''Piédalu in Paris'' (French: ''Piédalu à Paris'') is a 1951 French

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Jean Loubignac Jean Alexandre Loubignac (23 November 1901 - 4 March 1991) was a French film director.Jean Loubignac
sur ...

and starring

Félix Oudart Félix Charles Oudart (8 June 1881 – 10 August 1956) was a French stage and film actor.Goble p.452 Selected filmography * '' Crainquebille'' (1922) * '' Abduct Me'' (1932) * '' Toto'' (1933) * '' Theodore and Company'' (1933) * '' George and G ...

, Nathalie Nattier and

Armand Bernard Armand Bernard (born Armand Joseph Bernard; 21 March 1893 – 13 June 1968) was a French comic actor and composer known mainly for his prolific work in film. Selected filmography * '' Le traitement du hoquet'' (1918) * '' The Little Cafe ...

.https://www.unifrance.org/film/6828/piedalu-a-paris It was shot at the Photosonor Studios in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Louis Le Barbenchon Louis Le Barbenchon (1911–1980) was a French production designer, set decorator, and art director. He designed the sets for a number of French film productions. Selected filmography * ''His Uncle from Normandy'' (1939) * '' My Aunt the Dictato ...

. It was one of a trilogy of films featuring the character Piédalu.

Synopsis

Piédalu, a naive man from the countryside, travels to

in order to try and meet the Minister of National Renovation to submit plans for a new

tax system A tax is a mandatory financial charge or levy imposed on an individual or legal entity by a governmental organization to support government spending and public expenditures collectively or to regulate and reduce negative externalities. Tax comp ...

to him. Instead he ends up in a

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

amidst a series of misunderstandings and has to return home without even seeing the government official. Fortuitously the minister has a car breakdown near Piédalu's village and he is at last able to meet him.

Cast

* Ded Rysel as Piédalu *

as Le ministre de la Rénovation Nationale * Nathalie Nattier as Gloria Lamar *

as M. Finnois * Jane Sourza as Mlle. Isabelle *

Jacques Berlioz Jacques Berlioz (9 December 1891, Paris – 21 December 1975) was a French zoologist and ornithologist, specializing in hummingbirds. He was a grand-nephew of composer Hector Berlioz (1803–1869). Berlioz was born in Paris, where the family hom ...

as Le général * Borodine as Olivier *

Raymond Cordy Raymond Cordy (9 December 1898 – 23 April 1956) was a French film actor,Youngkin p.466 born Raymond Cordiaux. He appeared in over a hundred and thirty films during his career. Selected filmography * '' Little Lise'' (1930) - Un joueur de bill ...

as L'huissier-chef *

Max Dalban Max Dalban (27 May 1908 – 9 February 1958) was a French film actor.Macdonald p.244 Selected filmography * ''Boudu Saved from Drowning'' (1932) * '' Chotard and Company'' (1933) * ''Street Without a Name'' (1934) * ''Toni'' (1935) * '' The Mut ...

as Étienne *

René Génin René Génin (25 January 1890 – 24 October 1967) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1931 and 1965. Selected filmography * ''Vertigo'' (1935) * '' The Mutiny of the Elsinore'' (1936) * '' The Bri ...

as Le curé *

René Hell René Hell (1891–1965) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' Special Mission'' (1946) * ''Mirror A mirror, also known as a looking glass, is an object that Reflection (physics), reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mir ...

as Le notaire *

Jean Kolb 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 * Jean ...

as L'évêque *

Charles Lemontier Charles Lemontier (1894–1965) was a French film actor.Aping p.76 Selected filmography * ''Street Without a Name'' (1934) * ''Judex'' (1934) * ''Crime and Punishment'' (1935) * '' Rigolboche'' (1936) * '' School for Journalists'' (1936) * '' Wh ...

as Le préfet *

Julien Maffre Julien may refer to: People * Julien (given name) * Julien (surname) Music * ''Julien'' (opera), a 1913 poème lyrique by Gustave Charpentier * ''Julien'' (album), by Dalida, 1973 * "Julien" (song), by Carly Rae Jepsen, 2019 Places Un ...

as Le brigadier *

Georges Paulais Georges Paulais (16 September 1884 – 12 December 1967) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1910 and 1956. He was born in Guimps, Charente, France and died in Chabanais, Charente, France. Selected filmogra ...

as L'instituteur *

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) * ''Last Hour'' (1934) * ''His Excellency Antonin'' (1935) * '' Inspector of the Red Cars'' ( ...

as Mme. Piédalu * Micheline Valmonde as Madeleine Baudoin

References

Bibliography

* Bessy, Maurice & Chirat, Raymond. ''Histoire du cinéma français: 1951-1955''. Pygmalion, 1989. * Rège, Philippe. ''Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1''. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

* 1951 films French comedy films 1951 comedy films 1950s French-language films Films directed by Jean Loubignac French black-and-white films 1950s French films Films set in Paris {{1950s-France-comedy-film-stub