Tricoche et Cacolet

A comedy by a past master of the genre,Pierre Colombier, which features songs by Fernandel (duets with his partner ,Duvallès and a young Ginette Leclerc ,before she became ,par excellence,the bad girl),and music hall acts which may seem mostly filler for the 2018 audience ;the screenplay is muddled,desultory ,far-fetched and does not match those of Colombier's earlier efforts "Le Roi" and "Ces Messieurs De La Santé." Fernandel (Tricoche) and Duvallès (Cacolet) run a private eyes agency ;as their affairs are not going too well,they have to deceive their clients ,or to invent imaginary ones ;now and then ,a good gag :Banker Van Der Pouf ,holding two receivers ,talking at once to his wife and to his mistress; Duvalllès simulating a conversation with a so-called client;but as a whole,it does not really make it. The main interest lies in the actors :apart from the names already mentioned,the cast also includes exuberant Elvire Popesco and Saturnin Fabre ;Ginette Leclerc is Fanny Bombance (=feast)

Based upon the play by Halevy and Meillac, best known perhaps for their libretto for Bizet's 'Carmen', this is comedy in true 'Boulevard' style. The quickfire delivery and manner of acting is likely to mystify a modern audience but great artistry is timeless; or at least it should be! Elvire Popesco is simply incomparable in this particular genre and is given great support by Saturnin Fabre, Jean Weber and the wondrous Ginette Leclerc whilst Fernandel utilises his experience in Vaudeville to great effect and is an absolute joy to watch. Needless to say this type of 'specialised' comedy is difficult to pull off and in lesser hands can very often fall flat but here we have a first rate director steeped in the tradition and players who never miss a beat. Should this whet your appetite I would recommend Fernandel in 'Les Rois du Sport' for the same director which has the added bonus of Raimu and Jules Berry no less!