Mademoiselle et son gang (1957) Directed by Jean Boyer
Comedy / Crime / Thriller
Film Review
Just as her singing career was starting to take off in the mid-1950s,
Line Renaud lent her talents to a number of modest films, most of which
now languish in obscurity. Mademoiselle
et son gang is one such film, one of director Jean Boyer's least
memorable films, even though it is a likeable entry in the
comedy-thriller genre. Renaud is well-utilised in a
made-to-measure comedy role which makes use of her singing skills in
one lively number, and she works well alongside her co-stars Jean
Carmet and Christian Duvaleix, who form an effective double act.
Noël Roquevert gives the film some added comedy muscle as Line
Renaud's indignant father, with Philippe Nicaud suitably cast as her
oily, not-what-he-seems boyfriend. It would be some years before
the possible effect of crime fiction on real criminal activity would be
taken seriously but here's a film from the 1950s that broaches the
matter ahead of its time, albeit in a tongue-in-cheek vein. The
gags are few and far between but Mademoiselle
et son gang makes an engaging little time waster which is amply
redeemed by Renaud's feisty performance.
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Next Jean Boyer film: Sénéchal le magnifique (1957)
Film Synopsis
Dédé and Juju are two small-time crooks who, lacking imagination,
resort to seeking inspiration in the manuscripts entered in a crime writers'
competition. The only story that grabs their attention is the
one written by Sam O'Connor, who is in truth Agnès Bourdieux, the
daughter of a police inspector. Knowing nothing of Agnès's real
identity, Dédé and Juju approach her and set about trying to
gain her confidence by passing themselves off as publishers. The aspiring
writer soon sees through the deception but by this time she has already been
adopted by a gang of outlaws as their leader. The crooks are harbouring
under the misapprehension that Agnès is the daughter of a notorious
criminal who happens to be named Sam O'Connor. Agnès's first
criminal enterprise off the printed page goes horribly awry when Mr O'Connor
escapes from prison and finds he has been replaced by the daughter he never
knew he had...
Script: Rodolphe-Maurice Arlaud, Jean Boyer, Serge Véber (dialogue)
Cinematographer: Charles Suin
Music: Louis Gasté
Cast: Line Renaud (Agnès Bourdieux),
Noël Roquevert (L'inspecteur Bourdieux),
Philippe Nicaud (Paul),
Jean-Jacques Delbo (O'Connor),
Georgette Anys (Gravos),
Paul Bonifas (La patron du bistrot),
Louis Bugette (Jojo),
René-Louis Lafforgue (La Fourchette),
Max Elloy (Victor),
Jack Ary (Émile l'Africain),
Henri Garcin (L'ami snob de Christian),
Raymond Gérôme (L'avocat),
André Dalibert (Marcel),
Sylvia Lopez (Marie-Christine),
Jacqueline Marbaux (La 'respectueuse'),
Christian Duvaleix (Juju),
Jean Carmet (Dédé),
Jenny Astruc (Petit rôle),
Robert Blome (Un consommateur),
Sacha Briquet (Émile - le serveur)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 90 min
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