In occupied France during the Second World War, Fortunat, an honest poacher with a weakness for drink and little appetite for hard work, crosses paths with Juliette, an elegant woman fleeing the Nazis with her two children after her husband, a Resistance leader, is arrested. The helpful teacher Miss Massillon tries to assist her, but the task of leading the family to the free zone in the south, toward Toulouse, and crossing the demarcation line falls to Fortunat. A close bond develops between the two.

How it was made

A Franco-Italian co-production written and directed by Alex Joffé, based on a novel by Michel Breitman. Bourvil and Michèle Morgan head the cast, alongside Gaby Morlay as Miss Massillon and Rosy Varte as Mrs. Falk. Presented as a comedy, it runs about 121 minutes.

Reception and legacy

Little documented information survives about its critical or commercial reception. Its current interest lies mainly in its lead pairing and in its handling of the Occupation through comedy.

Stills

More films by Alex Joffé

Cavalrymen1955Cavalrymen1955

The Riff Raff Girls1959 Six Hours to Lose1947Six Hours to Lose1947 Impossible on Saturday1965Impossible on Saturday1965 Les Assassins du dimanche1956Les Assassins du dimanche1956 The Fanatics1957The Fanatics1957

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.