Mon curé chez les pauvres (1956)
Directed by Henri Diamant-Berger

Film Review

Henri-Diamant Berger's sequel to Mon curé chez les riches (1952) sees the familiar character actor Yves Deniaud reprising the role of Abbé Pellegrin, and doing so with his customary humane charm.  Despite Deniaud's efforts, ably assisted by a distinguished cast that includes Arletty, Pauline Carton, Jean Tissier and Raymond Bussières, the film is surprisingly dull and, in common with most of Berger's later films, more likely to provoke ennui than mirth.  The subplot involving Abbé Pellegrin's efforts to champion the cause of Paris's homeless poor has a resonance with Abbé Pierre's real-life campaign, which began in earnest just a few years after this film was made.

Film Synopsis

Whilst raising funds to restore his church, Abbé Pellegrin is conned into selling a valuable Church artefact for a pittance.  When the mistake is discovered, he agrees with his bishop to try to recover the artefact.  On his arrival in Paris, he takes up the case of tenants facing eviction from their lodgings.  He then receives an offer of marriage from an attractive woman...