Les valseuses (1974)

Director:

Bertrand Blier

Writers:

Bertrand Blier (novel)
Bertrand Blier (writer) ...

Release Date:

13 May 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Two whimsical, aimless thugs harass and assault women, steal, murder, and alternately charm, fight, or sprint their way out of trouble...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Window Smashing | Burglary | Citroen | Stealing

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Jean-Claude
Patrick Dewaere	...	Pierrot
Miou-Miou	...	Marie-Ange
Jeanne Moreau	...	Jeanne Pirolle
Brigitte Fossey	...	Woman in the train
Christian Alers	...	Jacqueline's father Henri
Michel Peyrelon	...	The Doctor
Gérard Boucaron	...	Carnot
Jacques Chailleux	...	Jacques Pirolle
Eva Damien	...	Doctor's wife
Dominique Davray	...	Ursula
Isabelle Huppert	...	Jacqueline
Marco Perrin	...	Supermarket inspector
Jacques Rispal	...	Maton
Claude Vergues	...	Merian

Also Known As:

Getting It Up
Going Places (USA)
Making It

Runtime:

France:150 min (restored: 1999) | Germany:111 min | USA:117 min | West Germany:116 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-18 (original rating) | France:U (re-rating) | France:-12 (TV rating) | UK:R (1974) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Norway:(Banned) (1974-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Valence, Drôme, France

Company:

C.A.P.A.C.

Trivia:

The original French title is slang for "balls" (the testicular variety).

Goofs:

Continuity: Marie-Ange is shot in the shins when the boys leave her at the barbers shop, but there is no trace of any injury when they rejoin her (although there is no exact indication of the time past, it does not appear long enough for an injury of that kind to heal completely).

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Les bidasses s'en vont en guerre (1974)

LES VALSEUSES (DIDIER BECU)

Bertrand Blier is indeed l'enfant terrible of French cinema and in the seventies he always could shock the public. Filmed with his fave duo (Depardieu and Dewaere) and the usual dose of sex (Miou-Miou plays her typical role, at least the one from the seventies as little could we know that a decade later she would be the best French actress ever). In first "Les Valseuses" is also one of the first roadmovies as the viewer is just taken to some journeys of two little criminals. Those who only are satisfied with family life, or simply know nothing more, the movie would be quite a shocker but this movie is more than just that, it just let you think of all the usual things in life (working for the car, being bounded at work etc.). It's a sort of critic towards the hypocrite society we're living in. Great job and it just makes you wish two things : Dewaere died just too young as he was a topactor and of course Depardieu, he'd better should have stuck with French movies as he proves here that no one can beat him. Timeless classic and 20 years later it will still shock some...