Film Review
This light-weight caper comedy is brought to life by a typically ebullient performance
from Louis de Funès, at a time when the actor was just beginning to achieve stardom
in France after almost two decades of virtual anonymity despite over a hundred
film appearances.
The film was directed by Jean Girault whose most memorable and successful
collaboration with de Funès, the
Gendarme series, was just around the corner.
Immediately prior to this, Girault and de Funès had scored a notable
box office hit with
Pouic-Pouic (1963),
the film that finally made the comic actor a star.
Although pretty lowkey compared with de Funès's later comedy extravaganzas
(which include the perennial favourite
La Grande vadrouille (1966)),
Faites sauter la banque still has great entertainment value, thanks to a script
that abounds with quick-fire jokes and comic situations and some unremittingly
potty performances. In addition to de Funès, it is worth watching out for
Georges Wilson's spiteful policeman and Jean Lefebvre's oddly philosophical
road digger. Jean-Pierre Marielle, another immensely talented actor, puts
in an appearance near the star of his illustrious career and
Claude Piéplu, as ever, gives great value in an early role.
Originally released in black and white, the film has recently been made available
in a colour version. Fans of the great Louis de Funès are unlikely to be disappointed
with this amusing film which might well have been titled
Du rififi chez les clowns.
© James Travers 2002
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Jean Girault film:
Le Gendarme de St. Tropez (1964)
Film Synopsis
Victor Garnier is the proud owner of a little shop that sells fishing tackle.
On the advice of his banker, André Durand-Mareuil, he invests his
entire savings in shares in an oil company that are expected to leap in value
at any moment. In fact, the share price collapses immediately after
the transaction has been completed and Victor is left without a bean.
Ruined and bitter, the infuriated shopkeeper decides to take his revenge
by robbing Durand-Mareuil's bank, which just happens to be across the road
from his shop.
Victor's family appear to be as enthusiastic about the criminal escapade
as he is. With their help, Victor hastily sets about digging a tunnel
under the road, confident that he can break into the bank's underground vaults
and steal what he believes to be a fair compensation for all the money he
has lost through his ill-advised speculation. All goes well until his
daughter Isabelle brings home her new boyfriend Philippe to meet her family.
It turns out that Philippe is a trainee banker who has just started working
for the loathed Durand-Mareuil...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.