Berlingot and Company (1939)
"Berlingot et compagnie" (original title)

François and Victor sell hard candy at the fun fair. They also bring up Gisèle, a one-year-old child they found by the side of the road. Although the two men are often at each other's ... See full summary »

Director:

Fernand Rivers

Writer:

Jean Manse

Stars:

Fernandel, Suzy Prim, Fernand Charpin

Cast

Credited cast:
Fernandel	...	François Arnaud - un forain marchand de berlingots
Suzy Prim	...	Isabelle Grandville - une riche romancière
Fernand Charpin	...	Victor Faivre - un forain marchand de berlingots
Édouard Delmont	...	Courtepatte - un forain, propriétaire du Musée des Tortures (as Delmont)
Fréhel	...	Bohémia - la voyante de la foire, mère de Lisa
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
René Alié	...	Dédé - un mauvais garçon
Marco Behar	...	Le fou dangereux en cavale
Monique Bert	...	Thérèse - la petite bonne de Mme Grandville
Jean Brochard	...	Le directeur de l'asile de fous (as Brochard)
Rivers Cadet	...	Le lutteur
Marguerite Chabert
Fernand Flament	...	Paulo dit 'L'Alibi', un mauvais garçon (as Flament)
Jacky	...	Gisèle - la petite recueillie par François et Victor
Josyane Lane	...	Lisa - la fille de Bohémia
Marcel Maupi	...	Isidore (as Maupi)

Storyline

François and Victor sell hard candy at the fun fair. They also bring up Gisèle, a one-year-old child they found by the side of the road. Although the two men are often at each other's throats they are the best friends, getting on well with the other fairground people. But when they defend Lisa, the fortune teller's daughter against Dédé, a thug who pesters her, they provoke his anger. Dédé sets fire to the two friends' stand and they are forced to take the road.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 November 1939 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Berlingot and Company

Filming Locations:

Studios Marcel Pagnol, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Fernand Rivers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"La chanson du forçat"
Lyrics by Jean Manse
Music by Roger Dumas Performed by Fernandel and Fernand Charpin
Published by E. Bousquet
(Columbia Records, 1939)

User Reviews

Inferior Fernandel vehicle

«Berlingot et Cie» is just another Fernandel vehicle, harmless but unexciting and unfunny, tailor-made for the famous comedian by his brother-in-law Jean Manse. As the story lazily unfurls, you get the unpleasant feeling to see the film being manufactured before your eyes : let's put a pinch of friendship here, a touch of emotion there, a bit of adventure as a bonus and of course three songs (written by whom, Jean Manse of course!) to be performed by the multi-talented Fernandel before the inevitable happy ending... This impression might not have been so pervasive had Fernand Rivers been more deft in his direction. Unfortunately the filmmaker clumsily announces the gags so early in advance that you see them coming like a slow train in slow motion and hardly ever laugh. One scene appears as an exception: the ranting and raving of a very stubborn Jean Témerson in a café. Although this film was made in Marcel Pagnol's studios in Marseille, it is light years away from the master's best works featuring Fernandel ("Regain", "Le Schpountz", ...). The only really good point of this inferior Fernandel comedy is the partnership he forms with Charpin. The two actors complement each other well and are fun to watch, particularly when they are at each other's throats. But, all in all, you can skip this one without any damage.