Légère et court vêtue (1953)

Légère et court vêtue is a French film comedy first released in 1953, directed by Jean Laviron.  The film stars Madeleine LeBeau, Jean Parédès, Jacqueline Pierreux, Pierre Destailles and Nicole Jonesco.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Jacques Lorette, a workaholic lawyer, considers himself fortunate to have a faithful wife, Jacqueline.  At least he does so until the day when a stranger walks into his office and hands him 300 thousand francs to atone for having had an affair with Jacqueline for the past two years.  Outraged, Lorette engages the next man he sees – Paul Duvernois – as a private detective to follow his wife’s every move.   The lawyer is not please to learn that Jacqueline has indeed been seeing another man – Pierre – although the relationship has until now been platonic.  Whilst Pierre has a girlfriend who is keen to marry him, he is actually in love with Jacqueline, and so he is delighted when the latter turns up on his doorstep having being thrown out by her jealous husband.  Jacqueline is right to think that she and Pierre are caught up in some kind of game - but who is moving the pieces and why...?

There are plenty of laughs to be had in this galloping French farce – even if the plot does become convoluted and frankly a bit potty towards the end.  It’s a very familiar set up – a marital rift caused by a silly misunderstanding that gets totally blown up out of proportion – but a few unexpected plot twists and the spirited contributions from an ebullient cast make it fresh and appealing.  In one of his first substantial supporting roles, Louis de Funès shows that unerring talent for comedy (note the trademark grimaces, voices and hand business) that will ultimately make him an icon of French cinema.  None of his co-stars in this film would enjoy the immortality he achieved, although some deserve to be better remembered than they are – Madeleine LeBeau and Jean Parédès certainly.

© James Travers 2006

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