''La Poison'' is a 1951 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 ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

film, written and directed by Sacha Guitry, starring

Michel Simon Michel Simon (; 9 April 1895 – 30 May 1975) was a Swiss-French actor. He appeared in many notable French films, including ''La Chienne'' (1931), ''Boudu Saved from Drowning'' (1932), ''L'Atalante'' (1934), ''Port of Shadows'' (1938), '' The He ...

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 ...

Cast

: Paul Louis Victor Braconnier, the gardener *

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' ...

: Blandine Braconnier, Paul's wife *

Jean Debucourt Jean Debucourt (19 January 1894 – 22 March 1958) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1920 and 1958. Selected filmography * '' The Little Thing'' (1923) * '' Jean Chouan'' (1926) * '' Madame Réca ...

: Maître Aubanel, the famous lawyer *

: André Chevillard, a citizen of Remonville * Marcelle Arnold: Germaine Chevillard, André's wife *

Georges Bever Georges Bever (1884–1973) was a French film and television actor.Goble p.38 Selected filmography * '' The Crystal Submarine '' (1927) * ''The Man in Evening Clothes'' (1931) * '' When Do You Commit Suicide?'' (1931) * ''Fun in the Barracks'' ...

: Mr Gaillard, the chemist of Remonville *

Nicolas Amato Nicolas or Nicolás may refer to: People Given name * Nicolas (given name) Mononym * Nicolas (footballer, born 1999), Brazilian footballer * Nicolas (footballer, born 2000), Brazilian footballer Surname Nicolas * Dafydd Nicolas (c.1705–1774), ...

: Victor Boitevin, an inhabitant * Jacques Varennes: the prosecutor *

Jeanne Fusier-Gir Jeanne Fusier-Gir (1885–1973) was a French stage and film actress. She was married to the painter Charles Gir, and was the mother of the film director François Gir.Rège p. 442 Selected filmography * '' The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard'' (192 ...

: Mrs Tyberghen, the florist *

Pauline Carton Pauline Carton (4 July 1884 – 17 June 1974) was a French film actress. She appeared in more than 190 films between 1907 and 1974. Filmography * ''La fille du Boche'' (1915) * ''Blanchette'' (1921) * ''La femme de nulle part'' (1922) * '' ...

: Mrs Michaud, the grocer *

Albert Duvaleix Albert Duvaleix (1893-1962) was a French stage and film actor. Bessy & Chirat p.138 A character actor he appeared in a number of supporting roles in French comedies and drama films. His son Christian Duvaleix also became an actor. Selected fil ...

: Abbot Méthivier * Léon Walther: a senior magistrate * Henry Laverne: Judiciary President * Harry Max: Henri, an inhabitant

Remake

The film was remade by Jean Becker as ''

A Crime in Paradise ''A Crime in Paradise'' (french: Un crime au paradis) is a 2001 French comedy film directed by Jean Becker, adapted by Sebastien Japrisot from the story by Sacha Guitry, and starring Jacques Villeret and Josiane Balasko. The scenario was used ...

'' in 2001.

References

External links

* *
''La Poison''
at the ''Films de France''
''La poison—or, How to Kill Your Wife''
an essay by

Ginette Vincendeau Ginette Vincendeau (born 1948) is a French-born British-based academic who is a professor of film studies at King's College London. Early life and education Vincendeau was educated at the Lycée Lamartine and Lycée Sophie Germain in Paris, ...

at the Criterion Collection 1951 films 1951 comedy-drama films French comedy-drama films 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films Films set in Paris Films directed by Sacha Guitry 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub