The Sucker (1965) User Reviews

And what a fun time it was

[adrian290357 · 8/10 · 22 April 2009]

I first watched Le Corniaud when I was still a student in colonial Mozambique and found it roaringly funny - the scenes of sugar cubes placed in the gasoline tank (twice) with de Funes promptly getting his aides to suck out the gasoline; that marvellous camp shower scene; and Bourvil missing the plot altogether, unwittingly dispersing the contraband goods all over the place and always finding gorgeous women for company - it is all zany, unpretentious fun from a time long gone when fun could be politically incorrect without anyone giving it a second thought or being offended by it.

I have watched Le Corniaud twice since Mozambique and though the story is a bit patchy the leading duo is in top form, the Italian scenery is to die for, and it has such wonderful vignettes that I cannot help but laugh and laugh and laugh.

hilarious euro-fun shows Louis de Funes at it's best!

[billwolters · 8/10 · 30 January 2004]

Le Corniaud is a hilarious french movie from the sixties. It is the kind of feel good movie I like to watch on a sunny sunday afternoon.

The story is a ridiciulously funny crime story about a guy (Bourvil) who just left home for the holidays when he gets hit by a car (owned by De Funes). De Funes settles the case by providing Bourvil with a brand new cadilac to continue his holiday to Italy. Of course Bourvil does not know that he is now smuggling gold, heroin and a giant diamand hidden in that cadilac. The coupling of actors Louis de Funes and Bourvil is ace, the locations are beautiful (France and Italy during summer) and the fun is enormous. Sad thing only that Studio Canal just released all Louis de Funes movies on dvd without any subtitles... sham

The Sucker who ruled French comedy meets the Giant of 5'4''...

[ElMaruecan82 · 8/10 · 21 December 2016]

In 1965, French comedy was lead by a triumvirate of actors: the "Big Boss", Fernandel, whose Mediterranean accent resonated in every syllabus like a musical tempo, and whose large mouth served as a decoy to the most iconic and heartwarming smile on the big screen. Then there was the legitimate son: Bourvil, the provincial guy, the lovable and goofy idiot who, just like Victor Hugo who wanted to be "Chateaubriand or nothing", wanted to be the next Fernandel. And then came the third one, the turbulent intruder named Louis De Funès, who popularized the figure of the authoritative yet sneaky boss, any powerful figure with Napoleonic complex.

De Funès was no newbie actually, he had twenty years to warm up in supporting roles but 1964 marked his spectacular entrance as the leader of the French box-office with no less than two major successes: "The Gendarm of St Tropez" and "Fantomas". He would never desert the box- office top five until his death in 1983. De Funès had also previously worked with Bourvil, he was the hot- tempered butcher in "The Crossing of Paris" and no one can forget the cave scene where he almost stole the thunder of Gabin and Bourvil. There was just something in this human Donald Duck that magnificently completed the gentle goofiness of Bourvil, like Laurel and Hardy and George and Lenny. Gérard Oury felt the potential and wrote a story where the two comical schools would finally interact.

But sometimes they can collide and have regrettable side effects. Bourvil had just finished a movie he made with his all-time idol Fernandel in 1963, it was the first… and the last. Bourvil was disappointed by the prima donna attitude of Fernandel during the shooting and swore they would never work together. Fernandel probably felt guilty about it as he delivered one of the most poignant eulogies to Bourvil in 1970. But things were different with De Funès, as he was still a lesser shining star than Bourvil. There was mutual respect between the two men and their only differences were in the acting methods, De Funès needed rehearsals and Bourvil was a natural. But apart from that, the chemistry worked and "The Sucker", released in 1965, proved Oury's intuition right as De Funès and Bourvil are still regarded as the most iconic pairing of French cinema, represented by that unforgettable concluding scene where they both laugh together.

The film attracted 11 millions of viewers, which is a remarkable box office gross, even by today's standards. It is still by the way in the Top 20.

