm. This is guaranteed to entertain as long as one does not approach it with too many expectations. Goes down well with a glass or two of red wine, preferably French!

"Julie pot-de-colle "(pot of glue) was slagged off when it was released in 1977. Hindsight displays its charm.

De Broca met again Jean-Claude Brialy he had already directed in his masterpiece "le roi de coeur" (whose reputation is higher abroad than in its native country) Brialy's role is in the tradition of Cary Grant's American comedies and Marlène Jobert looks like a French Shirley McLaine .

Both are efficient in a story which sometimes lacks tempo and is short of black humor ;besides Alexandra Stewart is wasted in an underwritten part.

But there's a good chemistry between the executive, a well-respected man whose life is his brilliant career and a future marriage with a chic woman and a foolish girl who accidentally killed her husband :after the murder made to look like an accident with his help -this part is botched- , she 's so grateful to him that she follows him around like a little dog ,and overnight ,turns his well-ordered existence upside down.

Good moments :Julie, stealing his weapon from a gendarme ;the chase in the Morrocan town :De Broca was a big fan of comic strip writer Hergé (see also "l'homme de Rio" ) :and it reminds us of the Dupondt (Thompson Twins) and their jeep in " Tintin au pays de l'or noir" ;the dictaphone ,with an unexpected ending,which turns for a brief moment the comedy into a whodunit .

It's not among De Broca 's best but it's entertaining and well acted .