Jules, small and weak, dreams of becoming a formidable athlete. He strives every morning to practice physical culture exercises and takes comforting tablets, without success. But he meets Nénette, a woman who, when he kisses her, suddenly endows him with prodigious strength.
Acting
Raymond Bussières commits 300% to physical comedy with zero dignity.
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI muscle suits and wire gags that age like fine, silly wine.
Director
Guy Lacourt
Raymond Bussières
Jules
Annette Poivre
Nénette
Jean Ozenne
Specialist Doctor
Pierre Mondy
Accomplice
Jean Richard
Policeman
Gérard Oury
Narrator (voice)
Colette Darfeuil
Dédée
Alexandre Rignault
'Le gorille'
Robert Le Fort
Milou
Serge Nadaud
Principal curator Anselme Carillon
François Joux
The Doctor's assistant
Pierre Duncan
The butcher at the fair
André Chanu
The announcer of the Vél d'Hiv
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film embodies post-war French working-class anxiety about physical masculinity, when returning soldiers and rebuilt labor culture made 'the little guy' trope both sympathetic and laughable.
Gérard Oury's narration was added after test screenings confused audiences; the voiceover explains Jules's pills are just sugar, a detail originally left to visual gags.
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