Summary
During the Second French Empire, a modest farmer Jules Haudouin makes his fortune thanks
to his green-skinned mare. Haudouin hires an artist to paint a portrait of his treasured
horse, and the painting continues to bring good luck after the horse’s death. When
Haudouin dies, one of his sons, Honoré, inherits his farm, whilst the other, Ferdinand,
becomes a veterinary surgeon. Jealous of the Haudouins’ good fortune, the Malorets,
a rival family, never pass up an occasion to cause trouble. During the 1870 war
with Prussia, Zèphe Maloret denounces Honoré to the occupying power.
To save her sons, Madame Haudouin allows a young Prussian officer to have his way with
her. Years later, the shame of this incident continues to torment Honoré,
and he is determined to have his revenge on his enemy Zèphe Maloret…
Review
A few years after their successful collaboration on
La Traversée de Paris (1956), director
Claude Autant-Lara and the popular comic actor Bourvil worked together on this light-hearted
farce, based on a best-selling novel by Marcel Aymé. One of Autant-Lara’s
more cheerful films, La Jument verte benefits
from an exceptionally talented cast, which includes such big names as Francis Blanche,
Yves Robert, Georges Wilson and Marie Déa, as well as the great Bourvil (who, needless
to say, gives great value). In contrast to many popular French comedies of this
period, the film had a substantial budget and consequentially exceptional production values,
not least of which is the sumptuous colour photography. Although not quite as controversial
as some of Autant-Lara’s earlier films, some of the jokes do come close to the limit of
what was acceptable at the time, and the film’s risqué trailer was banned for an
under-eighteen audience.
© James Travers 2007
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© James Travers 2007
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Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
- Best French films of the 2000s
- Best of the French New Wave
- Best of French film comedy
- The best 100 French films
- The most successful French films
- Great French filmmakers
Related links
- Other French films of the 1950s
- The best French films of the 1950s
- Other French comedies
- The best French comedies
- Biography and films of Claude Autant-Lara
To buy this film
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Credits
- Director: Claude Autant-Lara
- Script: Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost, Marcel Aymé (novel)
- Photo: Jacques Natteau
- Music: René Cloërec
- Cast: Bourvil (Honoré Haudouin), Sandra Milo (Marguerite Maloret), Valérie Lagrange (Juliette Haudouin), Francis Blanche (Ferdinand Haudouin), Julien Carette (Philibert), Yves Robert (Zèphe Maloret), Marie Déa (Anaïs Maloret), Guy Bertil (Toucheur), Mireille Perrey (Mme Haudouin), Georges Wilson (Jules Haudouin), Amédée (Ernest), Marie Mergey (Adelaide), Claude Sainlouis (Noël Maloret), Nicole Mirel (Aline), Martine Havet (Clotilde)
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Runtime: 94 min
- Aka: The Green Mare; The Green Mare’s Nest
Similar films
If you like this film you may also like the following:- L’Aile ou la cuisse (1976)
- Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (1973)
- Les Carabiniers (1963)
- La Folie des grandeurs (1971)
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- Ludwig (1972)
- Monsieur Vincent (1947)
- Le Mouton à cinq pattes (1954)
- Oscar (1967)
- Perceval le Gallois (1978)
- Themroc (1973)
- Tout le monde il est beau, tout le monde il est gentil (1972)
- Les Vieux de la vieille (1960)
- Volpone (1941)
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Comedy / History






