La Rue sans loi is a boisterous farce inspired
by the comic creations of Albert Dubout, a legendary cartoon artist of the 1940s.
Dubout's characters such as Sparadra, Anatole and Fifille are brought to life with great
gusto by a cast of talented comic performers, including André Gabriello, Paul Demange
and an outrageously dragged up Max Dalban. Louis de Funès appears in
a supporting role, more than a decade before he would become a household name in France.
Most of the jokes are well and truly past their sell-by date and the antics of Sparadra
and his gang would be much funnier in a strip cartoon, but the film still has a certain
charm, evoking the madcap comedy of the Keystone Kops.
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Film Synopsis
'La Rue sans loi' is a fitting name for a thoroughfare in Paris where there
appears to be a total absence of the rule of law. Crime is so endemic
in this benighted neighbourhood that no policeman would ever dare to set
foot here - and setting a foot here is one of the most dangerous things you
can do. Motorists take lessons on how to knock down as many pedestrians
as they can! Presiding over this safe haven for criminals is
Sparadra, a feared gang leader who owns a café which is the base of
his nefarious operations.
Sparadra's next criminal exploit will be to rob the wealthy Countess de la
Trille when she is hosting one of her famous evening parties. The theft
turns out to be doddle, but the jewels are fakes. Even hardened criminals
have a heart, and Sparadra has lost his to Fifille, a sensitive creature
who has the physique of an elephant. By seducing Fifille's husband
Anatole, the gang leader's loyal accomplice Emma manages to obtain the combination
to the countess's safe. At last, Sparadra and his merry gang have struck
lucky - or so they think. Crime doesn't always pay, even in the road
without law...
Cast:André Gabriello (Sparadra),
Annette Poivre (Comtesse de La Trille),
Paul Demange (Anatole),
Albert Dinan (François),
Nathalie Nattier (Emma),
Max Dalban (Fifille),
Fernand Gilbert (Le capitaine),
Louis de Funès (Hippolyte),
Amédée (Hercule),
Luc Andrieux (Le cambrioleur),
Jean Bouchiè (Un agent),
Pierre Clarel (Le mendiant),
Hubert Deschamps (Le monsieur qui vend son assiette),
Roger Desmare (Le garçon de café),
Renée Gardès (Petit rôle),
Mag-Avril (La dame à l'auto),
Marcel Mérovée (Oscar),
Claude Nicot (Barbet),
Georges Paulais (Le monsieur distingué),
Léon Pauléon (Un agent)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 100 min
Aka:Street Without a King
French cinema during the Nazi Occupation
Even in the dark days of the Occupation, French cinema continued to impress with its artistry and diversity.
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.
In the 1920s French cinema was at its most varied and stylish - witness the achievements of Abel Gance, Marcel L'Herbier, Jean Epstein and Jacques Feyder.