Le Gendarme se marie (1968) - film review

At the start of the summer holidays, the Saint-Tropez police launch a major offensive against dangerous drivers.  Marechal Cruchot relishes the assignment, which he pursues with a manic zeal.  Whilst chasing a speeding Mercedes, he himself ends up committing driving offences, for which he is severely reprimanded.  Later, Cruchot finds the speeding car parked outside his police barracks and he is determined to bring its driver to book.  It turns out that the driver is none other than Josépha, the widow of a highly regarded police colonel.  When they meet, Cruchot falls instantly in love...

The third in Jean Girault’s popular gendarme series returns to the picturesque setting of Saint-Tropez with the by now familiar blend of slapstick and quick-fire dialogue.   The quality of the comic performances – particularly from the incomparable Louis de Funès – makes up for the rambling and implausible plot (exactly why would the gorgeous Claude Gensac fall for a petulant and odious little gendarme?)

The best way to appreciate these gendarme films is not to take them remotely seriously, but to just mentally switch off and lap up the good-humoured comedy.  The high point of the film is the comic stunt car chase at the end of the film: even though it is not terribly well filmed (the editing is quite poor), it is still quite hilarious.   Also, the petty rivalry between de Funès Cruchot and Michel Galabru’s Gerber just seems to get better and better...

© James Travers 2001

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