Le Corniaud

[pro-bassoonist]

Studio Canal are set to release Gérard Oury's classic Le Corniaud a.k.a The Sucker (1965), starring the unforgettable Louis de Funès and Bourvil, on September 22.

Urban Cinefile:

Parisian salesman, sets off for his Italian vacation one summer, his humble Citroen is smashed by a Rolls Royce driven by Leopold Saroyan (Louis de Funès), whose fancy business card and corporate title hides his real activity as part of a smuggling ring. To make up for the accident, he offers to let Antoine deliver a beautiful white Cadillac convertible from Naples to Bordeaux as his holiday. But he doesn't tell him the vehicle is a black market on wheels carrying everything from gold and jewels to heroine. Antoine sets off and is secretly shadowed by Leopold and his cronies (in a green Jaguar) - and a rival gang (in a red Triumph sports) which is onto the scam. Antoine is so busy enjoying himself that he is oblivious to the gun battles raging in his wake.

It may seem a tad dated now, but there's still plenty of innocent, old fashioned fun in this escapist chase movie / caper gone wrong comedy from two of France's most popular stars. Bourvil and Louis de Funès. The latter plays the boss of a small but busy gang of smugglers whose plot involves hiding contraband in various parts of a Cadillac and driving it from Naples to Bordeaux for shipment to the US. To his joy, he smashes into the car of a Parisian he takes for a simple buffoon and hatches his plan to make the buffoon the bunny to drive the merchandise-laden car - while he and his gang follow at a safe distance to keep an eye on things. To add an extra layer of fun, a rival gang learns the details from an informer and they all set off on the chase.

And it is no accident that the green, white and red are the colours of the Italian flag. Perhaps it's an in joke to appease the Italian partners in the co-production, since the language is French.

Absolutely mindless and charmingly frivolous, the film manages to retain its high jinx feel even with heroin amongst the booty. Lovely girls, silly men, crazy cops and plenty of super scenery make this a leisure pleasure. The climactic chase takes place amidst the historic remains of Carcassonne, its ancient towers and walls providing a sober setting for a tipsy finish.

Pro-B