Monsieur (1964)

Director:

Jean-Paul Le Chanois

Writers:

Claude Gével (based on the play by)
Georges Darrier (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 April 1964 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Tipsy | Television | Maid | France | Servant

Cast

Jean Gabin	...	Monsieur
Liselotte Pulver	...	Elizabeth Bernadac
Mireille Darc	...	Suzanne
Henri Crémieux	...	Le beau-père
Berthe Granval	...	Nathalie Bernadac (as Berthe Grandval)
Jean-Paul Moulinot	...	Me Flamand, le notaire
Jean-Pierre Darras	...	José
Peter Vogel	...	Michel Corbeil
Heinz Blau	...	Alain Bernadac
Maryse Martin	...	Justine
Andrex	...	Antoine
Alain Bouvette	...	Marc
Jean Lefebvre	...	Le detective privé
Gabrielle Dorziat	...	La belle-mère
Marina Berti	...	Madame Danoni
Claudio Gora	...	Danon
Philippe Noiret	...	Edmond Bernadac
Gaby Morlay	...	Madame Bernadac mère
Max Elder	...	Le valet de chambre
Armand Meffre	...	Le patron du bistrot
Jean Champion	...	Le patron de l'hôtel
Pierre Moncorbier	...	Le serrurier (as Moncorbier)
Angela Minervini	...	La serveuse du snack
Christian Brocard	...	Un client sans-gêne
André Dalibert	...	Le tailleur
Paul Faivre	...	Le curé
Michel Nastorg	...	Le docteur
Raoul Henry	...	L'invité Bretteville
René Fleur	...	Le décorateur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marc Arian	...	Un client (uncredited)
Jean Blancheur	...	Un consommateur (uncredited)
Georgette Peyron	...	La serveuse du restaurant (uncredited)
Marcel Pérès	...	Le jardinier (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Paul Le Chanois

Writing credits
Claude Gével		(based on the play by)
Georges Darrier		(adaptation) (as Georges Derrick) &
Pascal Jardin		(adaptation)
Pascal Jardin		(dialogue)

Produced by
Raymond Danon	....	producer

Original Music by
Georges Van Parys

Cinematography by
Louis Page

Film Editing by
Emma Le Chanois

Production Design by
Jean Mandaroux

Costume Design by
Marie Martine

Makeup Department
Yvonne Fortuna	....	key makeup artist
Yvonne Gasperina	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Pierre Cottance	....	general unit manager
Claude Huyard	....	assistant unit manager
Guy Lacourt	....	production manager
Rudy Jean Le Roy	....	unit manager (as Rudy Le Roy)
Jacques Schaeffer	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean Michaud	....	assistant director
Philippe Monnier	....	assistant director
Jean Mylonas	....	assistant director

Art Department
Henri Berger	....	property master
Jacques Charron	....	set dresser
Jacques D'Ovidio	....	assistant set decorator
Jacques Dugied	....	assistant set decorator
Guy Maugin	....	set dresser
André Pierdel	....	property master (as Pierdel)

Sound Department
Marcel Corvaisier	....	sound assistant
Vartan Karakeusian	....	sound assistant
Jean Rieul	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Marc Champion	....	camera operator
Pierre Charvein	....	first assistant camera
Marcel Dolé	....	still photographer
Maurice Kaminsky	....	second assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dora Balabanov	....	costumer
Micheline Bonnet	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Sophie Coussein	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Fanchette Brie	....	production secretary
Maurice Cadaze	....	administrator
Fernande Desgranges	....	handbags and gloves
Christiane Grémillon	....	script supervisor
Odette Keyzin-Alfonsi	....	fashion consultant
Paulette Laubie	....	jewels
Gilbert Orcel	....	hats
Daniel Ceccaldi	....	voice dubbing: L'écrivain Michel Corbeil (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Films Copernic
• Les Films Corona
• Zebra Films

Distributors

• Comacico (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Studio Canal (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Films (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Chevereau  camera equipment provided by
• Jacques Dessange  hair styling: for Liselotte Pulver and Mireille Darc
• Studios de Boulogne  studios

Also Known As:

Runtime:

France:105 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Films Copernic

MONSIEUR (Jean-Paul Le Chanois, 1964) **1/2

Jean Gabin had been one of France's biggest stars during the 1930s with several films for great directors such as Marcel Carne', Julien Duvivier and Jean Renoir; his later output wasn't anywhere near this level and apart from the odd title - Max Ophuls' LE PLAISIR (1952), Jacques Becker's TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI (1954) or Renoir's own FRENCH CANCAN (1954), to mention the ones I've watched myself - the majority of these could be deemed fillers.

Still, a good many of them have turned up from time to time on TV: I've missed a few and watched others - but, then, I'm most interested in the ones which fall into the thriller genre. This promised to be one such title and, sure enough, the first half is interesting as it deals with banker Gabin about to commit suicide after the death of his faithless wife but being dissuaded by a chance meeting with former maid Mireille Darc, who has herself fallen on hard times and become a hooker! As he had left a suicide note, his relatives eye his wealth greedily and even insinuate themselves in his vacant household (since Gabin finds it convenient to appear dead to the world!); however, he hitches up with Darc's criminal associates and decides to break into his own house (unbeknownst to the rest of the gang - in fact, he's only referred to as "Monsieur", hence the film's title) and rob the safe!!

The second half, however, in which Gabin and Darc ostensibly present themselves to a rich household in the countryside as servants (in preparation for another heist) turns the film into a pleasant - and typically French - comedy of sexual manners, with Gabin covering up the female owner's escapades from husband Philippe Noiret (one of my favorite bits during this section is when Gabin is asked to pick her up from one such tryst after her car has broken down, and an old vicar turns up and helpfully - but cluelessly - suggests to them what might be wrong with the vehicle), while their son falls for Darc (whom Gabin is passing off as his own daughter!). While all this is undeniably entertaining, it jars with the earlier section as Gabin's accomplices are unaccountably removed from the picture - so that his decision to remain in Noiret's employ (other than the fact that he is being paid for his services and, being thought dead by his relatives and colleagues, won't be missed) is never explained!

Even if older and plumper, Gabin's quietly authoritative screen presence is unmistakable - and the film also benefits from having the gorgeous Darc (best known for playing the female lead in Jean-Luc Godard's masterpiece WEEK-END [1967]) on board, as well as a cheerful score by Georges Van Parys.