La Septième compagnie au clair de lune (1977) - film review

Three members of the ill-fated 7th Company are reunited in occupied France in 1942.  Pithivier and Tassin accept an invitation to stay with their superior Chaudard at the latter’s home in the country.  Whilst out hunting rabbits one evening, Chaudard and his two subordinates manage to get caught up in a resistance operation.  To avoid being shot by the Germans, the three men head for the Breton coast…

The third and mercifully final entry in Robert Lamoureux’s “Septième compagnie” trilogy retreads a lot of familiar ground but still offers a few good laughs along the way.  There are more than a few similarities with the 1966 film La Grande vadrouille , except that the latter film is far better made and is at least 10 times more entertaining.  Pierre Mondy appears wasted in this unsophisticated comedy, out-classing most of his pretty non-descript co-stars merely by the casual raise of an eyebrow.  The script shows little imagination and the direction often feels tired and complacent.  All the same, the film has its charms and has some very funny moments (notably the silent comedy quayside sequence).  Although unlikely to score many points with a foreign audience, the film still has an enduring popularity in France.

© James Travers 2004

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