Four Bags Full (1956)

Two men carry at night four suitcases of contraband meat across German-occupied Paris during WWII. Their opposite personalities and strange encounters provoke different adventures - until they are arrested by the police.

Director:

Claude Autant-Lara

Writers:

Marcel Aymé (short story), Jean Aurenche (dialogue)

Stars:

Jean Gabin, Bourvil, Louis de Funès

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Gabin	...	Grandgil
Bourvil	...	Marcel Martin
Louis de Funès	...	Jambier, l'épicier
Jeannette Batti	...	Mariette Martin
Georgette Anys	...	Lucienne Couronne, la patronne du cafe Belotte
Robert Arnoux	...	Marchandot
Laurence Badie	...	La serveuse du restaurant
Myno Burney	...	Angèle Marchandot
Germaine Delbat	...	Une cliente du restaurant
Monette Dinay	...	Madame Jambier
Jean Dunot	...	Alfred Couronne, le patron du cafe Belotte
Bernard Lajarrige	...	Un agent de police
Jacques Marin	...	Le patron du restaurant Saint Martin
Hubert de Lapparent	...	L'otage nerveux
Hans Verner	...	Le motard (as Jean Verner)

Storyline

Two men, a painter and a poor guy, have to cross over Paris by night during World War II and to deliver black market meat. As they walk along dark Parisian streets, they encounter various characters and adventures until they are arrested by German police.

---

Plot Keywords:

paris france | suitcase | black market | world war two in france | place name in title | 

---

Taglines:

JEAN GABIN and BOURVIL in a REMARKABLE FRENCH FILM with suspense predominating of course - but also much more than just a soupcon of laughter!

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in color but processed in black and white.

---

Goofs

Crew is seen in the mirror when Grandgil pass the door of Martin's home.

---

Connections

Referenced in Wine Calling (2018)

---

Soundtracks

La Marseillaise
Composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle

User Reviews

Hugely entertaining

Marcel Ayme's original story goes this way. Martin and Grandgil hire out to a corrupt wholesaler, Jambier, in wartime Paris. They agree to transport about 200 lbs of pork in four suitcases to a butcher who is waiting to receive this contraband (rationing is in effect, remember). Grandgil through his histrionics, increases the fee to 5,000 francs from the original 900. They encounter some fascinating and corrupt people along the way. Martin kills Grandgil at the latter's studio: he's enraged by the artist's lack of concern for the value of work and the concept of honor. Martin delivers the pork finally and is arrested for murder.

Well, you wouldn't recognize the story that Aurenche and Bost created out of this sour little saga. They have given it a happy ending. I am not going to tell you what happens to Gabin and Bourvil, but it is a crowd pleaser. I have stated my reserve about late-period Gabin in the past, but here he is terrific. The rant at Jambier's store is very funny: "Jambier, 45 rue Poliveau, my price is a thousand francs!" Bourvil is a great foil for him; he's more rational and less risk-taking than Gabin, if also less imaginative.

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French German

Release Date:

26 October 1956 (France)

Also Known As:

Four Bags Full

Filming Locations:

Franstudio, Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,997, 26 May 2013

Gross USA:

$18,297

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,297

Company Credits

Production Co:

Continental Produzione, Franco London Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1