Francis Blanche

  • Claude Autant-Lara – Vive Henri IV… vive l’amour! (1961)

    1961-1970Claude Autant-LaraComedyFrance

    Synopsis
    In his 56th year, King Henri IV, Count of Navarre, is having problems with his wife, Marie de Medicis. Marie has many reasons to be jealous of the king’s two mistresses, Jacqueline de Bueil and Henriette d’Entrague, particularly as the latter has borne him children. One day, Henri makes a big decision. He will put a definitive end to his amorous liaisons and instead live a more quiet life. Alas, the king’s resolutions never last long. At a dance organised by the queen, Henri cannot help noticing the ravishing Charlotte de Montmorency. Although Charlotte is officially engaged to a man named Bassompierre, the king is determined to take her as his mistress and contrives a plan. He will invite Bassompierre to marry another lady, which he surely cannot refuse to do if he is to remain faithful to the king. He will then marry Charlotte to the Prince de Condé, a young man who prefers horses to women. Henri is sure that Condé will have no objection to him making overtures to his wife. Even a king can make mistakes…Read More »

  • Jacques Baratier – Dragées au poivre aka Sweet and Sour (1963)

    1961-1970ComedyFranceJacques BaratierMusical

    Autour de Jacques Baratier & Sweet and Sour
    By Elliott Stein – Tuesday, April 14th 2009 – Village Voice

    (Jacques Baratier, 1963). This fascinating nearly plot-less feature from eccentric Baratier, a director hardly known in America, is a quirky riff on cinema verite, with guest appearances from a dazzling array of European luminaries from the 60s including Simone Signoret, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Monica Vitti, and Roger Vadim. It was shot by the great Henri Decae, cinematographer of The Four Hundred Blows, Plein Soleil and La Ronde.Read More »

  • Jean-Pierre Mocky – Les vierges aka The Virgins (1962)

    Drama1961-1970ComedyFranceJean-Pierre Mocky

    The story of five girls who are looking for their first love and first lovemaking. Some will get their heart’s desire, and some will get their hearts broken… at least for a while.Read More »

  • Georges Lautner – Les tontons flingueurs AKA Monsieur Gangster AKA Crooks In Clover (1963)

    1961-1970ComedyCrimeFranceGeorges Lautner

    In this action-packed slapstick comedy – a dying mob boss nicknamed “The Mexican” asks his old friend and ex-gangster, Fernand Naudin (Lino Ventura), to come out of retirement to take over the family businesses and protect his soon to be married daughter. The rival families take an exception to this and unleash their henchmen to take care of Naudin, but they get much more than they bargained for. After surviving their first onslaught, he declares war on the other families and their shady operations. The stellar cast includes Bernard Blier and Francis Blanche with great direction by Georges Lautner and writing by Michel Audiard. The writer, director and three leads reappeared the following year in the even more successful Spy vs. Spy comedy, The Great Spy Chase (Les Barbouzes).Read More »

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