Film Review
Jean Renoir's most outrageous comedy, based on a stage play by Georges Feydeau, provides
ample material for its comic stars to prove their worth. Marguerite Pierry,
Jacques Louvigny and Michel Simon each provide a comic performance that surpasses genius,
whilst a then comparatively unknown actor Fernandel unleashes his talent on an unsuspecting
world. Although not as noteworthy as Renoir's later films of the same decade,
On
purge bébé is nonetheless a competently realised comic farce, showing
the director at his most joyously unrestrained. What links this film to Renoir's
greater films is its carefree mockery of Bourgeois respectability, and seldom does the
French Bourgeoisie come in for more mockery than in this hilariously funny film, all in
the worst possible taste.
© James Travers 2002
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Next Jean Renoir film:
Boudu sauvé des eaux (1932)
Film Synopsis
Monsieur Follavoine, a leading porcelain manufacturer, has perfected what
he believes to be the world's first totally unbreakable chamber pot.
This he hopes to sell to an important government official, Chouilloux, who
is looking to place a large order for the French army. Since it is
widely known that Chouilloux's wife has been carrying on an affair with another
man, Truchet, Follavoine has seen fit to invite not only Madame Chouilloux
to the meeting at his house, but also her lover. The valuable client's
arrival coincides with an ill-timed domestic incident which rapidly gets
out of hand. It seems that Follavoine's capricious little boy Hervé,
nicknamed Toto, is suffering from constipation and refuses to take a dose
of laxative.
Having recently suffered from the same complaint himself, Chouilloux offers
to help Madame Follavoine in purging her troublesome son, but in vain.
In the ensuing confusion, two of Follavoine's supposedly unbreakable pots
get smashed to pieces. Then, when Chouilloux proves unresponsive to
her charms, Madame Follavoine turns on him and calls him a cuckold, just
as Madame Chouilloux shows up, in the company of her not-so-secret lover.
By now the porcelain maker is at his wits' end. Without thinking, he imbibes
the cursed glass of laxative himself before storming out of his
house. Thinking that her little boy has at last taken his medicine,
Madame Follavoine proudly caresses him.
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.