''Les Bons Vivants'' (''High Lifers'') is a
French comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
film from 1965, directed by
Gilles Grangier
Gilles Grangier (5 May 1911 – 27 April 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 50 films and several TV series between 1943 and 1985. His film '' Archimède le clochard'' was entered into the 9th Berlin In ...
and
Georges Lautner
Georges Lautner (; 24 January 1926 – 22 November 2013) was a French film director and screenwriter, known primarily for his comedies created in collaboration with screenwriter Michel Audiard.
Lautner's ventures into other genres were less ...
, that was written by
Albert Simonin
Albert Simonin (1905–1980) was a French novelist and scriptwriter. He was born in the La Chapelle quarter of the 18th arrondissement of Paris. His father was a florist. Albert was orphaned by the age of 16.''Paris Match'' No.3134 11–17 June 20 ...
and
Michel Audiard
Paul Michel Audiard (; 15 May 1920 – 27 July 1985) was a French screenwriter and film director, known for his witty, irreverent and slang-laden dialogues which made him a prominent figure on the French cultural scene of the 1960s and 1970s. He ...
. It stars
Bernard Blier
Bernard Blier (11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.
Life and career
His rotund features an ...
,
Mireille Darc
Mireille Darc (; 15 May 1938 – 28 August 2017) was a French model and actress. She appeared as a lead character in Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 film '' Weekend''. Darc was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Me ...
,
Andréa Parisy
Andréa Parisy (sometimes credited as Andrée Parizy; 4 December 1935 – 27 April 2014), was a French film actress.
Born Andrée Marcelle Henriette Parisy in Levallois-Perret, she was best known for her roles in films such as ''Le Petit Bai ...
,
Bernadette Lafont
Bernadette Lafont (28 October 1938 – 25 July 2013) was a French actress who appeared in more than 120 feature films. She has been considered "the face of French New Wave". In 1999 she told ''The New York Times'' her work was "the motor of my e ...
, and
Louis de Funès
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...
.
Plot and Cast
The story is told in three separate chapters.
Chapter 1: The Closure
In Paris in 1946, when a new law closes all brothels, an owner has to dismiss his girls and dispose of the premises and their contents. He and his wife distribute parting gifts to the girls, including Héloïse. but one is away at a family bereavement. This is Lucette, for whom is reserved the red lantern that hung over the front door.
*
Bernard Blier
Bernard Blier (11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.
Life and career
His rotund features an ...
as Monsieur Charles, the owner of the brothel
*
Dominique Davray
Dominique Davray (born Marie-Louise Gournay; 27 January 1919 in Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,4 ...
as Madame Blanche, the madame
*
Franck Villard as Monsieur Marcel, owner of another brothel
*
Mireille Darc
Mireille Darc (; 15 May 1938 – 28 August 2017) was a French model and actress. She appeared as a lead character in Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 film '' Weekend''. Darc was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Me ...
as Héloïse, one of the girls
Chapter 2: The Trial
Two incompetent burglars break into the mansion of a baron and flee when disturbed, abandoning most of their loot. One is caught and put on trial, while the other got away with only a red lantern. In her testimony the baroness, formerly Lucette, charms the whole court as she says it was her most treasured possession.
*
Andréa Parisy
Andréa Parisy (sometimes credited as Andrée Parizy; 4 December 1935 – 27 April 2014), was a French film actress.
Born Andrée Marcelle Henriette Parisy in Levallois-Perret, she was best known for her roles in films such as ''Le Petit Bai ...
as the Baroness, formerly Lucette
*
Jean Lefebvre
Jean Marcel Lefebvre (3 October 1919Some sources indicate he was born in 1922. – 9 July 2004) was a French film actor.
His erratic studies were interrupted by World War II. Taken prisoner and then requisitioned as a laborer, he escaped to joi ...
as Léonard, burglar on trial
*
Jean Carmet
Jean Carmet (25 April 1920 – 20 April 1994) was a French actor.
Life and career
Jean Carmet began working on stage and then in film in the early 1940s becoming a very popular comedic actor in his native country. He is best known internatio ...
as Paulo, burglar's accomplice
*
Pierre Bertin as presiding judge
*
Bernard Blier
Bernard Blier (11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.
Life and career
His rotund features an ...
as Monsieur Charles
*
Franck Villard as Monsieur Marcel
Chapter 3: Men of Good Taste
Walking home late one night from the private athletic club where the leading citizens of a little town keep fit., the bachelor Léon sees a plain-clothes policeman harassing Héloïse, a homeless young woman. Rescuing her, Léon offers her his dead mother's bedroom, upon which his housekeeper leaves in disgust. He is due to host the annual dinner of the club, so Héloïse recruits Sophie, a fellow worker, to cook and serve. The club members are so delighted by the food and the attentive waitresses that they resolve to hold dinners there more often. Héloïse recruits more girls to cope with the increased demand for their services. At Christmas, Leon gives Héloïse a special present he has found - a red lantern to hang over the front door.
*
Louis de Funès
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...
as Léon
*
Mireille Darc
Mireille Darc (; 15 May 1938 – 28 August 2017) was a French model and actress. She appeared as a lead character in Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 film '' Weekend''. Darc was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Me ...
as Héloïse
*
Jean Richard as Paul, club member
*
Bernadette Lafont
Bernadette Lafont (28 October 1938 – 25 July 2013) was a French actress who appeared in more than 120 feature films. She has been considered "the face of French New Wave". In 1999 she told ''The New York Times'' her work was "the motor of my e ...
as Sophie
References
External links
*
Les Bons Vivantsat the ''Films de France''
1965 films
French comedy films
1960s French-language films
French anthology films
French black-and-white films
Films directed by Georges Lautner
Films directed by Gilles Grangier
Films produced by Robert Dorfmann
Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard
Films with screenplays by Albert Simonin
1960s French films
{{1960s-France-film-stub