And as soon as the movie starts, there's a joyous accordion and violin melody playing while we admire the Parisian landscape, the score exudes the optimism of what they call now the "Glorious Thirties", this blessed era of prosperity from the war aftermath to the early 70's. And to add to this little joy in the air, it's summertime and good old Antoine Maréchal (Bourvil) embarks on his 2CV, the ultimate popular car, to go South. And then there's one of the most famous accidents of French cinema, where the Bentley of Leopold Saroyan hits the poor 2CV, which is instantly dislocated like in a Tex Avery cartoon. It isn't much the accident than Bourvil's reaction that makes the scene: he's still holding his wheel and shouts "now, it won't work as well, that's for sure", an improvised line that took De Funès off-guard and you can see him hiding his face to cover a nervous laugh. This scene marks the first direct interaction between two actors, two worlds: the snobbish bourgeois and the popular sucker.

But this accidental encounter gives Saroyan an idea, as a syndicate of crime member, he decides to use Augustin as a decoy to a sinister plan consisting on taking a Cadillac from Naples to Paris, in this car, gold, heroine, jewels -including the most precious in the world- are hidden. So, in order to avoid the police, who better than an inoffensive schmuck who looks like Antoine to drive the car without danger? Saroyan promises to track Antoine in the process, unbeknownst to him, a gang of Italian gangsters are also on his tail. And this is how the crazy road movie, with the Italian and French seaside in the backdrop, starts.

But if the story gives enough material for both actors to show their comical talents, it is really De Funès who steals the show with two incredible scenes, one where he's imitating his personal idol Charlie Chaplin using a Rossini opera and garage props like the Jewish Barber his scissors during Brahms' Hungarian Dance and another in the shower where he confronts a huge bodybuilder with the most sensual (and ambiguous) smile. This is just classic De Funès. As for Bourvil, he's never as funny as when he interacts with his companion, but the film makes a right choice by not making him a sucker all the time, and in a move that reminded me of the conclusion of "Dinner of Schmucks", the sucker is the one who leads the show, and gets it to the delightful conclusion where the two men have the last laugh… together.

The film's success was a surprise to everyone, and convinced Oury to make a second film with Bourvil and De Funès, this one would be the highest-grossing French movie of all time: "La Grande Vadrouille" and this time, the two men will act together, because this might be the one reproach we can address to "The Sucker", there are not many scenes with De Funès and Bourvil. But there was enough for De Funès to take the reins of French cinema and consolidates his status after the untimely passing of Bourvil and Fernandel in the early 70's.

"The Sucker" can be seen as the historical transition toward the De Funès era, a torch passing moment between two comedic giants. And it beautifully shows in the poster.

Hilarious

[nicholas.rhodes · 23 June 2001]

One of the classics of French Comedy from the 1960's, Le Corniaud appears regularly on French TV, and is available on DVD and VHS. The film features 2 of France's greatest comedians, both now dead, Louis de Funes and Bourvil ( real name André Raimbourg ). De Funès manic gesticulations coupled with Bourvil's apparent naiveness in a sombre affaire of driving a car loaded with contraband across the Italian border and into France provide a never-ending series of hilarious situations against the 1960's backcloth of carefree life on the Mediterranean. As they say " they just don't make 'em like that any more ". This film together with " La Grande Vadrouille " which features the same stars constitute milestones in the history of popular French comic cinema.

The Italian Job (vhs) (dvd) (screen)

[leplatypus · 7/10 · 3 October 2011]

This new team-up of Bourvil and Fufu have the same recipe that "La Grande Vadrouille". Bourvil is a kind, simple mind whereas Fufu is a Machiavellian crook. However, Bourvil always bores me while Fufu is a delight: he may be nervous but i can feel behind a great humanity and i really like his beat.

Here, they are filmed in Italy in the sixties and it's cool to see how it was like 50 years ago. Personally, i found this movie funnier than the one mentioned above but it lacks its dramatic background as well. The idea of someone who is spied who is spied is original and I don't think it has been used often. Maybe the great surprise of this movie should be its score because Delerue finds a lot of very great themes!

And the car repair scene at night edited with Rossini's TARENTELLA is one of the best comedy scene ever: it's crazy, funny, punchy, lyrical: everything is told without a single words: BRAVISSIMA🇮🇹

Wonderful, transcends all language barriers.

