''Ni vu, ni connu'' (literally "Neither seen, nor known"), also known by its English title ''Neither Seen, Nor Recognized'', 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 1958, directed by

Yves Robert Yves Robert (19 June 1920 – 10 May 2002) was a French actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. Life and career Robert was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France. In his teens, he went to Paris to pursue a career in acting, starting with ...

and starring

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 ...

. The film is based on the novel ''L'Affaire Blaireau'' (''The Blaireau Case'') by

Alphonse Allais Alphonse Allais (20 October 1854 – 28 October 1905) was a French writer, journalist and humorist. Life Allais was born in Honfleur, Calvados (department), Calvados. He died in Paris. Work He is the author of many collections of whimsical writ ...

. The story had previously been adapted for the screen in 1923 and in 1932.

Plot

In the wine-growing village of Montpaillard, the humorless gamekeeper Parju is determined to bring in the wily poacher Blaireau. One night, he is accidentally knocked out by Armand Fléchard, a young piano teacher, but is convinced the attacker was Blaireau and has him arrested. However, Blaireau knows how to take advantage of any situation, and what he makes of being arrested benefits the entire village, including Fléchard and his girlfriend, Arabella, the daughter of the local landowner.

Cast

: Léon Blaireau, the poacher *

Moustache A moustache (; en-US, mustache, ) is a strip of facial hair grown above the upper lip. Moustaches have been worn in various styles throughout history. Etymology The word "moustache" is French, and is derived from the Italian ''mustaccio'' ...

: Ovide Parju, the gamekeeper * Noëlle Adam: Arabella de Chaville, the landowner's daughter * Madeleine Barbulée: Mme de Chaville, Arabella's mother *

Claude Rich Claude Rich (8 February 1929 – 20 July 2017) was a French stage and screen actor. He began his career in the theater before his film debut in 1955. Personal life He married actress Catherine Renaudin on 26 June 1959. They had two daughters, ...

: Armand Fléchard, piano teacher and Arabella's beloved * Frédéric Duvallès: Monsieur Dubenoit, the mayor *

Roland Armontel Roland Armontel (21 December 1901 – 15 March 1980) was a French actor. Born Auguste Louis Magnin in Vimoutiers, Orne, France, he died in Paris. Selected filmography * ''Fun in the Barracks'' (1932) * '' Let's Touch Wood'' (1933) * ''Les M ...

: Léon de Chaville, the local landowner, Arabella's father * Pierre Mondy: Monsieur Bluette, director of the local jail *

Jean-Marie Amato Jean-Marie is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: * Jean-Marie Abgrall (born 1950), a French psychiatrist, criminologist, specialist in forensic medicine, cult expert, and graduate in criminal law * Jean-Marie C ...

: Maître Guilloche, a lawyer, the mayor's political rival *

Lucien Hubert Lucien is a male given name. It is the French form of Luciano or Latin ''Lucianus'', patronymic of Lucius. Lucien, Saint Lucien, or Saint-Lucien may also refer to: People Given name * Lucien of Beauvais, Christian saint *Lucien, a band member ...

: Auguste, a villager *

Pierre Stéphen Pierre Stéphen (1890–1980) was a French film actor.Goble p.346 Selected filmography * ''Irène'' (1920) * ''La dette'' (1920) * ''Gigolette'' (1921) * ''La brèche d'enfer'' (1923) - Le Vicomte de La Cardière * ''Le double piège'' (1923) * ...

: the public prosecutor *

Robert Vattier Robert Vattier (2 October 1906 – 9 December 1982) was a French actor. He was the father of the comedic actress Bérangère Vattier. Selected filmography * '' Marius'' (1931) - Albert Brun * '' Fanny'' (1932) - Albert Brun * ''Vers l'abîme ...

: Monsieur Lerechigneux, the judge *

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 Cri ...

: Victor, the chief jailkeeper *

Jean Bellanger Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

: a prisoner, formerly a pedicurist *

Grégoire Gromoff Grégoire is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname / Family name *Alexandre Grégoire (1922–2001), Haitian painter * Augustus Gregoire (1936–1972), Dominican cricketer *Christine Gregoire (born 1947), ...

: Grégory, a prisoner *

Henri Coutet Henri is an Estonian, Finnish, French, German and Luxembourgish form of the masculine given name Henry. People with this given name ; French noblemen :'' See the 'List of rulers named Henry' for Kings of France named Henri.'' * Henri I de Montm ...

: prisoner *

Max Montavon Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

: prisoner *

Monette Dinay Monette Dinay (1906–1986) was a French film actress.Crisp p.45 Partial filmography * ''Black and White'' (1931) - Joséphine * ''L'agence O-Kay'' (1932) - Simone * ''Ce cochon de Morin'' (1932) * ''Un beau jour de noces'' (1932) - Marinette D ...

: Léontine, Dubenoit's housekeeper * Danièle Delorme: admirer at the village fair *

Colette Ricard Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (; 28 January 1873 – 3 August 1954), known mononymously as Colette, was a French author and woman of letters. She was also a mime, actress, and journalist. Colette is best known in the English-speaking world for her ...

: Mademoiselle Rose *

Pierre Mirat Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

: the owner of the local hotel *

Guy Favières Guy or GUY may refer to: Personal names * Guy (given name) * Guy (surname) * That Guy (...), the New Zealand street performer Leigh Hart Places * Guy, Alberta, a Canadian hamlet * Guy, Arkansas, US, a city * Guy, Indiana, US, an unin ...

: assistant to the mayor *

Marcel Rouze Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian s ...

: policeman *

Charles Bayard Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

: a legal assessor *

: wedding photographer * Marc Blanchard: Monsieur Duranfort * Raoul Saint-Yves: prisoner * Jacques Couturier: policeman * Francis Lemarque: whistling prisoner * Bernard Charlan: doctor * Jimmy Perrys: Antoine, a prisoner, formerly a tailor * Jeanne de Funès (uncredited): admirer * Also: Fout-le-camp, a dog; Napoléon, a crow; Lucienne, a magpie; Parju, a pig; and the members of the "club de la fine gaule".

References

External links

Ni vu, ni connu (1958)
at the ''Films de France'' 1958 films 1958 comedy films French comedy films 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Yves Robert Films about hunters Remakes of French films Films based on French novels Pathé films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub