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IMDbPro

The American Beauty

Original title: La belle Américaine
  • 19611961
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
644
YOUR RATING
Alfred Adam, Colette Brosset, Robert Burnier, Eliane D'Almeida, Pierre Dac, Bernard Dhéran, Robert Dhéry, Annie Ducaux, and Jacques Fabbri in The American Beauty (1961)
  • Comedy
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/secr... Read allMarcel, 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... Read allMarcel, 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 ... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
644
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Robert Dhéry
    • Pierre Tchernia
  • Writers
    • Alfred Adam(dialogue)
    • Robert Dhéry(screenplay)
    • Pierre Tchernia(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alfred Adam
    • Colette Brosset
    • Robert Burnier
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Robert Dhéry
    • Pierre Tchernia
  • Writers
    • Alfred Adam(dialogue)
    • Robert Dhéry(screenplay)
    • Pierre Tchernia(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alfred Adam
    • Colette Brosset
    • Robert Burnier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos15

    Colette Brosset and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    The American Beauty (1961)
    The American Beauty (1961)
    Colette Brosset and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    Colette Brosset and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    Louis de Funès, Alfred Adam, Colette Brosset, Robert Burnier, Eliane D'Almeida, Pierre Dac, Bernard Dhéran, Robert Dhéry, Annie Ducaux, Jacques Fabbri, Bernard Lavalette, Jean Lefebvre, and Jacques Legras in The American Beauty (1961)
    Louis de Funès, Alfred Adam, Colette Brosset, Robert Dhéry, Annie Ducaux, and Jacques Fabbri in The American Beauty (1961)
    The American Beauty (1961)
    Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    Louis de Funès and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    Louis de Funès and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)
    Louis de Funès, Colette Brosset, and Robert Dhéry in The American Beauty (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alfred Adam
    Alfred Adam
    • Alfredas Alfred
    Colette Brosset
    • Paulette Perrignonas Paulette Perrignon
    Robert Burnier
    • Houcheas Houche
    Pierre Dac
    • le colonelas le colonel
    Eliane D'Almeida
    • Simoneas Simone
    • (as Éliane d'Almeida)
    Bernard Dhéran
    • M. Jeanas M. Jean
    Robert Dhéry
    Robert Dhéry
    • Marcel Perrignonas Marcel Perrignon
    Annie Ducaux
    Annie Ducaux
    • Mme Lucanzasas Mme Lucanzas
    Jacques Fabbri
    Jacques Fabbri
    • Le grosas Le gros…
    Louis de Funès
    Louis de Funès
    • Les frères Viralot, le secrétaire du commissariat et le chef du personnelas Les frères Viralot, le secrétaire du commissariat et le chef du personnel
    Bernard Lavalette
    • Le ministre du commerceas Le ministre du commerce
    Jean Lefebvre
    Jean Lefebvre
    • Chougnasse, le chef comptableas Chougnasse, le chef comptable
    Jacques Legras
    Jacques Legras
    • Riri, le cafetieras Riri, le cafetier
    Christian Marin
    Christian Marin
    • Pierrotas Pierrot
    Jean Richard
    Jean Richard
    • le serrurieras le serrurier
    Robert Rollis
    • Maurice, le coiffeur, dit le 'Lapin'as Maurice, le coiffeur, dit le 'Lapin'
    René Sarvil
    • Le marinieras Le marinier
    Michel Serrault
    Michel Serrault
    • Chauveau, le clochardas Chauveau, le clochard…
    • Directors
      • Robert Dhéry
      • Pierre Tchernia
    • Writers
      • Alfred Adam(dialogue) (screenplay)
      • Robert Dhéry(screenplay) (story)
      • Pierre Tchernia(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Denise Kerny.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Les échos du cinéma: Episode #1.2 (1961)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The adventures of an American beauty in Paris
    You could expect the worst of a scandal American beauty in Paris, but the title is enticingly misleading - this film is not about sex at all, but only about motor cars, motor bicycles, failing coffee machines, squalid factory circumstances like in Chaplin's "Modern Times" and other humdrum trivialities like that. On this stage of grey working day ordinariness an American beauty enters, but she is a car. I think it's even a Thunderbird. She is white, and when these simple people get the custody of her you must start to worry about anyone getting into any trouble. They all do indeed, many end up in jail, the car itself gets into all kinds of complicated circumstance without anyone driving it, even being shipped on the Seine on a barge, but by some miracle everyone gets out of It alive, and even the car. There is an accident, but it actually leads to the final settlement and establishment of the car as a popular and successful icon and triumph at the same time at last giving full credit to the horse as a superior being. The actors are all delightfully excellent, and Louis de Funès even plays two parts, kickstarting his career. The wonder of the film is that the hilarity never tires, it starts from the very beginning and is sustained throughout, all the characters returning now and then in surprising coincidences, and there is even an amiable political satire. In brief, it's a glorious comedy which, as one reviewer observed, only gets better with time.
    helpful•1
    0
    • clanciai
    • Aug 6, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 1961 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Distributor's official wesite
      • Productor's Official Website
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Lepa Amerikanka
    • Filming locations
      • Panthéon, Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Paris 5, Paris, France
    • Production companies
      • Compagnie Commerciale Française Cinématographique (CCFC)
      • L.C.J Editions & Productions
      • Le Film d'Art
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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    Alfred Adam, Colette Brosset, Robert Burnier, Eliane D'Almeida, Pierre Dac, Bernard Dhéran, Robert Dhéry, Annie Ducaux, and Jacques Fabbri in The American Beauty (1961)
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