La traversée de Paris (1956)

Director:

Claude Autant-Lara

Writers:

Marcel Aymé (short story) and
Jean Aurenche (dialogue)

Release Date:

26 October 1956 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two men, a painter and a poor guy have to cross over Paris by night during world war II and nazi occupation to delivery black market meat...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Black Market | Pork | Nazi Uniform | Nazi Soldier

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jean Gabin	...	Grandgil
Bourvil	...	Marcel Martin
Jeannette Batti	...	Mariette Martin
Georgette Anys	...	Lucienne Couronne, la patronne du cafe Belotte
Robert Arnoux	...	Marchandot
Laurence Badie	...	La serveuse du restaurant
Myno Burney	...	Angèle Marchandot
Germaine Delbat	...	Une cliente du restaurant
Monette Dinay	...	Madame Jambier
Jean Dunot	...	Alfred Couronne, le patron du cafe Belotte
Bernard La Jarrige	...	Un agent de police (as Bernard Lajarrige)
Jacques Marin	...	Le patron du restaurant Saint Martin
Hubert de Lapparent	...	L'otage nerveux
Hans Verner	...	Le motard (as Jean Verner)
Hugues Wanner	...	Le père de Dédé (as Hugues Waner)

Also Known As:

Four Bags Full (USA)
La traversata di Parigi (Italy)
Pig Across Paris (UK)
Pigs Across Paris (UK)
The Trip Across Paris (International: English title) (literal title)
La travesía de París (Spain) [es]
Mustaa lihaa Pariisissa (Finland) [fi]
Paris yolculugu (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Svart gris i Paris (Sweden) [sv]
Svart kött i Paris (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Zwei Mann, ein Schwein und die Nacht von Paris (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Franstudio, Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France

Company:

Continental Produzione

Trivia:

Filmed in color but processed in black and white.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Une époque formidable... (1991)

Soundtrack:

La Marseillaise

Good for a laugh, but...

I saw this film on a high school French field trip to the French Institute in New York. I had heard good things, but I must say that this movie does have its good moments, but overall there is not much to be gained.

Plot summary: Two men, a high-strung taxi driver and a smooth-talking painter, team up as an unlikely pair smuggling black market pig's meat in four suitcases across Paris to be sold for a large sum of money during the German occupation of France in WWII.

The camera-work is generally excellent as well as the acting, especially Borville ( after all, they're French ) but the biggest problems are the minor details. There are a few scenes that leave you feeling that they could've been planned, executed, and/or edited more effectively. Then again, there are a few scenes that are excellently planned, executed, and/or edited effectively.

Then there's the ending. Oi, if you thought The Return Of The King could've used some trimming, even if this ending is nowhere near as long, you'll know what needs to be removed when you see it. It's illogical, historically incorrect, and almost ridiculous. But it's French, so maybe it works.

From a modern perspective, it's a difficult movie to connect with. Although it does function as a period film, much of its relevance to today is virtually nonexistent. And much of the dialogue is cut during the English subtitling, so unless you're fluent in French, it'll be difficult to pick up on certain details. Overall, it's not a bad movie by any means, but it does leave much to be desired.