Cent francs par seconde (1952) Poster

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Questions to a champion
dbdumonteil13 January 2015
Jacques Antoine,till his death in 2012,was indefatigable,ceaselessly creating new games for the radio and TV.For the record ,"Tournez Manèges" "Le Schmilblick " and "Fort Boyard" ,to name but three,were his ideas.

So was "100 Francs Par Seconde" (100 F a second),a radio program in the fifties ;this game may seem silly ,but certainly not more stupid than many games of today .

A guy is sick and tired of losing every time he tries his luck at "100 Francs a second.He mistakes a young man ,Philippe,for a fortune-teller and he asks him to have a go at the radio game.

A game sponsored by a quinine tonic wine (supposed to pep you up)made by M.Bourdinet who fired Philippe who was more interested in his boss's daughter than in his work.

After a forfeit (a bolster blow on the head),Philippe's got all the answers:history,geography,science,music,sculpture,literature ,you name it;even algebra and quadratic Equations!(only an event can stop the game:a train coming into a station;but what a Lucky break:railroad men are on strike!) The game becomes a marathon ,the winner reaching millions of Francs threatening to ruin his former boss.

This is a very pleasant comedy by Jean Boyer,with now and then,lines which hit home ,even if its last twenty minutes are a little repetitive .Philippe Lemaire ,the romantic male lead of the era ,proves he was efficient as a comic actor as well;he was dethroned in the sixties by a young generation of actors and committed suicide in the early naughties.

like this? Try this.....

"lo Scopone Scientifico" ,Luigi Comencini,1969.
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8/10
Made in an era when radio was hot and happening
myriamlenys8 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
France is captivated by a popular radio programme which combines a quiz format with a great deal of slapstick humor. Winners can go home with impressive cash prizes, if they're both lucky and clever. Having failed to return in triumph, an ex-participant ponders the reasons behind his Waterloo. Suddenly inspiration strikes like lightning. What if he were to team up with some kind of seer ? Surely a man like that would know all the answers ? Carried away by his enthusiasm, the ex-participant grabs the wrong guy...

Created in an era when radio wielded genuine power, "Cent francs par seconde" is an amusing comedy full of daffy twists and funny complications. The movie both spoofs and honors the "radio quiz show" type of entertainment. As spoofs go, it's quite a knowledgeable one, betraying an intimate familiarity with the genre. Contemporary stars pop in for little cameos ; for instance, there's the comedian Bourvil, who turns up in order to ask a few quiz questions.

There is also a great deal of satire aimed at topics such as high-society hypocrisy and class prejudice. (A penniless young man who kisses the boss's daughter is a frightful boor, a rich young man who kisses the boss's daughter is husband material. Note the use of the word "croquant".) The roster of targets includes crystal ball gazing, clairvoyance and palmistry.

So "Cent francs" is sure to induce smiles and grins. On the minus side, some of the characters seem to change their allegiance or aim quickly and randomly, turning like leaves on a tree. More care with regard to the characterizations would have been welcome.

Unfortunately the image quality of this fine comedy has deteriorated through ageing. Sometimes the images lengthen, billow or slow. High time for an expert restoration...
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