La vache et le prisonnier

I saw this film rather by coincidence, but I'm glad I did. I didn't know the film, and I'm not particularly fond of French movies (not necessarily a hater too), but I started watching and was soon hooked. It's a nice little film about a French prisoner of war who wants to escape Germany with a cow by his side (pretending he's taking the cow someplace).

Although this premise may sound a bit thick (or thin, as you wish), it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie, with some heartfelt and funny moments, as well as a few moments of suspense. Fernandel gives an excellent performance, happily with few fringes, as the movie could easily have been turned into a flat cheesy comedy by a lesser actor. A lot of credit goes out the photography, it's superb, I felt like I could hang every frame of the movie on my wall (as is often the case with them old black and white movies). Loved it.

This film by Henri Verneuil showed Fernandel in one of his best roles. Today he is still funny as a cheeky but down-to-earth man with simple needs who is dragged into impossible situations. This is an out-of-the-ordinary "love story" between a man and and a stubborn cow (the animal of course, nothing offensive let me reassure you) called Marguerite...I like the twist at the end after all their little adventures.

Charmingly dated but worth seeing again if you are feeling a bit nostalgic !

This is Fernandel's blockbuster.Even before the war,none of his movies had made so much money.

Further detailed retrospection indicates that "La Vache et le Prisonnier" thoroughly deserved its success.Even today,when it is on TV ,it attracts figures of million people.It is not certainly weaker than Renoir's "Le Caporal Epinglé" although Verneuil is not considered an "auteur".

During WW2, a prisoner tries to escape from Germany.It will not be a "great escape" .To get unnoticed he will travel with a cow called Marguerite (=Daisy).This unusual pairing en route to the man's homeland is not out of the woods.

Based on a true story, this entertaining movie features an unexpected funny (or sad more like!) ending.

The whole family can enjoy it:the children will love Marguerite.

Had Claude Autant-Lara directed this adaptation of Jacques Antoine's 'Une histoire vraie' as originally intended, he would most certainly have cast Bourvil as anti-hero Charles Baille, not least because he and Fernandel had not spoken since their disagreements while making 'L'Auberge Rouge'. Henri Verneuil it was who stepped up to the plate and although this marked their ninth collaboration the director was by all accounts so exasperated by Fernandel's demands that he found himself wishing he were working with Bourvil. As it happened Bourvil appeared opposite Fernandel four years later in 'La Cuisine au buerre' and vowed never to work with him again!

Although this was their last film together it proved to be an unqualified triumph for them both, putting Verneuil firmly on the map and giving Fernandel his best loved and most iconic role since Don Camillo.

Set during World War II, this tale of an escaped prisoner's odyssey on foot to freedom accompanied by a bovine named Marguerite and carrying a tin bucket suits Verneuil's directorial style to a tee as it is slowly paced with no technical flourishes. The mood of the piece is enhanced immeasurably by the monochrome cinematography of Roger Hubert and a haunting score by Paul Durand. As one would expect from Fernandel there are elements of farce here but some very touching moments also. Fernandel himself is a model of restraint and his understated performance is arguably his best.

Fernandel was ever aware of the 'family audience' and this must account in part for the film's continued popularity, not to mention its depiction of the relationship that is possible between man and beast. Its universal appeal undoubtedly lies in its message, similar to that of Renoir's 'La Grande Illusion', which is that even in the grimmest of times innate Humanity is able to cross borders and transcend the barriers of language.