Jailbird's Vacation (1965)
(aka The Wise Guys, Les Grandes Gueules)
DIRECTOR: Roberto Enrico (The Last Adventure)
STARS: Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows), Bourvil, Marie Dubois, Michel Constantin (Le trou, La Traque), Jean-Claude Rolland, Paul Crauchet, Jess Hahn (Topkapi)
SYNOPSIS: Although well known in France, this film barely received a VHS release in the U.S., let alone a dvd version. French icon Bourvil, known for more comedic roles, plays a surprisingly tough character who inherits his dead father's old sawmill. It's located in a remote piece of French countryside and in need of some serious repairs. Local workers are useless drunks but when Lino Ventura and his friend Mick show up they prove to be real lumberjacks. Eventually Ventura suggests to Bourvil that hiring convicts on a work program could help his business. This would also prevent the rival sawmill up the road from luring the workers away. Ventura's ulterior motive is that he wants revenge on one of the convicts and plans to kill him upon arrival. Even though the workers are crass and crude the honest work does them good despite the occasional prank or fist fight. Big lug Ventura even finds time to woo the hottest girl in the village! There are lots of familiar French character actors plus big American expat Jess Hahn (Topkapi). It's filled with some genuine dramatic moments, humor and a very bittersweet ending. Highly recommended. In French language with English subtitles. WIDESCREEN
Widescreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
(aka The Wise Guys, Les Grandes Gueules)
DIRECTOR: Roberto Enrico (The Last Adventure)
STARS: Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows), Bourvil, Marie Dubois, Michel Constantin (Le trou, La Traque), Jean-Claude Rolland, Paul Crauchet, Jess Hahn (Topkapi)
SYNOPSIS: Although well known in France, this film barely received a VHS release in the U.S., let alone a dvd version. French icon Bourvil, known for more comedic roles, plays a surprisingly tough character who inherits his dead father's old sawmill. It's located in a remote piece of French countryside and in need of some serious repairs. Local workers are useless drunks but when Lino Ventura and his friend Mick show up they prove to be real lumberjacks. Eventually Ventura suggests to Bourvil that hiring convicts on a work program could help his business. This would also prevent the rival sawmill up the road from luring the workers away. Ventura's ulterior motive is that he wants revenge on one of the convicts and plans to kill him upon arrival. Even though the workers are crass and crude the honest work does them good despite the occasional prank or fist fight. Big lug Ventura even finds time to woo the hottest girl in the village! There are lots of familiar French character actors plus big American expat Jess Hahn (Topkapi). It's filled with some genuine dramatic moments, humor and a very bittersweet ending. Highly recommended. In French language with English subtitles. WIDESCREEN
Widescreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
(aka The Wise Guys, Les Grandes Gueules)
DIRECTOR: Roberto Enrico (The Last Adventure)
STARS: Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows), Bourvil, Marie Dubois, Michel Constantin (Le trou, La Traque), Jean-Claude Rolland, Paul Crauchet, Jess Hahn (Topkapi)
SYNOPSIS: Although well known in France, this film barely received a VHS release in the U.S., let alone a dvd version. French icon Bourvil, known for more comedic roles, plays a surprisingly tough character who inherits his dead father's old sawmill. It's located in a remote piece of French countryside and in need of some serious repairs. Local workers are useless drunks but when Lino Ventura and his friend Mick show up they prove to be real lumberjacks. Eventually Ventura suggests to Bourvil that hiring convicts on a work program could help his business. This would also prevent the rival sawmill up the road from luring the workers away. Ventura's ulterior motive is that he wants revenge on one of the convicts and plans to kill him upon arrival. Even though the workers are crass and crude the honest work does them good despite the occasional prank or fist fight. Big lug Ventura even finds time to woo the hottest girl in the village! There are lots of familiar French character actors plus big American expat Jess Hahn (Topkapi). It's filled with some genuine dramatic moments, humor and a very bittersweet ending. Highly recommended. In French language with English subtitles. WIDESCREEN
Widescreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R