L'Âge ingrat (1964)
Directed by Gilles Grangier

Film Review

This film boasts not one but two icons of French cinema - Jean Gabin and Fernandel.  They had previously appeared together in three films in the 1930s before each went on to forge his own path to stardom.  In 1963, they came together to found their own film production company, Gafer - the name deriving from the first letters of their stage names - whose first film was L'Âge ingrat . Gabin and Fernandel would make a further 8 films for Gafer, but never appearing on screen together.

L'Âge ingrat was directed by Gilles Grangier, who was renowned at the time in France for his popular film comedies which featured big name actors.  Whilst the French New Wave was making its mark, traditional directors such as Grangier continued to churn out uninspired fare such as this, feeding the popular demand for unchallenging cinema without offering much in the way of artistic flair or imagination.   Whilst L'Âge ingrat has a certain charm, with one or two amusing comic interludes, it's overall pretty dull and anaemic, with neither Gabin nor Fernandel at anything like his best.

Film Synopsis

After meeting in Paris whilst studying for a degree, Antoine Lartigue and Marie Malhouin soon discover they are in love and agree to tie the connubial knot as soon as they can.  Before doing so, they decide it might be a good idea if their families got to know each other a bit better. As Marie's parents lives in Normandy, a region that sees far more rain than sun, Antoine anticipates that they will welcome a few weeks' carefree holiday in his part of the world, which is sunny Provence.  As it turns out, he couldn't be more wrong.  Marie's hard-to-please father, Émile, finds nothing remotely attractive about the sun-scorched Riviera, which is far too hot and crowded for his liking.

Antoine's own father, Adolphe, likewise has plenty to moan about.  Dismayed by the miserable attitude of his rude Normandy guest, he begins to wish that Émile had stayed at home in the rain-sodden north.   After a fairly belligerent start to their holiday, the two old men finally manage to set aside their differences and soon they are acting as if they are the best of friends.  Unfortunately, by this stage a rift has developed between the young lovers.  After a fierce row, Marie runs off by herself and Antoine goes hurrying after her.  Now an inseparable pair, Émile and Adolphe join forces and throw themselves into the task of reuniting their wayward offspring before the rift becomes permanent...