In this Franco-Italian gangster parody, a shopkeeper on his way to an Italian holiday suffers a crash that totals his car. The culprit can only compensate his ruined trip by driving an American friend's car from Naples to Bordeaux, but as it happens to be filled with such contraband as stolen money, jewelry and drugs, the involuntary and unwitting companions in crime soon attract all but recreational attention from the "milieu".
Acting
Bourvil's everyman innocence vs De Funès's volcanic neuroticism.
Direction
Oury's precision timing turns traffic jams into symphony.
Practical Effects
Real Cadillac destruction—no CGI, just glorious automotive carnage.
Director
Gérard Oury
Bourvil
Antoine Maréchal
Louis de Funès
Léopold Saroyan
Venantino Venantini
Mickey, "le Bègue"
Henri Génès
Martial, le brigadier
Beba Lončar
Ursula, l'auto-stoppeuse
Alida Chelli
Gina, la manucure
Lando Buzzanca
Lino, le barbier
Jacques Eyser
Un complice de Saroyan
Henri Virlogeux
Un complice de Saroyan
Jean Meyer
Un complice de Saroyan
Jack Ary
Le commissaire
Jean-Marie Bon
Le garagiste romain
Guy Delorme
Luigi, un complice de Mickey
Jean Droze
Le porte-flingue de Saroyan
Jacques Ferrière
Le chauffeur de Saroyan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
De Funès was so volatile on set that Bourvil nicknamed him 'Pépère la Colère'—Grandpa Anger.
This 1965 smash invented the modern French blockbuster, proving domestic comedies could outgross Hollywood imports.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
FR
