Folie douce (1951)
Directed by Jean-Paul Paulin

Film Review

Director Jean-Paul Paulin concluded his mostly undistinguished career with this asinine comedy, which barely manages to fill its full ninety minutes (not that it matters, because you'll be fast asleep way before the film ends).  In the 1930s, Paulin turned out a number of noteworthy films that stand up well today - these include his early comedy L'Abbé Constantin (1933) and worthwhile propaganda piece Trois de Saint-Cyr (1939).  Folie douce, Paulin's grim directorial swan song, confines its originality and verve to its opening credits sequence, although this has the unintended effect of totally depleting the spectator's tolerance for André Gabriello, whose subsequent appearance in the main feature soon becomes unbearable beyond words (when he plays the clown Gabriello is the cinematic equivalent of the medieval torture rack, only less funny).  Louis de Funès might have brightened up at least one or two frames of this muddled, messy comedy misfire, but alas his contribution apparently ended up on the cutting room floor.  Paulin would have done better to have kept the bit with de Funès and thrown the rest in the bin.

Film Synopsis

In a moment of madness, Monsieur Lancer-Léger, the chairman of a small company, divides his annual profits up between himself and his loyal colleagues.  He then sets out on a holiday with three of his employees, little knowing that he will end up getting married...