''Archimède le clochard'' is a 1959 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

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 Inter ...

. It is also known as ''The Magnificent Tramp''. The film was entered into the

9th Berlin International Film Festival The 9th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 26 June – 7 July 1959. The festival welcomed the cinematic movement known as the New Wave and screened the work of directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Agnès Varda and François ...

, where

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'' ...

won the

Silver Bear for Best Actor The Silver Bear for Best Actor (german: Silberner Bär/Bester Darsteller) was an award presented at the Berlin International Film Festival from 1956 to 2020. It was given to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance and was chosen by ...

Plot

A sophisticated tramp lives during summer in a half-finished

construction site Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and co ...

. Because he doesn't want to be cold in the winter, he decides to get imprisoned on time. Therefore, he demolishes a bar but he is only incarcerated for a single week. He promises he will find a way to come back.

Cast

as Joseph Hugues Guillaume Boutier-Blainville aka Archimède *

Paul Frankeur Paul Frankeur (29 June 1905 - 27 October 1974) was a French actor who appeared in films by Jacques Tati ('' Jour de fête'') and Luis Buñuel (''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' and '' The Phantom of Liberty''). He was sometimes credite ...

as Monsieur Grégoire, the first inn keeper *

Darry Cowl Darry Cowl (born André Darricau; 27 August 1925 – 14 February 2006) was a French comedian, actor and musician. He won a César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2004 for his role as a concierge in '' Pas sur la bouche'' (''Not on ...

as Arsène, the second inn keeper *

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 and ...

as Monsieur Pichon, the new inn keeper *

Dora Doll Dora Doll (born Dorothea Hermina Feinberg; 19 May 1922 – 15 November 2015) was a French actress. Career One of her first screen appearances was as Juliette in Henri-Georges Clouzot's ''Manon'' (1949). She appeared as Lola in Jacques Becker's ...

as Madame Pichon *

Gaby Basset Gaby Basset (29 March 1902 Varennes-Saint-Sauveur, Saône-et-Loire, France – 7 October 2001 Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France) was a French film actress.Goble p.37 Selected filmography * '' Everybody Wins'' (1930) - Simone * ''Le poig ...

as Mme Grégoire *

Sacha Briquet Sacha Briquet (1930–2010) was a French actor, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Biography He notably played the character of Albert Travling in the children's television program L'Île aux enfants. He signed a book of memories, ''Comédien, pourquo ...

as Jean-Loup, the English guest *

Guy Decomble Guy Decomble (1910–1964) was a French film and television actor. A character actor he played in a number of supporting parts in postwar cinema. One of his better known roles is as the teacher in ''The 400 Blows'' by François Truffaut.Paietta ...

as the RATP station manager *

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 ...

as the caterer *

Noël Roquevert Noël Roquevert (born Noël Louis Raymond Bénévent; 18 December 1892 – 6 November 1973) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1932 and 1972. Roquevert was born in Doué-la-Fontaine and was married ...

as Capitaine Brossard, the retired commander *

Julien Carette Julien Henri Carette (23 December 1897 – 20 July 1966) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1964. Selected filmography * '' American Love'' (1931) * '' George and Georgette'' (1934) * '' My Heart I ...

as Félix, le clochard aux chiens *

as M. Grégoire, l'ancien patron *

Jacqueline Maillan Jacqueline Jeanne Paule Maillan (11 January 1923 - 12 May 1992) was a French actress with a career spanning almost five decades, known primarily for her forty theatre productions, she also appeared in more than fifty films (1947 to 1992) and is ...

as Madame Marjorie

References

External links

* 1959 films 1950s French-language films 1959 drama films French black-and-white films Films directed by Gilles Grangier Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard French drama films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub