La Loi c’est la loi (1958) - film review

The small town of Assola lies across France’s border with Italy, a fact which is about to cause no end of distress for the dedicated customs inspector Ferdinand Pastorelli.  Presently, Ferdinand is preoccupied with chasing Giuseppe La Paglia, a wily smuggler whom he has known since childhood and who is married to his ex-wife.  Just when Ferdinand is finally about to bring Giuseppe to book he learns a terrible truth – he was in fact born an Italian, and so has no right to arrest the smuggler.  Worse, Ferdinand must abandon his home and family in France and begin a new life (across the road) in Italy.  Taking pity on his old friend, Giuseppe devises a plan by which Ferdinand can reclaim his French nationality.  Unfortunately, the scheme backfires, and Ferdinand ends us neither French nor Italian.  He becomes – nobody!

The eternally popular comic actor Fernandel joins forces with his equally famous Italian counterpart, Toto, in this highly enjoyable comedy, one of Fernandel’s better films from the 1950.   Part boisterous farce, part satire on the absurdities of Italian and French Law, the film has a wide appeal.  Unlike many popular comedies from this era, it stands up surprisingly well today thanks to the great comic performances from its two stars and some impressive production values.  The film was directed by Christian-Jaque, a respected and very productive French filmmaker who previously worked with Fernandel on some of his greatest successes, notably Un de la légion (1936) and François 1er (1937).

© James Travers 2007

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