Allez France! (1964)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Directors:

Robert Dhéry
Pierre Tchernia (co-director)

Writers:

Robert Dhéry (writer)
Jean L'Hôte (writer)

Release Date:

10 October 1964 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

An Arresting Comedy

Cast

Pierre Tornade	...	Un français dans le bus
Pierre Doris	...	Un français dans le bus
Raymond Bussières	...	Un français dans le bus
Jean Richard	...	Un français dans le bus
Catherine Sola	...	Nicole
Robert Dhéry	...	Henri Martineau
Mark Lester	...	Gérald
Ronald Fraser	...	Sergent Timothy Reagan
Diana Dors	...	Herself
Colette Brosset	...	Lady Yvette Brisburn 'Vévette'
Arthur Mullard	...	Le malfaiteur
Percy Herbert	...	L'agent Baxter
Amy Dalby	...	Mrs. Throttle
Bernard Cribbins	...	Bob, l'agent 202
Robert Burnier	...	Le supporter tarbais

Also Known As:

The Counterfeit Constable (USA)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:U | Finland:S | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)

Incredible Cocktail of English/French Comedians

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

An extremely funny film about a group of French rugby supporters who go to see a match at Twickenham and one of them inadvertently receives a blow in the mouth from someone else's elbow. In the process he loses some front teeth and needs to see a dentist urgently ... this is only the beginning of a long series of adventures befalling our poor friend ( played by Robert Dhery ) who doesn't speak a word of English and who nevertheless needs to return urgently to France to get married in the following days sporting a decent mouth !

The film sports an unlikely mixture of both French and English comedians of the time, names which one would never imagine seeing together on the same billboards .... for example Pierre Tornade and Arthur Mullard, or Robert Dhery and Diana Dors ! The film brings to mind the atmosphere of "No sex please, We"re British" but of course the story is completely different.

The film has just been issued in France ( May 2007 ) on DVD. The main language is in French and there are purportedly French subtitles though none from any other language. A bit of a pity because I think the film deserves to be known internationally. This sort of hybrid comedy would today be inimaginable and dates from an era when there was little or no animosity between England and France, hence it's success and good humour.

Highly recommendable for its entertainment value and plot plus its interesting mixture of comedians from both countries !