André Hunebelle Movies

Agent OSS 117 (John Gavin) is the American secret agent who battles an evil organization that carries out assassinations. He poses as a killer to infiltrate the organization led by the macabre Major (Curt Jurgens). He draws an assignment that sends him to the Middle East where his target is a United Nations envoy negotiating for peace. He must rescue the envoy and shatter the spy ring before the assassination takes place. With the help of the lovely Aicha (Margaret Lee), the duo battles against the diabolical plot that could plunge the region into further chaos. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In the third installment of the parodic Fantomas series, the eponymous arch criminal imposes the "right-to-live" tax on the rich, threatening to kill those who dare not to pay. Journalist Fandor (Jean Marais) and commissioner Juve (Louis de Funès) are invited to the Scottish castle of Lord McRashley (Jean-Roger Caussimon), one of Fantomas' potential victims, who has decided to set a trap for the elusive fiend. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide

In the second installment of the parodic Fantomas series, the title arch criminal and master of disguise kidnaps prominent scientist Prof. Marchand in order to develop a new powerful weapon to threaten the world. Fantomas is also planning to kidnap another scientist, Prof. Lefebvre. Journalist Fandor (Jean Marais, who also plays Fantomas and Prof. Lefebvre) decides to set a trap for the elusive villain. He disguises himself as Lefebvre and attends a scientific conference in Rome expecting Fantomas to kidnap him. As always, Fandor's ingenious plan backfires due to the interference of the bumbling police commissioner Juve (Louis de Funès). ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide

This movie is the first in a trilogy that parodied the popular silent Fantomas serials of director Louis Feuillade, which followed the adventures of the titular master criminal created by writers Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain. After a daring jewelry heist signed "Fantomas," police commissioner Juve (Louis de Funès) goes on national television claiming that Fantomas doesn't exist and that there is no reason for public concern. Riding the wave of public interest, journalist Fandor (Jean Marais) publishes a bogus interview with the master criminal. Fantomas (also played by Jean Marais) doesn't appreciate the joke and kidnaps Fandor to teach him a lesson. A master of disguise, he pulls an even more daring robbery wearing the Fandor mask. Comic relief is provided by commissioner Juve's awkward attempts to capture the elusive arch-criminal. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide

One of several versions of a steamy novel by Eugene Sue, Les Mystères de Paris is set at the turn of the 20th century and begins when the carriage of Count Rodolphe (Jean Marais) runs over a man and as he dies, the Count vows to help his poor, orphaned daughter Marie (Jill Haworth). And so the Count penetrates the "thieves' quarter" in Paris looking for Marie, and he is emotionally overcome by the poverty he sees everywhere. After he meets Marie, he is attracted to her -- but then she is kidnapped and eventually, the Count learns the truth about her paternity. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Set in the 18th century, this French swashbuckler centers on Lagardere (Jean Marais), an adventurer whose life is affected when he decides to help out a nobleman in distress. Lagardere's comic companion Passepoil (Bourvil) adds a light touch to the proceedings. But when the nobleman is vilely murdered by a villainous courtier, Lagardere is duty-bound to raise the victim's little daughter as though she were his own. Time goes by, though not enough to erase the memory of the murder from the adventurer's mind. He decides to disguise himself as a hunchback in order to be accepted into the faction that had the nobleman killed, and from the inside as it were, plots his revenge. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This French-Italian musical starts out in the eponymous French gambling establishment. Vittorio de Sica plays Gordy, an ageing playwright who decides to transform a music-hall singer named Catherine (Caterina Valente) into a dramatic actress. Just as his protegee achieves stardom, Gordy dies. But when Catherine visits her late benefactor's villa, she is romanced by Gordy's ghost, who turns out to be a much younger man (Gilbert Becaud). Rather stagebound, Casino de Paris only comes to life during the all-stops-out musical production numbers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Treize a Table (Thirteen at Table) was based on the hit play by Marc Gilbert Sauvajon. Micheline Presle stars as a woman suffering from Triskadecaphobia -- fear of the number 13. No matter how hard she tries, Micheline cannot avoid the "fatal" number, even in the safety of her own home. The humor arises from the heroine's efforts to make certain that she never has 13 guests at her dinner table -- even if it means inviting an ex-lover to sit in on one occasion. Fernand Gravey co-stars as the former swain, while Mischa Auer offers another of his "professional grouch" routines. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The arrival of Catherine (Marie-Helene Arnaud), a new student with a troubled past, at an exclusive French girls' school triggers a tumult of emotions for Anne-Marie (top-billed Agnes Laurent) and her friends, especially naïve Monica (Christine Carère), who develops a crush on the newcomer. Trouble arises when Catherine falls in love with Anne-Marie's sister's fiancée, which causes Monica to retaliate in jealousy. ~ Paul Gaita, All Movie Guide