Faites sauter la banque! (1964) - film review

A modest shopkeeper, Victor Garnier, hands over his hard-earned savings to the director of the bank opposite his shop, to invest in shares in an oil company.  A big mistake.  When the shares become worthless, Garnier is determined to have his revenge and get back his money.  With the help of his family, he plans to dig a tunnel from the cellar beneath his shop into the bank vault.  Needless to say, nothing goes quite as planned…

This light-weight comedy is brought to life by a typically energetic and eccentric performance from Louis de Funès, at a time when the actor was just beginning to achieve stardom in France.  The film was directed by Jean Girault whose most memorable and successful collaboration with de Funès, the Gendarme series, was just around the corner.

Although quite modest compared with de Funès later comic extravaganzas, Faites sauter la banque is a greatly entertaining film, mainly on account of the script (which is just one long series of quick-fire jokes and comic situations) and the unremittingly potty performances.  In addition to de Funès, it is worth watching out for Georges Wilson’s spiteful policeman and Jean Lefebvre’s oddly philosophical road digger. Originally released in black and white, the film has recently been made available in a colour version.  Fans of the great Louis de Funès should not be disappointed with this amusing film.

© James Travers 2002

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