Roger Treville Movies
- 1969
- R
An international cast headlines this espionage comedy that centers on a world-wide hunt for stolen American defense papers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Lawford, Ira VonFurstenberg, (more)
In this elegant "caper" film, Audrey Hepburn stars as the daughter of a wealthy Parisian (Hugh Griffith), whose hobby is copying famous works of art. His replica of a famed Cellini sculpture is inadvertently displayed in an art museum, and he begins to worry that he'll lose his reputation once the experts evaluate the statuette. Audrey decides to rob the museum, and hires a burglar (Peter O'Toole) for that purpose. But the burglar is really a detective, who has every intention of arresting Audrey and her father when the deed is done. All style and little substance, How to Steal a Million is consummately acted by the stars, but the film is stolen hands-down by a "double take" reaction from French comic actor Moustache. The film was originally titled How to Steal a Million Dollars and Live Happily Ever After, which gave the whole game away and thus was pared down before release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, (more)
- 1962
This Italian drama tells the story of Christ's crucifixion from the viewpoint of the Roman emperor's procurator in Israel who must try to quell a Jewish revolt. In a bizarre twist, John Drew Barrymore plays both Jesus and Judas in the film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Two of filmdom's finest farceurs--Hollywood's Bob Hope and France's Fernandel--are teamed in the location-filmed Paris Holiday. Since Hope coauthored the script, however, guess which actor has the largest part. Cast more or less as himself, Hope plays an American comedian who comes to Paris to purchase a script. Little does his suspect that the script contains secret messages pertaining to a vicious gang of counterfeiters. With the help of villainess-turned-heroine Anita Ekberg, Hope is committed to an insane asylum to protect him from the bad guys; he then must rely upon Fernandel to spring him from the looney bin. Throughout Paris Holiday, Bob Hope looks too old and too rich to be indulging in such nonsense. Film buffs will enjoy the brief, unbilled appearance by famed producer-director-writer Preston Sturges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
American in Paris star Gene Kelly returned to the City of Light as both star and director of The Happy Road. Kelly and Barbara Laage play single parents with one child each. Gene and Barbara don't know each other at the outset, but are drawn together when their kids run away from their Swiss boarding school. Kelly and Laage realize that the two children wouldn't be so unhappy with their lot if their parents would marry again. The parents, having fallen in love, oblige. The Happy Road tends to bludgeon its audience with whimsy at time; Gene Kelly, as always, is charming, and less affected than usual. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Kelly, Barbara Laage, (more)
- 1956
In this frothy romantic comedy, the lovely Brigitte Bardot plays Chouchou, a successful model. Chouchou is single but hoping to change that soon; she's become infatuated with Michel (Louis Jordan), the editor of a fashion magazine, but Michel, apparently unaware of an opportunity when it presents itself, seems unaware of her interest in him. The harder Chouchou tries to make herself noticed, the less Michel seems to understand, until she takes drastic measures by making him chase her though the woods while she wears sheer lingerie which leaves little to the imagination. La Mariée est trop belle was one of a number of light comedies starring Brigitte Bardot which arrived in American theaters after the international success of ... And God Created Woman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Bardot, Micheline Presle, (more)
When German sympathizer Count Paul Rona (George MacReady) pilfers a valuable jeweled glove from a French church during World War II, it is up to American Michael Blake (Glenn Ford) to outwit his enemies and recover the artifact. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Geraldine Brooks, (more)
- 1950
Mr. Peek-a-Boo may seem like a puerile title, but it is a lot more graspable to non-French audiences than the original Garou Garou Le Passe Muraille. Bourvil stars as a minor bureaucrat who finds himself the reluctant recipient of magical powers. He is actually able to walk through solid walls, which should be no surprise to those who read the novel on which the film is based, Marcel Ayme's The Man Who Walked Through Walls (truth in advertising!) He resists his friends' suggestions that he utilize his power to commit undetectable thefts, but changes his mind when he meets reluctant thief Joan Greenwood. The special effects by Henry Harris and Paul Raibaud are fairly elementary, but good for a few laughs as Bourvil constantly makes monkeys of the gendarmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Greenwood, Marcelle Arnold, (more)
- 1939
The title of this French romantic comedy is Chez Maxim's Doorman, who happens to be a fellow named Julien. The title role is essayed by an actor named Bach, who rose to fame playing Julien on stage. The story gets under way when Julien discovers that his longtime mistress (Genevieve Callix) has been unfaithful. The girl's erstwhile beau (Roger Treville) in turn abandons her, inherits a fortune, and begins romancing Julien's daughter. And that's only half of the story! Le Chasseur de Chez Maxim's was adapted by Yves Mirande and Gustave Quinson from their own stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1938
A pair of slippers is the plot catalyst for this rambling French comedy. Hoping to save the reputation of a philandering friend, do-gooder Beatrice (Betty Stockfield) drives all the way from Paris to Switzerland to return an incriminating slipper to its mate. Along the way, she is sidetracked by handsome Georges (Roger Treville). By the time Beatrice arrives at her appointed destination, she finds that her friend has already replaced the tell-tale slipper. Now she's got to get rid of that pesky third slipper-which isn't as easy as it sounds, and which results in all sorts of merry misadventures. The Slipper Episode is based on a story by Tristan Bernard, who appears briefly at the beginning of the film to "explain" the action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Stockfeld, Roger Treville, (more)
- 1935
In this farce, a dancing shoe almost causes the end of a marriage. More complications ensue when a fluff-headed girl attempts to return the missing slipper and ends up getting the hapless husband arrested as a jewel thief. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1932
Mirages de Paris was the first French film effort by Russian director Fedor Ozep. Jacqueline Francel plays Madeline, a young girl of modest talents who hopes to become a musical-comedy star. Her somewhat naïve efforts to achieve this goal includes a campaign to impress theatrical "luminary" Francois (Roger Theville). Little does she know that Francois is no more a star than she -- in fact, he's merely a lowly understudy, likewise seeking his big break. Lots of complications and misunderstandings follow, leading to the inevitable romantic clinch at the fade-out. American prints of Mirages de Paris were handicapped by some barely literate English-language subtitles, but the storytelling prowess of Ozep and the appealing performances of his stars still manage to shine through. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marcel Vallee, Alice Tissot, (more)
- 1932
Young wife Alice Field has some difficulty adjusting to married life with her absent-minded husband Lucien Baroux. Unable to contend with her hubby's eccentricities, Field runs off with her would-be lover Roger Treville. Things do not bode well for the heroine when Treville turns out to be just as unpredictable as Baroux. American film critics were of the opinion that Vous Serrez Ma Femme would have been a better production with stronger direction and on-screen personalities; some reviewers went so far as to label the picture as amateurish. The title, by the way, translates as You Will Be My Wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Field, Roger Treville, (more)
