Monsieur Leguignon, lampiste (1952) Directed by Maurice Labro
Comedy / Drama
aka: Mr. Leguignon Lampiste
Film Review
Based on a highly popular radio series, 'Le Tribunal', Monsieur Leguignon, lampiste is
a heart-warming mix of comedy and melodrama, presumably intended to help lift the spirits
of the working classes in the midst of post-war economic gloom. The film certainly
has some bold left-wing undertones, with solidarity of the working classes, parodying
of the French legal system and outright condemnation of self-serving money traders being
its main themes. Yves Deniaud gives a sympathetic performance as an ordinary
working class man who manages to defeat bad luck and human malice, through a combination
of naïve optimism and generosity of spirit. The great Louis de Funès
appears fleetingly in this film, well over a decade before he established himself as one
of France's leading film comics. The film's popularity led to a sequel,
Leguignon guérisseur (1954),
with Deniaud reprising his most famous role.
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Film Synopsis
Diogène Leguignon is a humble railway employee whose good intentions
rarely result in a happy outcome. Evicted from his home, he and his
wife are forced to take up residence in a rundown shack in a less than desirable
part of town. One evening, a gang of local children break into his
new home and uncover a large stash of treasure underneath the floorboards.
Leguignon's attempts to claim ownership of the unexpected treasure result in him being
dragged into court and branded a crook. After coming out of prison,
the good natured lamplighter gets together with his neighbours and outlines
his plan to use the money obtained from the sale of the treasure to construct
a new apartment block on the site of his dilapidated house. Leguignon
needs more than good will to complete his dream project. When the money
runs out he has to go into partnership with some unscrupulous bankers.
It is then that his troubles really begin...
Script: Claude Boissol, Jacques Emmanuel, Pierre Ferrari (play),
R. Picq (play)
Cinematographer: Jean Lehérissey
Cast: Yves Deniaud (Diogène Leguignon),
Jane Marken (Mme. Leguignon),
Bernard La Jarrige (Maître Follenfant),
Christiane Barry (Louise),
Jacques Emmanuel (M. Pabroc - l'escroc),
Pierre Magnier (Le général de Saint Bouquet),
Albert Duvaleix (Le président de la 9ème chambre correctionnelle),
Marcel Josz (Le président de la 11ème chambre correctionnelle),
Robert Lussac (Le président de la 13ème chambre correctionnelle),
Claude Boissol (Le substitut 1),
Jean Brunel (Le substitut 2),
Georges Tourreil (Le substitut 2),
Jean Carmet (M. Grosjean),
Louis de Funès (Un habitant du quartier),
Paul Mercey (Un habitant du quartier),
Georges Baconnet (Un voisin),
Jacqueline Johel (Une habitante du quartier),
Jacques Micaelli (Un habitant du quartier),
Nicole Marée (Une gosse du quartier),
Michel Rob (Un gosse du quartier)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 105 min
Aka:Mr. Leguignon Lampiste
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