The American Beauty (1961)

Marcel, a simple-minded factory worker, is tricked into buying a high-priced American convertible by a widow determined not to let it fall into the hands of her late husband's secretary/... See full summary »

Directors:

Robert Dhéry, Pierre Tchernia (co-director)

Writers:

Alfred Adam (dialogue), Alfred Adam (screenplay)

Stars:

Alfred Adam, Colette Brosset, Robert Burnier

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfred Adam	...	Alfred
Colette Brosset	...	Paulette Perrignon
Robert Burnier	...	Houche
Pierre Dac	...	le colonel
Eliane D'Almeida	...	Simone (as Éliane d'Almeida)
Bernard Dhéran	...	M. Jean
Robert Dhéry	...	Marcel Perrignon
Annie Ducaux	...	Mme Lucanzas
Jacques Fabbri	...	Le gros / Fatso
Louis de Funès	...	Les frères Viralot, le secrétaire du commissariat et le chef du personnel
Bernard Lavalette	...	Le ministre du commerce
Jean Lefebvre	...	Chougnasse, le chef comptable
Jacques Legras	...	Riri, le cafetier
Christian Marin	...	Pierrot
Jean Richard	...	le serrurier

Storyline

Marcel, a simple-minded factory worker, is tricked into buying a high-priced American convertible by a widow determined not to let it fall into the hands of her late husband's secretary/secret lover. Once in possession of the car, Marcel only encounters one bad luck episode after another with the excessive gasoline consumption, his wife trying to sell it to make ends meet, getting into traffic jams, accidentally riding into a car wash with the top down, and more.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | traffic | factory worker | secretary | jealousy | 

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Taglines:

It's about a young couple who acquire an American car and comical situations that develop.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Les échos du cinéma: Episode #1.20 (1961)

User Reviews

It's only improved with age

I saw this one when it was new, in the 1960s, and with age it's only got better. The simple, lovable people of an idealized Parisian neighborhood have an additional layer of nostalgia value as we recall a country that appears to have found its feet again after wartime but has not yet been overwhelmed by globalization. The threat is certainly there, but in comical form. There's a hapless, primitive espresso machine. There's a lo-tech manufacturing machine that's replaced with a hi-tech one-- involving, by the way, a gag I remember from the 1960s version that wasn't in the version I downloaded from the web. And there's the Belle Américaine itself, a huge luxury convertible that is admired by all but something of a mixed blessing. Anyway, the script presents a charming little world and the story is full of well-scripted and well-performed comical episodes any one of which, if you put it into a comedy of the last couple of decades, would be the highlight of the movie.

Details

Official Sites:

distributor's official site Productor's official site

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

29 September 1961 (France)

Also Known As:

The American Beauty

Filming Locations:

Panthéon, Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Paris 5, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnie Commerciale Française Cinématographique (CCFC), Le Film d'Art, Corflor

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (end sequence) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1