6.5/10
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5 user 1 critic

The American Beauty (1961)

La belle Américaine (original title)
| Comedy | 29 September 1961 (France)
The American Beauty Poster
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:

, (co-director)

Writers:

(dialogue), (screenplay) | 4 more credits »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 win. See more awards »

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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
... Mme Lucanzas
... Le gros / Fatso
... Les frères Viralot, le secrétaire du commissariat et le chef du personnel
Bernard Lavalette ... Le ministre du commerce
... Chougnasse, le chef comptable
Jacques Legras ... Riri, le cafetier
Christian Marin ... Pierrot
... le serrurier
See full cast »
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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. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

widow | traffic | factory worker | secretary | jealousy | See All (7) »

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

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Details

Official Sites:

distributor's official site | Productor's official site

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

29 September 1961 (France)  »

Also Known As:

The American Beauty  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(end sequence)|

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
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Did You Know?

Connections

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

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User Reviews

 
It's only improved with age
1 April 2018 | by – See all my reviews

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.
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