Il Etait Une Fois...Un Flic (1972)

[GlacierTuba]

I don't know about you, but I find those moments where you truly blind buy something, know absolutely nothing about the film whatsoever - the cast, the director, the film title - all of it; then forget for a year or so that you own the disc, stumble upon it completely at random, mutter to yourself "oh I forgot I had that", proceed to watch the film....

....and then get totally blown away watching something so utterly, totally wonderful...very rare. Very rare indeed. Those are bigger odds than winning the Euromillions.

That happened to me today with Il Etait Une Fois...Un Flic (Once Upon A Time... A Cop).

Before reading any further, do yourself a favour, go to Amazon.fr and just go buy the bloody thing. It's on the Gaumont label, it's got English subtitles and it's cheap. Sure I bought it ages ago in a buy 3 for 2 deal or summat just so I could buy Sophie Marceau hyperfilms La Boum and La Boum 2. I saw this, the cover looked interesting, it went in the cart and I hit buy.

It got chucked in a pile in a box for a year or so, forgotten about.

Until today.

This film, I SAID THIS FILM, is PURE. BLOODY. GOLD.

Once you start the film (and you will won't you? If you like film, and I assume you do, you will), it opens with some zippy, zany, Eurotrashesque, jangly title cards which have that air of 'oh. This looks shit' about them. It's that whole 1972 thing I get a vibe of a lot from films around 1971 to 1973, where the decade is a couple of years in, but hasn't gone full garish 1970's yet but can't quite seem to let go of the 1960's just yet. The styling in the film is similar, it's like France couldn't quite let go yet (same with bloody SECAM FFS, French were obsessed with it! ).

Do NOT be deceived! Stay with it. Get over the hump of the weird vibe and just let it go.

The film is primarily, dare I say it, French polizio? But it isn't. It's sort of a comedy. But it isn't. But it is sometimes, albeit unintentionally. But then it isn't. And then it's a romantic film. But it isn't. But it sort of is because the main character who looks like a cross between Pete Sampras, Palmer Rockey and the bloke from the Godfather who congratulates Don Corleone on having a masculine child, is supposed to have a romance. Except he isn't. And the film isn't that because it doesn't imply it.

And so it goes on.

Yet with all this frenetic change going on all around this primarily French Polizio, you just think to yourself as the speedy 96 minutes unravel, "this isn't supposed to work is it? How in the name of God has the director pulled this off?!". Even the twist moments, of which there are a few, are not these big, suspenseful reveals. Stuff just happens, the exposure is dealt with and it moves itself quietly along to whatever is up next. Yet it works!

A couple of other things. The child actor in the film is fantastic! None of this bowl haircut, fat rolly cheeks Sleepless In Seattle nonsense. The kid is a pest, but he's supposed to be! I dunno who the boy is in the film but I hope he had a successful career because he was brilliant.

The fight scenes as well. I love how the director added no music or drama to the fights either. Example. Bloke goes to see some other bloke. About 90 other blokes turn up and kick his head in. But it's just the sound of punches landing without effects emphasis. It's all just done really flat but adds to that tone of, 'oh Christ, he's just had his teeth smashed in'.

Another bloke gets chucked across a table while his mate gets a tray of spaghetti in his face. The boke falls face first down a gap between two tables and his legs bent back over his head. It looks like a mistake that was left in because jaysus it sounded like it hurt - because there's no music or anything, just natural sound.

There's lots of other nice moments too, one springs to mind of the chief of French police. Every time he's on screen at little ditty plays like Mr Bridger in The Italian Job. It's just funny!

I think there is a lot to love about this film. Oh, do have a look at the extras on the disc, there's a great black and white piece from 1972 TV with the director and the child from the film looking at the negatives in a telecine viewing room. I just wish it had subtitles but it's a good view for 8 mins.

Honestly. Do yourself a big favour and go find this film ASAP. I can't recommend it highly enough. A Triumph and a very pleasant surprise!

847,997,452 million out of 10.

[The Admiral]

Originally Posted by GlacierTuba

[Show spoiler]

I don't know about you, but I find those moments where you truly blind buy something, know absolutely nothing about the film whatsoever - the cast, the director, the film title - all of it; then forget for a year or so that you own the disc, stumble upon it completely at random, mutter to yourself "oh I forgot I had that", proceed to watch the film....

