Patate (1964)
Directed by Robert Thomas

Film Review

After making a reasonable job of his first film, La Bonne soupe (1964), playwright-turned director Robert Thomas tackles his second film, an adaptation of a Marcel Achard stage play, as if it were a solemn duty.  Lacking the inspired touch and sheer creative zaniness of Thomas's debut offering, Patate would have been a grim affair were it not for a lively central performance from the great Pierre Dux.  Only an actor of Dux's charm and skill would get away with relegating both Danielle Darrieux and Jean Marais to the role of supporting artistes, and the fact that he does so with consummate ease is testament not just to his ability, but also to the respect he was owed by these two cinematic icons.

The one saving grace of Patate is that it allows Pierre Dux to take centre stage in a film, something he did not do often enough in his long and busy career, and as the likeable inventor eaten up by jealousy of a friend's success he is both amusing and tragic.  Marais and Darrieux are really just bait to draw an audience (Darrieux does at least get to sing a song), as this is clearly Dux's film from start to finish, with some noteworthy support from the likes of Anne Vernon, Jane Marken, Noël Roquevert and Hubert Deschamps.   Sylvie Vartan makes little impression as Dux's wayward daughter, and you can see why she had far greater success as a singer than as an actress.  After this amiable little romp, Robert Thomas would direct one more worthy film before tumbling head-first into mediocrity with his bargain basement sex comedy Mon curé chez les nudistes (1982).

Film Synopsis

Léon Rollo is an inventor who, try as he might, struggles to find a buyer for his marvellous creations.  Meanwhile, his childhood friend Noël Carradine has made a phenomenal success of his career as a businessman.  When Noël refuses to help him on his terms Léon finally allows his jealousy to get the better of him.  An ideal opportunity to settle some old scores presents itself when the inventor discovers that his daughter Alexa has been carrying on a secret love affair with Noël.  If the latter's millionaire wife were to hear of this Noël would be a ruined man...