''Mr. Peek-a-Boo'' or ''Garou-Garou, le Passe-muraille'' (often shortened to just ''Le Passe-muraille'') is a 1951 French

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

, directed by Jean Boyer. The film is based on the short story by

Marcel Aymé Marcel Aymé (29 March 1902 – 14 October 1967) was a French novelist and playwright, who also wrote screenplays and works for children. Biography Marcel André Aymé was born in Joigny, in the Burgundy region of France, the youngest of si ...

about a "man who could walk through walls". The film premiered on 6 April 1951.

Plot

Léon, a simple civil servant, who has the unusual ability to walk through walls, falls madly in love with a hotel thief by the name of Susan. He poses as the notorious

gangster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from '' mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

Garou-Garou to attempt to woo her affections, but is arrested and sent to

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, corre ...

. As a prisoner he annoys the guards by walking in and out of his cell, and keeps asking Susan to cease her criminal way of life. As fundamentally being an honest and law-abiding citizen, he eventually handles back everything he has stolen, is acquitted by the court, and becomes famous and respected. When he learns that Susan is planning to return to England and start a new life, he decides to confess his emotions to her. However, the couple is interrupted by a sudden rush of journalists. Trying to escape in a building, they get cornered on a corridor, and Léon pushes Susan through a nearby wall. But by doing this, he loses his own wall-walking ability, and the film concludes.

Cast

Bourvil André Robert Raimbourg (; 27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil (), and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis ...

... Léon Dutilleul *

Joan Greenwood Joan Mary Waller Greenwood (4 March 1921 – 28 February 1987) was an English actress. Her husky voice, coupled with her slow, precise elocution, was her trademark. She played Sibella in the 1949 film ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'', and also app ...

... Susan * Gérard Oury... Maurice *

Roger Tréville Roger Tréville (17 November 1902, in Paris – 27 September 2005, in Beaumont-du-Périgord) was a French actor. He was born as Roger Troly; his parents, Georges Tréville (1875–1944) and Fanny Delisle (1881–1969), were also stage and film act ...

... Félix Burdin * Jacques Erwin ... Gaston * Frédéric O'Brady ... the medical specialist (as O'Brady) *

René Worms René Worms (8 December 1869 in Rennes – 12 February 1926 in Paris) was a French auditor of the council of state. He was the son of professor of political economics, Émile Worms. Early life and education Worms was educated at the lyceum of hi ...

... an employee at the ministry *

Nina Myral Nina Myral, stage name of Eugénie, Hortense Gruel, (26 June 1884 – 30 March 1975) was a 20th-century French actress, dancer and singer. Filmography * 1916: ''Paris pendant la guerre'' by Henri Diamant-Berger * 1917: ''Ils y viennent tous au ...

... Mrs. Eloise *

André Dalibert André — sometimes transliterated as Andre — is the French and Portuguese form of the name Andrew, and is now also used in the English-speaking world. It used in France, Quebec, Canada and other French-speaking countries. It is a variation ...

* Nicole Riche ... the lady on the second floor *

Germaine Reuver Germaine Reuver (1885–1953) was a French stage and film actress.Goble p.18 Selected filmography * '' Miss Helyett'' (1933) * '' Lake of Ladies'' (1934) * '' Inspector of the Red Cars'' (1935) * '' Madame Angot's Daughter'' (1935) * '' Caprices' ...

... Mrs. Ménard, the concierge *

Jeanne Véniat Jeanne may refer to: Places * Jeanne (crater), on Venus People * Jeanne (given name) * Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1412–1431) * Joanna of Flanders (1295–1374) * Joan, Duchess of Brittany (1319–1384) * Ruth Stuber Jeanne (1910–2004), Ameri ...

... the South-American lady *

Georges Flateau Georges may refer to: Places *Georges River, New South Wales, Australia *Georges Quay (Dublin) * Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Other uses * Georges (name) * ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas * "Georges" (song), a 19 ...

... Mr Robert * Edmond Beauchamp ... Arturo (as Beauchamp) * Henri Crémieux ... Gustave Lécuyer

Overview

''Le Passe-muraille'' launched the film career of its star, Bourvil, who at the time was only known as a stage comic and singer. Bourvil plays the character of Léon, an ordinary man of the street with particular affection for women, especially

's character, Susan. The film is noted for its surprising quality of the special effects which were in their infancy at the time this film was made.Films de France
/ref> The film was released in black and white although a colour version of the film also exists.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mister Peek-a-Boo 1951 films 1950s fantasy comedy films French fantasy comedy films Italian fantasy comedy films 1950s French-language films Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard Films based on works by Marcel Aymé Films based on short fiction French superhero films 1950s superhero films Italian superhero films Superhero comedy films Supernatural comedy films 1951 comedy films French black-and-white films Italian black-and-white films Films directed by Jean Boyer 1950s Italian films 1950s French films

Plot

Cast

Overview

See also

References

External links