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La Cuisine au beurre
1963 Comedy
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Credits
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Director: Gilles Grangier
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Script: Raymond Castans, Jean Lévitte, Pierre Lévy-Corti, Jean Manse
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Photo: Roger Hubert
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Music: Jean Marion
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Cast: Fernandel (Fernand Jouvin),
Bourvil (Andre Colombey),
Claire Maurier (Christiane),
Andrex (Pelletan),
Mag-Avril (Mme Rose),
Edmond Ardisson (Carlotti),
Henri Arius (Le maire),
Laurence Lignères (Marinette),
Evelyne Séléna (Louise),
Gaston Rey (Espinasse),
André Tomasi (Gervasoni),
Roger Bernard (Le petit),
Henri Vilbert (Maître Sarrazin),
Anne-Marie Carrière (Gerda),
Michel Galabru (Maximin),
Georges Audoubert (Un client),
Frédéric Gérard (Un journaliste),
Gilles Grangier (L'instituteur),
Georges Rostan (Le marmiton)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 82 min; B&W
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Aka: My Wife's Husband
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Summary
A former prisoner-of-war, Fernand Jouvin has spent the last 20 years living in Austria
with his attentive girlfriend Gerda. However, when Gerda’s husband returns
from Siberia, Fernand has no choice but to return to his home in northern France.
Arriving home, he is surprised to find that his wife, Christiane, has married her head
cook, André and that his demotic bar-café has been transformed into an exclusive
gourmet restaurant. The only solution is for Christiane to get Fernand to agree
to a divorce. Fernand agrees, until he gets into a fierce row with André...
Review
Two French comic legends, Fernandel and Bourvil, are united in this light comic farce,
assuming their real life names for the parts they play in the film. Although
less successful than the Bourvil-de Funès pairing in later films, the casting works
well, Fernandel’s easy-going personality sparring Bourvil’s hyperactivity
and vulnerable sensitivity to great comic effect.
In fact, the film relies almost entirely on its lead comic actors for its success.
The plot is rambling, the dialogue is contrived and some of the film's most memorable
comic situations appear cumbersome and overly theatrical. In spite of all that,
Bourvil and Fernandel bring something approaching magic to the film, making this a heart-warming
light comedy which will appeal to many.
Although barely remembered outside of his native France, Gilles Grangier directed a number
of popular French films in the 1950s and 1960s. La cuisine au beurre was
one of his most successful films, with over 6 million ticket sales in France.
© James Travers 2001
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