Monsieur

Only one review? Let me add another, because the premise of a rich banker and a tart escaping their separate pasts to be butler and maid in a country house means that they can use their skills in the new job to comic effect but always risk exposure. The story is in fact not too well developed but that doesn't matter because the dialogue and acting are often fun.

First, of course, we must place the immortal Jean Gabin who exercises his tremendous presence, dominating other characters by his intelligence and force of personality. When Suzanne as a whore warns him that her protectors are hard men, he merely says "But I am a banker" and outwits the dim thugs in no time. As butler, while cleaning the shoes he notes that the master uses the same bootmaker as the ex-King of Spain.

Equal second to my mind come his frenetic employers, the two Bernardacs. He is the incomparable Philippe Noiret, trying to combine pompous businessman and father with passion for his new air hostess wife. She, the Swiss Liselotte Pulver, combines daytime adultery with evening drinking but always charmingly. The lovely Mireille Darc as the prostitute turned chambermaid Suzanne can only come fourth, because she is unfortunately given too little to do.

Little contemporary touches recall a long gone era. In the girls' bedrooms pictures from magazines of contemporary pop stars are stuck up on the walls. And in Paris at that time to be chic one had to drive an English car, so we see posh Daimlers and Rovers, sporty Austin-Healeys and Jaguars, plus the ubiquitous Mini.