Des pissenlits par la racine (1964)

Director:

Georges Lautner

Writers:

Clarence Weff (based upon the novel by)
Clarence Weff (adaptation) ...
(more)

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:

Theatre | Horse Race | Double Bass | Backstage | Money

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 Musy	...	Riton, dit 'Pommes-Chips'
Barbara Brand	...	La comédienne qui joue Sonia
Paola Barbara	...	La comédienne qui joue Sonia
Hélène Laffly	...	Une invitée de Christine
Simone Landry	...	Une invitée de Christine
Raymone
Colette Régis	...	Christine
Malka Ribowska	...	La comtesse
Jacqueline Rivière
Yves Barsacq	...	L'inspecteur
Pierre Bataille
Charles Bouillaud	...	Léon
Michel Dacquin	...	Le pasteur (as michel daquin)
Michel Duplaix	...	Un accessoiriste (as michel dupleix)
Guy Grosso	...	Émile, le barman
Roger Paschy		(as roger paschel)
Émile Riandreys	...	Le régisseur (as Riandres)
Venantino Venantini	...	Pierre Michon
Darry Cowl	...	Gratiopoulos
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrès	...	Un invité à la soirée (uncredited)
Marc Arian	...	Un joueur de tiercé / Un figurant au théâtre (uncredited)
Marcel Bernier	...	Un accessoiriste (uncredited)
Georges Billy	...	Un autre invité à la soirée (uncredited)
Anne-Marie Blot	...	La fille à la casquette à la soirée (uncredited)
Philippe Castelli	...	L'interne (uncredited)
Albert Michel	...	Un joueur de tiercé (uncredited)
Bice Valori	...	Tante Ophélie (uncredited)
Léon Zitrone	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Georges Lautner

Writing credits
Clarence Weff		(based upon the novel by)
Clarence Weff		(adaptation) and
Georges Lautner		(adaptation) &
Albert Kantof		(adaptation)
Clarence Weff		(dialogue)
Michel Audiard		(in collaboration with)

Original Music by
Georges Delerue

Cinematography by
Maurice Fellous

Film Editing by
Michelle David		(as michelle david)

Production Design by
Jacques Chalvet

Makeup Department
Maguy Vernadet	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Adeline Crouset	....	production manager
Jean Pieuchot	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Albert Kantof	....	assistant director
Olivier Pierre	....	assistant director
Claude Vital	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Antoine Archimbaud	....	sound
Louis Perrin	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Louis Castelli	....	still photographer
Elie Fontanille	....	gaffer
Loulou Pastier	....	camera operator
Yves Rodallec	....	first assistant camera
Étienne Rosenfeld	....	second assistant camera

Editorial Department
Gina Pignier	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Janine de Waleine	....	sung by: blues singer

Other crew
Gérard Crosnier	....	assistant manager
Madeleine Feix	....	administrator
Hélène Sébillotte	....	script girl

Production Companies

• Ardennes Films (co-production: Paris)
• Transinter Films (co-production: Paris)
• Les Films Marceau (co-production: Paris) (as marceau-cocinor)
• Cocinor (co-production) (as marceau-cocinor)
• Film Columbus (co-production: Rome) (as films columbsu)

Distributors

• Cocinor (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• René Chateau Video (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Solid Pictures (2007) (Greece) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Éditions Gallimard  book publisher: "Y avait un maccabée"
• Laboratoires CTM Gennevilliers  laboratory (as laboratoires c.t.m. gennevilliers)
• Poste Parisien  sound mixing
• Louis Feraud  wardrobe: Mademoiselle Mireille Darc est habillée par (as ferraud)
• Carita  hair styling
• Robert Salvet  music edition

Also Known As:

"Salad by the Roots" - International (English title) (informal literal 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)

Filming Locations:

Boulevard de Clichy, Paris 9, Paris, France

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.

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) !!!