Ça va barder (1955)

A con man (Eddie Constantine) is approached by a shipping magnate to become one of his security agents.

Director:

John Berry

Writers:

John Berry (screenplay), John Berry (story)

Stars:

Eddie Constantine, May Britt, Jean Danet

Cast

Cast overview:
Eddie Constantine	...	Johnny Jordan
May Britt	...	Gina
Jean Danet	...	Diego
Lyla Rocco	...	Flora
Jean Carmet	...	Alvarez
Monique van Vooren	...	Irène
Roger Saget	...	Moreno
Irene Galter	...	Boubica (as Irène Galter)
Clément Harari	...	Sammy Kern
Gérard Hoffman	...	Donald
André Versini	...	L'édenté
Evelyne Rey	...	Eveline
Jacques Marin	...	L'inspecteur
Mireille Ozy	...	Suzy
John Berry	...	Lopez

Storyline

During the 1950s, in Portuguese Mozambique, small-time American hustler, ex-soldier, ex-boxer and adventurer Johnny Jordan is looking for a new gig. His opportunity comes in the form of a local shipping tycoon and importer Moreno who offers Johnny a job after Johnny saves Moreno from an armed mugger on the waterfront. Impressed with Johnny's fighting skills in fending off the armed mugger and with his apparent honesty, Moreno offers him the job of security agent and investigator. More specific, Moreno suspects that someone in his organization is skimming the company funds and also high-jacking some of his cargo before his ships arrive in the port of Puerto Negro for unloading. Moreno wants Johnny to investigate and find the culprit. Johnny accepts the job, checks himself in a hotel and starts digging for evidence. First, he meets with an old flame of his, Gina, who married local gangster and night-club owner Diego, after waiting for a whole year for Johnny's return from his escapades....

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Plot Keywords:

french noir | shipping | security agent | con man | ambulance | 

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Taglines:

Vous n'avez jamais vu un truc comme ca ! (You've never seen a thing like this !)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in My Journey Through French Cinema (2016)

User Reviews

Enjoyable, slick Euro adventure

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, slickly made European thriller starring American tough guy Eddie Constantine, who plays Johnny Jordan, a drifter who is hired by a Fat Man to find out who is hijacking his gun shipments. From a script that has the feel of a 40's Warner Bros film with Bogey, "Barder" is beautifully photographed (in glossy black and white). Studio interiors are expertly mixed with exotic location work, lending the film the look of a budget bigger than the one it most likely had. Light comic touches, (such as a plug-ugly nightclub bouncer who is constantly combing his hair or filing his nails), a supporting cast of beautiful dames (including the glamorous May Britt), assorted low-lifes (like a jealous, knife-throwing husband), and a climactic shoot-out in a lighthouse make the oddly-titled "There Goes Barder" an unexpected pulpy pleasure. (Though some references list this as directed by "John Berry", the on-screen credit reads "Directed by Jacques Lamare".)

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

29 March 1955 (France)

Also Known As:

Give 'em Hell

Filming Locations:

Port de Nice, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Société Nouvelle des Films Dispa, Taurus Film, D.A. Medioni

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1