Maria Pacome Movies
- 1997
French TV star Nagui, described by Variety as "popular for his lowbrow-Letterman approach," portrays Zak, who learns about "the curse of Onan" experienced by males in his family. If Zak does not impregnate a woman before his 33rd birthday, the joys of sex evaporate forever. However, Zak's interest in married women creates a roadblock. Even his current girlfriend, art auctioneer Florence (Cristiana Reali) is a married mother of triplets. So Zak's rabbi cousin Joseph (Thomas Langmann) fixes him up with an attractive supermodel (Joanna Rhodes). It's a race against time before permanent impotence strikes. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nagui, Cristiana Reali, (more)
- 1992
In this comedy, Victor thought he really had it bad when he lost his wife and his job on the same day. However, when he tries to get some sympathy from his friends, he discovers just how bad things can get, because although everything seems to be just fine with their lives, they are incredibly angry. It seems that, just beneath the surface, everyone's cozy situation is about to fall apart, and they know it. Children are acting up, wives or husbands are just about to leave, and there is nothing much to smile about. Desperate for some comfort, he goes to a bar and has a few drinks. There, he meets the one person he's encountered so far who doesn't seem to be mad at the world: a seemingly simpleminded man with no home, no job, and no prospects of getting either. He allows his new human mascot to accompany him while he goes to visit his parents and is distressed to find that his mother is leaving his father for a much-younger man. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Lindon, Patrick Timsit, (more)
- 1980
A few bumps in modern education provide an underlying, tongue-in-cheek theme for this enjoyable comedy by Claude Zidi. The story centers around a graduating class of "less-gifted" students in a private Versailles high school. Only a miracle has brought the students this far along, and after a practical joke misfires and the whole school is dynamited, the students are in deep trouble. They have to present themselves in court for their punishment and it could not be worse. They either have to go to prison, or manage to pass their high-school graduation exams. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Pacome, Hubert Deschamps, (more)
- 1977
After being left by her husband, the woman cab driver in this comedy will only take women fares. When one of those women asks her to follow another cab containing the lady's husband, she is only too happy to oblige. When the cab containing her passenger's husband picks up a woman without letting him off, the passenger's suspicions are confirmed. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Girardot, Maria Pacome, (more)
- 1974
In this broad, slapstick crime comedy, a trio of burglars rob the wrong apartment, but decide to hold the inhabitants hostage over the weekend, until they can get to the bank to cash a check written by their captive. Things don't work out smoothly, and they have to flee to the countryside. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Daydreamer (Le Distrait) stars Pierre Richard (who also directed) as a stumblebum ad-agency employee. Unable to get by in the "real" world, he opts for his own fantasy world, in which everything goes right for him and he always gets the girl. After several blithe moments, the businessman manages to find success and romance for real. Filmed in 1970, The Daydreamer was released in the U.S. in 1975, after the success of the Pierre Richard comedy The Tall Blonde Man With One Black Shoe. The film was also released as Absent-Minded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Richard, Bernard Blier, (more)
- 1969
This situation comedy finds a married couple from Paris longing for the bucolic existence of a simple country life. The father (Jean Richard) is talked into the move by his wife (Danielle Darrieux), who believes the move will enhance their social status. After they decide to buy and old mill, they spend a small fortune trying to make improvements to the aging structure. They even sell their Paris apartment to finance the renovation, only to feel isolated in the quiet of the country. The building of the dream house turns into a nightmare as both soon long to return to life in the city. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Richard, Danielle Darrieux, (more)
- 1968
This uneven comedy finds two inept gunmen always being beaten out of their next caper by a conniving rival crook. They wait to turn the tables on the crook by posing as a Colonel and his faithful assistant, finding the rival crook's home and attempting to turn the tables on him by stealing the pilfered loot for themselves. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Yanne, Jean Lefebvre, (more)
- 1966
Jean-Paul Belmondo is a lovable lothario who delights in his womanizing ways in this ribald comedy adventure. When two women can't get enough of him, he is chased to Tahiti and back to Paris by admiring females. His experiences are exhausting to the point that he considers giving up his life as a ladies man. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nadja Tiller, (more)
- 1965
Arthur Lempereur (Jean-Paul Belmondo of Breathless) is a globe-hopping millionaire, engaged to Alice (Valérie Lagrange), a beautiful young woman. As the film opens, Arthur has cut the break line on his fine automobile and proceeds to drive it off a cliff. This, we learn, is his ninth suicide attempt in the past week. Arthur is bored with his easy life. Even learning from his accountant, Biscotton (Darry Cowl), that he's ruined doesn't perk him up. On a cruise to Hong Kong, his friend Mr. Goh (Valéry Inkijinoff) comes up with a solution to Arthur's woes: "Adversity carries the chance for happiness," he explains to the despondent young man. Goh convinces Arthur to take out a two-million-dollar life insurance policy, with Goh and Alice as the beneficiaries. The policy will expire in one month. Goh then tells Arthur that his life is in danger. He may be killed at any moment. Arthur soon realizes that he's being followed. He's not so eager to be murdered. Arthur and his valet, Leon (Jean Rochefort of The Hairdresser's Husband), frantically search for Goh to ask him to call off the hit. At one point, Arthur ducks into a nightclub to dodge his pursuers, and instantly falls for Alexandrine (Ursula Andress), the stripper on-stage. Alexandrine is fascinated by the ways men try to manipulate women and assumes that Arthur's story about hired killers is a bizarre ruse. All the more determined to survive the month, the bumbling Arthur engages in a fierce battle for his life. Up to His Ears is both a loose adaptation of a Jules Verne story (Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine) and a hyped-up return to the form of director Philippe de Broca's previous action comedy, That Man from Rio, which also starred Belmondo. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Ursula Andress, (more)
- 1964
Inspector Cruchot takes his daughter to visit beautiful St. Tropez to celebrate his recent promotion to sergeant and ends up trying to arrest a beach full of nudists. Meanwhile, his daughter has her own problems when she, ashamed of her social status pretends to be an heiress and ends up getting involved with art thieves. This lively entry in the French "Gendarme" series follows what happens next. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis de Funès, Michel Galabru, (more)
- 1964
French film star Michele Morgan plays a reclusive Parisian music teacher. She gets her jollies by peeking through her window and witnessing the romantic liaisons of her female neighbor. When the girl is strangled by one of her lovers, the killer (Simon Andreau) hides out in Michele's apartment. The widow is turned on by the dangerous eroticism of the situation, and soon becomes the murderer's lover. A blackmailer (Claud Rich) extracts a great deal of money from the errant Morgan, whereupon it is revealed that the "murder victim" (Dany Saval) is very much alive and part of the extortion scheme. Morgan's vengeance is delicious to behold--and this being a foreign film, she actually gets away with it. Jean-Pierre Ferriere adapted his own novel for the screenplay of Web of Fear, which was originally issued in France as Constance aux Enfers and simultaneously in Spain as Un Balcon Sobre el Infierno. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Dany Saval, (more)
- 1961
French comic Bourvil has the lead role of Andre in this comedy that romps from one impossible situation to the next, all engendered by the problems that come with living in a big city. Andre is out looking for an apartment for himself and his fiancée so that they can get married. He also plans on celebrating their second year together, and he has a sister about to have a baby. Put all these together, and his battles with parking, parking tickets, traffic, and difficult people -- especially one that turns out to be his boss's new love interest -- all add up to some hilarious situations. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bourvil, Pierrette Bruno, (more)
