Rene the Cane (1977)

Rene and Marchand are best friends. What makes their friendship special is that Rene is a professional thief, and Marchand is a policeman, albeit somewhat corrupt.

Director:

Francis Girod

Writers:

Jacques Rouffio, Francis Girod

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Sylvia Kristel, Michel Piccoli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	René Bornier
Sylvia Kristel	...	Krista
Michel Piccoli	...	Inspecteur Marchand
Stefano Patrizi	...	Gino
Riccardo Garrone	...	Karl
Jacques Jouanneau	...	Fourgue
Jean Rigaux	...	Vieuchêne
Orchidea De Santis	...	Kim
Venantino Venantini	...	Carlo
Valérie Mairesse	...	Martine
Jean Carmet	...	L'indicateur
Suzanne Berthois
Evelyne Bouix
Daniel Breton
Philippe Brizard	...	Le chef de la police marseillaise

Storyline

Rene and Marchand are best friends. What makes their friendship special is that Rene is a professional thief, and Marchand is a policeman, albeit somewhat corrupt.

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Plot Keywords:

literature on screen | european literature on screen | french literature on screen | crime literature on screen | french crime literature on screen | 

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Crime

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Did You Know?

Trivia

One if the few films where Sylvia Kristel never took her clothes off. In fact, she said in a 1981 interview that that is probably why the film bombed. "For some reason the roles in which I keep my clothes on never become successful movies. No one has heard of 'Rene La Canne,' in which I didn't have a single nude scene. I am more successful nude because my mission in life is to inspire positive fantasies. I could never play a killer or appear in a horror film. My mission is to spread beauty and that is not an easy task."

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Connections

Referenced in The American Friend (1977)

User Reviews

Not a Black Comedy, More a Black Hole...

This tasteless and plotless farrago follows the fortunes of three rogues during and after the Nazi Occupation of France. 'Rene the Stick' (Gerard Depardieu) is a vulgar petty crook. 'Fernand the Sneak' (Michel Piccoli) is a corrupt police officer. Krista (Sylvia Kristel) is a whorehouse madam who beds them both turn by turn.

Allegedly, this trio are based on real-life characters. One can't help wondering if director Francis Girod and co-writer Jacques Rouffio saw their cheerful amorality as a metaphor for the moral disintegration of society during wartime. If that is their aim, the film is a wretched failure. Its attempts at black comedy are too crude and obvious to convince. (Are we meant to whoop with delight when Piccoli eats his boss's pet frog?) It is frankly sick-making to see the Nazi persecution of Jews and homosexuals used as a set-up for cheap and unfunny jokes.

To make this movie still worse, both of the 'great' French actors (Depardieu and Piccoli) ham up their roles atrociously. Dolled up in her white tuxedo, la Kristel looks very fetching indeed - but she has precious little to do apart from that. Oh well! At least she does not embarrass herself by overacting.

David Melville

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 February 1977 (France)

Also Known As:

3 sympathitikoi katergareoi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Président Films, Rizzoli Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)