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Overview
Quand passent les faisans is a French crime film first released in 1965,
directed by Edouard Molinaro.
The film stars Paul Meurisse, Bernard Blier, Jean Lefebvre, Michel Serrault and Yvonne Clech.
It has also been released under the title: When the Peasants Pass.
Our overall rating for this film is: very good.
Synopsis
Small-time swindler Arsène Baudu comes unstuck when he attempts
to pull a con-trick on police inspector Hyacinthe Camus.
Fortunately, the latter has reasons of his own for turning to a life of
crime so he suggests going into partnership with Arsène.
They will make a dishonest living selling bogus diplomas to all and
sundry. Alas, the scam falls flat when their second victim,
crooked financier Alexandre Larsan-Bellac, sees through their little
game. Impressed by their apparent air of mediocrity, Alexandre
persuades Arsène and Hyacinthe to work for him on a swindle of
an altogether grander kind. They intend to con Portuguese
businessman Ribero into buying a large quantity of worthless Russian
shares. The scheme might have worked had it not been for
Alexandre’s flirtations with Madame Patterson, a wealthy widow who is
not quite what she appears...
Film Review
Quand passent les faisans is a
scintillating French comedy that deserves to be ranked alongside
similar crime parodies Le Monocle noir (1961), Les
Tontons flingueurs (1963) and Les
Barbouzes (1964), particularly as it features two of the
stars of these classics, Paul Meurisse and Bernard Blier. The
film is directed with flair by a young Edouard Molinaro, the future
director of such spirited comedies as L’Emmerdeur
(1973) and La Cage aux folles (1978), and
scripted by screenwriting legend Michel Audiard, whose penchant for wit
enlivened many a French comedy in the 1960s and 70s.As ever, the incomparable Meurisse and Blier give great value as their familiar comedy personae, the former cool and elegant, the latter a wide-eyed paranoiac who looks as though he is about to explode at any moment. Jean Lefebvre and Michel Serrault complete the comedy quartet to perfection, whilst Yvonne Clech, Claire Maurier and the ubiquitous Robert Dalban provide some sterling support as back-up artistes. Although somewhat less well-known than Les Tontons flingueurs, Quand passent les faisans is just as enjoyably madcap and offers as many laughs, thanks to a gag-encrusted script, Molinaro’s breezy directorial style and the unique talents of some great comedy performers. Crime may not pay, but it can be excruciatingly funny when it is played for laughs. © James Travers 2011 Write a review for this film... User Comments
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Related links
More French ComedyRecent DVD releases |
Credits
Similar films:
If you like this film you may also like the following: À bout de souffle (1960) Bande à part (1964) Les Barbouzes (1964) Le Cerveau (1969) Le Corniaud (1965) Coup de torchon (1981) L’Emmerdeur (1973) L’Ennemi public no 1 (1953) Le Grand blond avec une chaussure noire (1972) La Métamorphose des cloportes (1965) Nuits rouges (1974) Les Tontons flingueurs (1963) Le Trio infernal (1974) Vivement dimanche! (1983) |


