Les affreux

After working with the past masters of the French cinema (Renoir, Duvivier, Decoin ,Clouzot) and even Hitchcock ("the man who know too much " 1st version),Pierre Fresnay had the most dismal end of career you can think of for a major artist ; at the time,he was more interested is stage acting and his movies suffered accordingly .

Probably influenced by Sacha Guitry ("assassins et voleur" "la poison" ),all the film revolves around a good idea:Fresnay has unfairly spent eighteen months in jail and he obtains a credit for offenses till he really gets what he deserves ( that is to say offenses which are worth eighteen month imprisonment .)

It may sound inept ,but Guitry would have pulled it off with gusto;although a talented director who made estimable movies , Marc Allégret was not able to rise to the occasion ; even the cast and credits imitate Guitry : it's written backwards and spoken to boot. But the film is incredibly stupid.

In an Oil Company, due to a confusion, César Dandieu, honest cash clerk and Fernand Mouchette, freakish inventor, change their suitcases, same models. So that, at the end of the day-work César gives to his Manager the case pertaining to Fernand. This suit-case contains a prototype of a new carburettor which was to be proposed to the Oil-Company, instead of the cash money that César was supposed to bring. He is sent to jail, although not guilty. In the meantime, Fernand has brought César's case at home, where he has not even time to open it, being caught by gendarmes (constables) for late military service. In his flat, his charming fiancée, Adèle, leads, as well as him, a Bohemian life : she doesn't care neither for the suit-case, nor open it. Back from jail for César and from military service for Fernand, they meet by accident, become friends, and decide a revenge upon Human Society. Being dishonest, they become very rich. At last, they will give back this unfair money, start again, honestly, and become millionaires. Conclusion : a moral & family French comedy from the 50's