Le tracassin ou Les plaisirs de la ville (1961)

BH33 pep pills against stress in Paris.

Director:

Alex Joffé

Writers:

Jean Bernard-Luc (screenplay), Jean Bernard-Luc (story)

Stars:

Bourvil, Armand Mestral, Harry-Max

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bourvil	...	André Loriot
Armand Mestral	...	Clairac
Harry-Max	...	Crollebois (as Harry Max)
Yvonne Clech	...	La locataire
Rosy Varte	...	La patronne
Léo Campion	...	Van Hooten
Mario David	...	Le moniteur
Maria Pacôme	...	Madame Gonzalès (as Maria Pacome)
Pierrette Bruno	...	Juliette
Lucie Arnold
Alan Beach
Teddy Bilis	...	Le client de la table 8
Solange Certain
Jean Charpini	...	Le coiffeur (as Charpini)
Nicole Chollet

Storyline

André is employed in a laboratory which makes BH33, a magical anti-depressant;and as many of the inhabitants of Paris,he does need these pep pills : his apartment is tiny ,but he's got a folding metal bed (when you press a button ,but it does not always work);his boss is a tartar ,but he is in love with his secretary ;his car ,A Deux Chevaux, has to fight against the Gendarmes and lots of traffic jams,but he plays the occasional taxi driver for elegant (or pregnant) women.One day he 's had enough:a BH 33 overdose causes a fit of giggles and he is dismissed.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 December 1961 (France)

Also Known As:

Freuden der Großstadt

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Raoul Ploquin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

User Reviews

Pep pills make life easier ,they say...

An overlooked director,who retired long before his death ,Alex Joffé made several interesting movies:the bizarre " Six Heures A Perdre 1946" with a totally unexpected ending;his mini-disaster movie in real time long before "Cleo De 5 A 7" ("Les Fanatiques"1957) ;"Les Assassins Du Dimanche " (1956),dealing with responsibility;"Fortunat"(1960) ,a wonderful film depicting the dark days of the Occupation ,and friendship between a resistant fighter's family and a Jewish one,hiding in the same house.

"Fortunat" was Bourvil,probably Joffé's favorite actor. we find him back in "Tracassin".It is a very pleasant comedy ,which depicts the hard times in the city (Bourvil ,who often played peasants ,is cast against type ): He's employed in a laboratory which makes BH33, a magical anti-depressant;and as many of the inhabitants of Paris,he does need these pep pills : his apartment is tiny ,but he's got a folding metal bed (when you press a button ,but it does not always work);his boss is a tartar ,but he is in love with his secretary (Pierrette Bruno,who often played opposite Bourvil in those days );his car ,A Deux Chevaux -in his street ,ther's only this kind of car- has to fight against the Gendarmes and lots of traffic jams,but he plays the occasional taxi driver for elegant (or pregnant) women.

These urban problems give the movie a contemporary feel,but the long scene restaurant ,where people often go to watch TV -in the early sixties,few homes boasted a TV set- ,is now a thing of the past :the customers are more interested in the western than in food.

Alex Joffé was praised for his actors' direction,quite rightly so;nevertheless,in the final scenes ,he makes Bourvil overplay ,and it does not work,except maybe for proving that the pills are effective .