L'année sainte

Jean Gabin had never played in a priest role - here he is not a really one though - nor a military; but is it really a military in LA GRANDE EVASION or LA BANDERA? Hmmm...This last film for him is directed by Jean Girault, with whom he had never worked before, a specialist comedy maker; the GENDARME series starring Louis De Funès belong to his best stuff. Well, that's not a masterpiece but an agreeable time waster, not so bad, where Gabin is excellent, very comfortable co starring Jean Claude Brialy. The ending twist is astounding, and where Gabin said in his last dialogue on screen: "J'ai dejà donné" - I have already given far enough", that can easily summarize his whole career. A fantastic epitath for a testament role. And at this time, I suppose he did not know it was his last.... I JUST suppose. But who knows?

Max (the fabulous Jean Gabin in his last film), a master thief, is spending some time behind bars, having been captured by a determined and crafty police officer. He has hidden a sizable amount of gold in Italy and is patiently waiting to get out so he can retrieve it. His prison companion wants to get out now and get the gold. So they escape, dress as priests and fly off for Italy. Unfortunately, their plane is hijacked, but the terrorists are no match for Max who gets the better of them, but the delay in getting to Rome allows the police time to track him down. What will he do now?

These old heist/escape films make crime seem fun. It becomes a cat and mouse game where each side tries to outwit the other and respects the brilliant moves each side makes. No one gets hurt, robbers have honor as do the police and all have a jolly time staying one step ahead of the other. Of course, this isn't true to life and we now have movies like Training Day and shows like The Shield where the bad guys are scum of the earth and the cops aren't much better, but the old good-time cop games are fun to watch

This movie is like day old funfetti cake. It is light, doesn't take itself seriously, sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth, but a little past its prime, not moist and tender, but still edible and enjoyable. It's fluff and it knows it, but still prides itself on being tasty. 6/10

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The basic plot of the movie centres around a thief released from prison, who tries to return to his treasure cave. Dressed as priest, he boards a plane towards his destination. Unfortunately, the airliner he is on is hijacked, and after wasting half his life in prison, he does want to return to the thing he sacrificed so much for. So he gradually involves himself in the situation, with the aim of resolving it.

The movie does have a clever sense of humour and an exciting, refreshing story with several twists - it is much more realistic and more original than most movies involving hijackings, and also much more enjoyable. The sense of humour does relieve the dramatic events a bit, but the movie nevertheless remains thrilling. I highly recommend it to any aviation enthusiast, and in fact anyone who likes to see an original story in front of the background setting of a hijacking. 9/10

Gabin appeared in more French masterpieces than any other actor I can think of.From the thirties' golden hour when Duvivier,Carné and Renoir made him the biggest star of all time in France to the underrated fifties where his career was still interesting and full of gems waiting to be rediscovered,what a career! From the beginning of the sixties onwards ,his -artistic- ambitions began to wane.There is not a single movie in the fifteen last years that deserves to be remembered whereas virtually all (or almost all) he made in the 1934-1939 era was prodigious .

"L'année sainte" is a poor swansong ;barely entertaining ,it casts Gabin and Brialy as villains disguised as priests .Most of the action takes place on a plane where Gabin meets again "Duchesse" ,one of his former lovers.Danielle Darrieux's character is almost unbearable ,her trendy slang gets on your nerves even if ,like me,you appreciate the actress (still working as the wonderful "8 Femmes" testifies).

But anyway ,farewell,Monsieur Gabin,and thank you for everything!