[botkin-id · 10/10 · 12 October 2005]

This was playing on French TV when I was on a recent trip to France. I laughed often during this marvelous old film. Even though my understanding of the language is minimal, I enjoyed this movie very much.

It has some wonderful physical comedy and the vintage cars and clothes are a treat to watch. The main character, who remains oblivious throughout the story, is a lovable clueless man. The crooks are appropriately stupid.

The camp shower scene is a classic. Even my husband laughed out loud during that ... a rare occurrence.

I wish I knew where to buy this film with English subtitles to watch it on a dreary winter night! It would a fun one to share with others to raise serotonin levels for all.

Strong comedy, drags on somewhat in the last act

[Horror-yo · 7/10 · 1 October 2018]

It's a fun ride and there's no time to get bored. Some scenes in particular are genuinely funny (the shower scene with Louis de Funes is a classic, the whole shooting scene in the gardens is superb) and the film makers were positively inspired to produce quality comedy rather than just injecting generic humor into the movie just to fill in the scenes. It's more a case of actual gags, with natural organic humor, that were thought up carefully rather than just cramming a bit of processed haha to get through to the end.

It's carefully written and crafted, and it's quite a ride with all sorts of twists and bumps and new characters adding an extra dynamic to the story and Bourvil and De Funes do very well to add that warm organic feel to it as it easily could've been a film which comedy tag would only be honorary, and focused mostly on the plot. Many comedies are tagged as 'comedy' but aren't actually funny, they're just comedy in tone but won't actually make you laugh.

The last part, say about the last half hour, is a little bit stretchy, kind of takes a turn of its own and feels a tad different from the rest of the film, somewhat slows down the momentum, and does feel like they had to mix it up and were compelled to come up with content to finish off the picture, although the very last image is very true to the film.

7.5/10.

Good old fun, with much eye-candy for car fans

[suchenwi · 8/10 · 30 January 2009]

Of course this movie is dated (43 years by now), but in my opinion that rather adds to the fun. We get to see quite many street scenes of the time, in France and Italy, and of course lots of cars from that period (including two Rolls-Royces). For railfans, even a "Picasso" railcar is thrown in...

I'm normally not a fan of Louis de Funès' frantic humour, which is also evidenced here, but he also has very admirable (non-talking) moments, like the Cadillac repair to a classical music score, or the muscle comparison in the camping shower.

In all, a turbulent comedy plus Italian road movie. Very lovely. The German DVD I bought (Universal 2008, titled "Louis, das Schlitzohr") also has English, Spanish and Dutch dubs, but not the original French soundtrack. Still, jolly good fun which made my Friday night perfect :^)

Hilarious French comedy filled with lots of humor by the magnificent Louis de Funes and Bourvil

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 4 December 2022]

The flick is basically about a long ¨Road Movie¨ from Naples to Bordeaux with plenty of incidents , messes and amusement . Turning out to be one of the funniest De Funès and Bourvil Films . Many of their films made in the 1960's and 70's are evergreens of French comedy and remain popular even today. The Sucker is one of Funes' best , together with Rabbi Jacob, La Grande Vadrouille and Hibernatus. This is an absurd little comedy based on a completely crazy idea in which criminals have chosen an ordinary man to transport a loot in his car but as it happens to be filled with such contraband as stolen money, jewels, drugs, across the border .As only the French can do this...another screen delight after the long run of "a man and a woman"...about a man, a man and a woman! The funniest fraud a fall-guy ever fell for!.is a rib-tickler !

