Le Quart d’heure américain (1982)

Le Quart d’heure américain is a French comedy romance film first released in 1982, directed by Philippe Galland.  The film stars Anémone, Gérard Jugnot, Jean-Pierre Bisson, Brigitte Catillon and Michel Dussarat.  It has also been released under the title: Ladies’ Turn.  Our overall rating for this film is: mediocre.


An aspiring radio presenter Bonnie is hosting a call-in programme which results in the luckless Ferdinand driving his breakdown trunk off the road.  Bonnie goes to his rescue and, out of pity, invites him back to her apartment.  They have a whirlwind romance but their differences soon drive them apart...

Despite entertaining performances from lead actors Anémone and Gérard Jugnot, this is a somewhat empty romantic comedy which appears to owe more to low budget American comedies than to French cinema.  It is not all bad, however, and some of the comic situations are quite amusing.  The film derives its unusual title from the so-called "American hours" at French dance parties in the 1950s, when women would ask the men to dance.

© James Travers 2000

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