Les Femmes s'en balancent (1954)
Directed by Bernard Borderie

Film Review

Although it is barely recognised today, the French film noir, or polar, was hugely popular in the 1950s and 1960s, probably the most successful genre in French cinema.  All but a handful of these films are widely known today, and these tend to have survived mainly because they feature famous actors such as Gabin, Belmondo and Delon.  These include such timeless classics as Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Doulos and Le Samouraï , and Henri Verneuil's Mélodie en sous-sol and Clan des Siciliens .

For each of these film which have stood the test of time, many others have fallen by the wayside.  Surprisingly, this later category includes one of the most popular series of French films ever made.  These featured FBI agent, private detective, all-round crime-fighter and inveterate womaniser Lemmy Caution.

The Lemmy Caution films were based on a series of novels by the popular British writer, Peter Cheynay and starred an American expatriate, Eddie Constantine.  With his irresistible charm and rugged good looks, Constantine was a popular film hero who played the role of Lemmy Caution for 15 years, after which he tumbled into obscurity.  Today, Constantine is probably best known for his appearance as Caution in Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film, Alphaville , an outrageous, almost surreal, skit on the film noir genre.

Les Femmes s'en balancent is Constantine's third outing as the happy-go-lucky, gun-toting detective.  Although the plot is pretty unsophisticated (certainly by today's standards), the film is tirelessly entertaining, and this is almost entirely down to Constantine's charismatic and ebullient performance.

If the film had a little more in the way of suspense and intrigue, this would undoubtedly be rated as a classic.  Alas, the repetitive nature of the fight scenes is somewhat trying on the patience and the film's denouement is all to easily anticipated.  Fortunately, the film also offers some entertaining diversions, particularly if it is viewed as an unashamed parody of the American film noir genre.  Pigez?

Film Synopsis

FBI agent Lemmy Caution investigates the mysterious death of Gransworth Anmes, a wealthy night club owner.  Anmes apparently committed suicide by driving his car off a partially completed bridge shortly after having given his wife a huge sum in forged bank notes.  Before he knows it, Lemmy Caution is soon caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue…