Léopold, valet de chambre to the avocat général Maître de Royssac, starts studying the penal code and, during his leave, becomes a judge in a "middle" court. His decisions are recognized as final. Léopold falls in love with Agnès, engaged to the two-faced Doctor Ventoux, who becomes "Le chat" when he plays the gangster. Léopold will help "Le chat" pull off the heist of the century, if he remains free to court Agnès. "Le Chat" doesn't play along. A fight breaks out between Léopold's gang and "Le Chat's" gang. The law must prevail.
Acting
Paul Meurisse's deadpan authority is pure French comic perfection.
Writing
Penal code loopholes as rom-com currency. Bonkers.
Director
Jean Delannoy
Paul Meurisse
Léopold
Geneviève Page
Geneviève des Vallières
Paul Hubschmid
Doctor Ventoux / 'Le chat'
Micheline Luccioni
Arlette
Jacques Seiler
Albert
Henri Lambert
'La Quille'
Noël Roquevert
De Royssac
Fernand Berset
The giant
Paul Préboist
Ventoux's butler
André Weber
Pellegrini
Marcel Charvey
Maître d'hôtel
Louis Bugette
Crook
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Paul Meurisse was already iconic from 'Les Tontons Flingueurs'; this role cemented his deadpan everyman appeal. The film satirizes French class anxiety through sheer absurdity.
Geneviève Page plays two women Léopold courts—des Vallières AND Agnès—making his romantic confusion literally the same face. Casting efficiency or commentary? You decide.
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