Des pissenlits par la racine (1964)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Georges Lautner

Writers:

Clarence Weff (novel) and
Georges Lautner (writer) ...

Release Date:

6 May 1964 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Jockey Jack has a bill open with a gangster just released from jail. He somehow manages to parry the...

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Knife Attack | Horse Race | Backstage | Theatre

Cast

Louis de Funès	...	Jockey Jack
Michel Serrault	...	Jérôme
Mireille Darc	...	Rockie La Braise
Maurice Biraud	...	Jo Arengeot
Francis Blanche	...	Absalon
Raymond Meunier	...	La Douane
Hubert Deschamps	...	Général Fréderic Cédille
Gianni Musi	...	Riton, dit 'Pommes-Chips'
Barbara Brand	...	La comédienne qui joue Sonia
Raymone
Paola Barbara	...	La comédienne qui joue Sonia
Colette Régis	...	Christine
Hélène Laffly	...	Une invitée de Christine
Malka Ribowska	...	La comtesse
Simone Landry	...	Une invitée de Christine

Also Known As:

7-9-18 da Parigi un cadavere per Rocky (Italy)
Salad by the Roots (International: English title)

Runtime:

95 min | West Germany:77 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) (w)

Company:

Ardennes Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When the gangster throws the knife after Jockey Jack, it ends up sticking in the framework at an impossible angle.

Soundtrack:

Blues

voilà, finally a genius french comedy

France as we all know is famous for their art-house flicks, the new wave, the new new wave and of course old school gangster flicks. therefore, i was amazed to find this gem of a gangster spoof funny movie. you know a movie is good, when you can't even tell its plot, a. because it too nebulous/zany, b. it would ruin it for you. it has more twists than a road winding along the ocean front of California and it runs like a well oiled Peugeot (i know) from a vintage class. fast and so so smooth.

it starts with a gangster who just got out of jail, named Pomme-Chips (hehehe...french fries, genius)...who's out to get his revenge on the guy who stole his girl. he's got friends, there's gambling, the guy he's after has a cousin who's in a play, his girlfriend gets seduced again...they all meet in a bar, then a play house, an elevator, a party with a general, a huge viola has a significant cameo, skeletons and so on. i really just can't tell you more about the story, but it will not bore you for a second.

the dialog is insanely good, eg, 110 00:10:45,573 --> 00:10:50,442 Did you see her hips sway? Only women who've suffered have that. 111 00:10:50,613 --> 00:10:53,730 Are you talking nonsense now? - Yes.

the title translates to "salad by the roots"...no idea what the analogy is to. the cast is semi-famous from that era and they do a killer job. the girlfriend starts out hot and only keeps on getting into more stylish (cough) outfits. good ole un-feminism. i like the whole french style, direct and to the point. the old uncle is a hoot...i'm laughing just thinking about that scene. the director is unfairly obscure outside of France, despite having made a bunch of comic gems, but the fking french never provide any English subs...la moral superiorite et la frenchies....see my french even got better...tut a laire, aloe, bon nuit (sounds good in my head...hehehe) !!!