''Le cave se rebiffe'' is a 1961 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 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 ...

, written by

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 ...

and starring

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), ''La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ( ...

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 ...

and

Martine Carol Martine Carol (born Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer; 16 May 1920 – 6 February 1967) was a French film actress. Career Born Maryse Mourer (or Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer) in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, (France), she studied acting und ...

. The film was retitled ''The Counterfeiters of Paris'' for English-speaking countries. ''Le cave se rebiffe'' is the second in the Max le Menteur trilogy, following ''

Touchez pas au grisbi ''Touchez pas au grisbi'' (, French for "Don't touch the loot"), released as ''Honour Among Thieves'' in the United Kingdom and ''Grisbi'' in the United States, is a 1954 French-Italian crime film based on a novel by Albert Simonin. It was direc ...

'' and preceding ''

Les tontons flingueurs ''Les Tontons flingueurs'' ('' en, Crooks in Clover'', also known as ''Monsieur Gangster'', literally ''Gun-toting Uncles'') is a 1963 French-Italian-West German crime comedy film with French dialogue, directed by Georges Lautner. It is an adapt ...

''. The film trilogy is an adaptation of three novels 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 ...

Cast

: Ferdinand Maréchal, aka 'le Dabe' *

: Charles Lepicard *

: Solange Mideau * Franck Villard : Éric Masson *

Maurice Biraud Maurice Biraud (3 March 1922 – 24 December 1982) was a French film actor. He appeared in 90 films between 1951 and 1982. Biraud was born on 3 March 1922 in Paris. He married actress Françoise Soulié in 1956. He died on 24 December 1982 i ...

: Robert Mideau (aka 'le Cave') * Antoine Balpêtré : Lucas Malvoisin *

Ginette Leclerc Ginette Leclerc (born Geneviève Lucie Menut; February 9, 1912 – January 2, 1992) was a French film actress. She appeared in nearly 90 films between 1932 and 1978. Her last TV appearance was in 1981. She was born in Ile-de-France, France ...

: Léa Lepicard *

Françoise Rosay Françoise Rosay (; born Françoise Bandy de Nalèche; 19 April 1891 – 28 March 1974) was a French opera singer, diseuse,''Design'', Volume 9 1965 p. 24 and actress who enjoyed a film career of over sixty years and who became a legendary figure ...

: Mme Pauline *

Albert Dinan Albert Dinan (27 March 1902 – 3 July 1976) was a French film actor.Goble p.347 He appeared in more than ninety films and television series during his career. Selected filmography * ''Bric à Brac et compagnie'' (1932) - Jean Verly * ''Lunegard ...

: commissioner Rémy *

Gérard Buhr Gérard Buhr (8 May 19288 January 1988) was a French film and television actor. Selected filmography * ' (1950) * ''Quai de Grenelle'' (1950) - Petit rôle (uncredited) * '' Beware of Blondes'' (1950) - Un journaliste (uncredited) * ''Monte Car ...

: detective Martin *

Heinrich Gretler Heinrich Gretler (1897–1977) was a Swiss film and television actor, who also starred on stage at the Bernhard-Theater in Zurich. Selected filmography * '' The Mysterious Mirror'' (1928) * ''Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (1928) * ''The Man w ...

: M. Tauchmann * Clara Gansard : Georgette *

Robert Dalban Robert Dalban (born Gaston Barré; 19 July 1903, in Celles-sur-Belle, Deux-Sèvres – 3 April 1987, in Paris) was a French actor. His work included stage acting, roles in TV shows and dubbing American stars. Moreover, he was a fixture in Frenc ...

: detective Maffeux *

Jacques Marin Jacques Marin (9 September 1919 – 10 January 2001) was a French actor on film and television. Marin's fluency in English and his instantly recognisable features made him a familiar face in some major American and British productions (''Cha ...

: detective Larpin *

Charles Bouillaud Charles Bouillaud (1904–1965) was a French actor. Selected filmography {{DEFAULTSORT:Bouillaud, Charles 1904 births 1965 deaths French male stage actors French male film actors French male television actors 20th-century French male ...

: engraver * Marcel Charvey : doctor *

Paul Faivre Paul Faivre (3 March 1886 – 5 March 1973) was a French actor. Selected filmography * ''The House Opposite'' (1937) * ''Behind the Facade'' (1939) * '' Vidocq'' (1939) * '' Annette and the Blonde Woman'' (1942) * ''The Count of Monte Crist ...

: Mathias, concierge * Hélène Dieudonné : wife, concierge *

Gabriel Gobin Gabriel Gobin (12 May 1903 – 9 February 1998) was a Belgian film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1947 and 1990. He was born in Hacquegnies, Belgium and died in Brie-Comte-Robert, France. Selected filmography * ''Quai de ...

: horse trainer Vincennes *

René Hell René Hell (1891–1965) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' Special Mission'' (1946) * ''Dilemma of Two Angels'' (1948) * '' After Love'' (1948) * '' Five Red Tulips'' (1949) * '' The Red Angel'' (1949) * '' The Unexpected Voyager'' ...

: old garage owner * Lisa Jouvet : nurse *

Albert Michel Albert Michel (1909–1981) was a French stage, film and television actor.Paietta p.40 Selected filmography * ''Je chante'' (1938) - Un laitier (uncredited) * ''Ne bougez plus'' (1941) - Clanpinet * ''Chèque au porteur'' (1941) * ''Fièvres'' ( ...

: postman * Antonio Ramirez : horse trainer Caracas *

Pierre Collet Pierre Collet (10 March 1914 – 30 October 1977) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films and television shows between 1943 and 1977. Selected filmography * ''Goodbye Leonard'' (1943) - Le marchand d'habits (uncredite ...

: taxi driver * Max Doria : customs officer * Claude Ivry : Lucienne

Plot

Éric, a crooked secondhand car dealer in Paris, is having an affair with the flirtatious Solange, whose unemployed husband Robert is a skilled printer and engraver. With two crooked friends, Charles and Lucas, he discusses the idea that they could use the ineffectual Robert to run off some counterfeit banknotes. For this they would need authentic paper and a reliable fence. In fact, they decide, they need to call in an expert and the best man for the job is Ferdinand, living in retirement in Venezuela. Ferdinand agrees to help but on condition he has half the profits, which sets the other three working on a plot to reduce his take. Aware of their scheming, Ferdinand forms a close rapport with the shy Robert. When Robert has run off the counterfeit notes and delivered them to the fence, he is given an attaché case full of genuine notes which he takes to the airport. On boarding a plane for Venezuela, which has no extradition treaty with France, he finds Ferdinand waiting for him. Humiliated and out of pocket, the three dupes descend to blows and then start slapping the faithless Solange who started it all.

References

External links

* 1961 films Films set in Paris French comedy films 1960s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Gilles Grangier Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard Films with screenplays by Albert Simonin Films scored by Michel Legrand Counterfeit money in film 1960s French films {{1960s-France-film-stub