When the situation did not bode well, Ray Ventura and ses Collégiens hoped for the best ;one of their songs -twice heard as an instrumental in the movie -"tout va très bien madame la marquise " has remained a classic of the French repertoire and mentioned when things go disastrous and yet it's all right.
In 1939, when the war was threatening ,they released this joyful pleasant comedy , a musical ,the plot of which is not unlike "White Christmas " -which is yet to happen.
A group of friends, all musicians , are discharged .But their new civilian life has no appeal for them and their jobs are a bore; so they head for the French Riviera where they are to run a luxury palace ....which is in decay .Even after their renovation, it's hard to find a clientele .But their shrewdness and (mainly) their orchestra will save the place from bankrupcy.
There are really funny situations: to provide a guest with a shower when there's no running water ; to disguise themselves as an Italian count or a sultan to make the people think they have VIP in their rooms;an old maid ,in love with one of the musicians who cannot get rid of her;the bus and its "insane hotel" destination.
There are plenty of songs full of joie de vivre ; "comme tout le monde" is particularly catchy and the performance looks like a true TV clip. Jimmy Gaillard ,who performed in Bing Crosby's shows in NYC , does stunning tap-dance.
Entertaining musical.
