Robert Sussfeld Movies
- 1970
Evans (Louis De Funes) stars in this situation comedy about a man in charge of a female ballet troupe. The only other man in the house is his nephew Philippe (Olivier De Funes). One of the former residents becomes pregnant, and anonymous note labels the nephew as the father. Evans seeks out the girl only to find she has another child as well. He soon gets roped into becoming a nursemaid to the squalling infant and the year old child. The part of the nephew is played by Louis' son, and the film features several songs and dances. the role of Evans is played with a more restrained manner by the popular French comic. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis de Funès, Noëlle Adam, (more)
- 1963
- NR
Before Greed in the Sun was released to the States by way of MGM, this French/Italian co-production had made the European rounds under the titles 100,000 Dollars au Soleil and Centomilia Dollare al Sol. As any good linguist can gather, the catalyst for this action melodrama is 100,000 dollars---actually 100,000 dollars worth of guns and ammunition, unknowingly transported to African insurrectionists by truck driver Reginald Kernan. Fellow trucker Jean-Paul Belmondo teams with his girlfriend Andrea Parisy to hijack the shipment. Gert Frobe, head of the trucking company, offers Kernan a large reward for the return of the truck and its contents. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Lino Ventura, (more)
- 1957
The French/Italian Adventures of Arsene Lupin is loosely based on stories by Maurice Leblanc. A sprightly opening-credits musical theme clues us in that none of what we're about to see should be taken too seriously. The titular Lupin, played by Robert Lamoreaux is a jewel robber in pre-World War 1 Germany. Moving in the highest social circles, Lamoreaux has as much fondness for the ladies as he does for his ill-gotten gains. One of his conquests is played by Liselotte Pulver, who as Lilo Pulver costarred with James Cagney and Horst Buchholz in Billy Wilder's One Two Three (she's the girl in the polka-dot dress). Lupin proves to be a patriot when he robs the coffers of France's enemy-to-be Kaiser Wilhelm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Lamoureux, Liselotte Pulver, (more)
An austere look at the experiences of a young priest in a small French parish, Robert Bresson's masterly Le Journal d'un curé de campagne (Diary of a Country Priest) presents a powerful, complex exploration of faith underneath a deceptively simple exterior. Drawn from a novel by Georges Bernanos, the film centers on the priest of Ambricourt (Claude Laydu), a withdrawn, devout young man whose social awkwardness leaves him isolated from the community he is meant to serve. Further problems derive from the priest's ill health, which limits him to a diet of bread and wine and hinders his ability to perform his duties. Growing sicker and increasingly uncertain about his purpose in life, the priest undergoes a crisis of faith that threatens to drive him away from his village and from God. Bresson presents his spiritual tale in a minimalist, unadorned style, relying on a rigorous series of stripped-down shots and utilizing non-actors in many of the supporting roles. The approach may initially seem distancing or ponderous to a contemporary audience, but the cumulative impact of the brilliant visuals and Laydu's powerful, restrained performance is unquestionable. Almost universally acclaimed, this searching drama is generally considered one of Bresson's finest works and a crucial classic of world cinema. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claude Laydu, André Guibert, (more)