....and then get totally blown away watching something so utterly, totally wonderful...very rare. Very rare indeed. Those are bigger odds than winning the Euromillions.

That happened to me today with Il Etait Une Fois...Un Flic (Once Upon A Time... A Cop).

Before reading any further, do yourself a favour, go to Amazon.fr and just go buy the bloody thing. It's on the Gaumont label, it's got English subtitles and it's cheap. Sure I bought it ages ago in a buy 3 for 2 deal or summat just so I could buy Sophie Marceau hyperfilms La Boum and La Boum 2. I saw this, the cover looked interesting, it went in the cart and I hit buy.

It got chucked in a pile in a box for a year or so, forgotten about.

Until today.

This film, I SAID THIS FILM, is PURE. BLOODY. GOLD.

Once you start the film (and you will won't you? If you like film, and I assume you do, you will), it opens with some zippy, zany, Eurotrashesque, jangly title cards which have that air of 'oh. This looks shit' about them. It's that whole 1972 thing I get a vibe of a lot from films around 1971 to 1973, where the decade is a couple of years in, but hasn't gone full garish 1970's yet but can't quite seem to let go of the 1960's just yet. The styling in the film is similar, it's like France couldn't quite let go yet (same with bloody SECAM FFS, French were obsessed with it! ).

Do NOT be deceived! Stay with it. Get over the hump of the weird vibe and just let it go.

The film is primarily, dare I say it, French polizio? But it isn't. It's sort of a comedy. But it isn't. But it is sometimes, albeit unintentionally. But then it isn't. And then it's a romantic film. But it isn't. But it sort of is because the main character who looks like a cross between Pete Sampras, Palmer Rockey and the bloke from the Godfather who congratulates Don Corleone on having a masculine child, is supposed to have a romance. Except he isn't. And the film isn't that because it doesn't imply it.

And so it goes on.

Yet with all this frenetic change going on all around this primarily French Polizio, you just think to yourself as the speedy 96 minutes unravel, "this isn't supposed to work is it? How in the name of God has the director pulled this off?!". Even the twist moments, of which there are a few, are not these big, suspenseful reveals. Stuff just happens, the exposure is dealt with and it moves itself quietly along to whatever is up next. Yet it works!

A couple of other things. The child actor in the film is fantastic! None of this bowl haircut, fat rolly cheeks Sleepless In Seattle nonsense. The kid is a pest, but he's supposed to be! I dunno who the boy is in the film but I hope he had a successful career because he was brilliant.

The fight scenes as well. I love how the director added no music or drama to the fights either. Example. Bloke goes to see some other bloke. About 90 other blokes turn up and kick his head in. But it's just the sound of punches landing without effects emphasis. It's all just done really flat but adds to that tone of, 'oh Christ, he's just had his teeth smashed in'.

Another bloke gets chucked across a table while his mate gets a tray of spaghetti in his face. The boke falls face first down a gap between two tables and his legs bent back over his head. It looks like a mistake that was left in because jaysus it sounded like it hurt - because there's no music or anything, just natural sound.

There's lots of other nice moments too, one springs to mind of the chief of French police. Every time he's on screen at little ditty plays like Mr Bridger in The Italian Job. It's just funny!

I think there is a lot to love about this film. Oh, do have a look at the extras on the disc, there's a great black and white piece from 1972 TV with the director and the child from the film looking at the negatives in a telecine viewing room. I just wish it had subtitles but it's a good view for 8 mins.

Honestly. Do yourself a big favour and go find this film ASAP. I can't recommend it highly enough. A Triumph and a very pleasant surprise!

847,997,452 million out of 10.

What a refreshing post. It's a brilliant film, indeed - fairly typical Georges Lautner, to be honest. Michel Constantin is legend. Mireille Darc was wonderful. Do yourself a favour and watch Laisse Aller C'est Une Valse and Les Barbouzes, from the same team. Totally crazy and hilarious stuff.

[GlacierTuba]

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll try to check them out. I enjoyed this film so much I just think the bar will now be set, for me at least, rather high!

Side note that just occurred to me, for anyone reading this; keep an eye out around the 59 minute mark for a bloke driving a car who pulls up sporting the most tremendous, continent-spanning, skull-devouring sideburns I've ever seen. Incredible!