This fun Franco-Italian gangster parody movie packs thrills , emotion , intrigue , exciting chases , lively performances , spectacular set pieces , sightseeing and a moving finale . This enjoyable film is a Louis de Funes and Bourvil recital , they stooge , make acrobatics , tongue twister and put faces and grimaces . This is a Louis de Funes , Bourvil vehicle in which they show their great comical skills . It's a pretty amusing farce that will appeal to Funes and Bourvil fans . Bourvil is nice as the sucker shop keeper who unknowingly carries drugs and jewels in a cadillac followed by companions in crime who are soon attracted by extreme greed. This is a top-notch comedy , here the splendid and brilliant comedian Louis de Funes plays a stiff-upper-lip gangster who will stop at nothing to get the stash. His unique, very funny character makes me forget that he actually always played the same roles, or : whatever role he played, the role became like him. Very stylish Sixties film with full of color , fast-moving , as well as overacting , twisted mountage , gaudy scenarios , lavish production , dated gowns , and anything else . Funny and entertaining Louis de Funes vehicle in which he shows his ordinary excessive vein that we watch before. Here Funes faces a quite weird problem , boasting his farsical skills and extraordinary qualities that we see very often. Louis de Funès shot to international fame in the 1960's after his roles in such slapstick comedies as Gendarme Saint-Tropez (1964) and the Fantomas (1964) trilogy . He brilliantly portrayed a funny French policeman , whose hilarious hyperactivity , uncontrolled anger, and sardonic laughter produced a highly comic effect. Funès was voted the most favorite actor in France in 1968, and remained very popular in Europe during the 1970's. He also continued to play on stage during his career as a film star, and was acclaimed for his stage works in classic French theatre . Funès was instrumental in making film adaptations of such theatre plays as 'Oscar continues' and the Molière's 'The Miser', among other plays . His first cinematic roles were "Devil and 10 Commandments" , "Captain Fracassa" , "La Vendetta" until his biggest hits as "Don't look we are being shot" along with Bourvil , Fantomas trilogy along with Jean Marais , Mylene Demengeot : "Fantomas" , "Fantomas Strikes Again", "Fantomas vs Scotland Yard" , to "The Cadillac Man" , "The Restaurant" , "Wing and the thigh" and his last film feature : "The mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob" . Although Funes really excelled in Ludovico Cruchot series as "Le Gendarme of Saint Tropez" , "Gendarme in Balade", "Le Gendarme in N. Y." , "Le Gendarme and creatures of outer space" and "Le Gendarme and Gendarmettes". In fact , in ¨The sucker¨ shows up two Gendarme actors as Guy Grosso , Michel Modo . And being a France/Italy co-production appearing nice Italian players as Venantino Venantini , Lando Buzzanca . As well as sympathetic acting by gorgeous Beba Loncar as Ursula the naturist . Adding uncredited cameos from Walter Chiari , José Luis de Vilallonga, Daniela Rocca and Dan Vadis.

It displays a charming and lively musical score by Georges Delerue with plenty of attractive and catching sounds . As well as atmospheric and colorful cinematography in Eastmancolor by cameraman Henri Decaë , showing wide sightseeing and attractive locations from La Villa d'Este, Tivoli, Rome , Place Sainte-Geneviève, Paris , Bordeaux, Gironde,Carcassonne, Aude Teano, Caserta, Campania , Naples , San Gimignano, Siena , Sutri, Viterbo, Lazio , Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, among others . The motion picture was well directed by Gerard Oury . He was a good actor , writer and director expert on comedy . Gérard Oury was born 1919 in Paris as Max-Gérard Houry and died in 2006 Saint-Tropez , he was married to Michèle Morgan . Being especially known for The escape (1978) , The mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973), Delusions of Grandeur (1971) , The sucker (1965) , The Great Stroll (1966) , L'as Des as or "Ace of Aces (1982) and Lévy et Goliath (1986) . This Le corniaud or The Sucker (1965) resulted to be one of his best films . Worthwhile watching .

one of the great classics

[myriamlenys · 8/10 · 24 May 2021]

In "Le corniaud", an innocent man is tricked into driving an expensive car all through Italy. The poor man, who thinks he's being treated to a luxury holiday, does not realize that the car he's driving in hides a fortune, both in stolen objects and in illegal substances. Two rival gangs are most interested in his meandering progress...

I can't say that I am exceptionally fond of "Le corniaud", but it's one of the great comedy classics. This well-made comical gangster movie owes much of its distinction to the De Funès - Bourvil duo. The styles of both men complement each other beautifully, just like they do in "La grande vadrouille". The movie is also notable for its fine, mostly Italian, scenery. Indeed, there's such an emphasis on the sunny beauty of sunny and beautiful Italy that one strongly suspects generous support from some Department for the Promotion of Tourism.

Two eternal highlights : the scene in which De Funès repairs and repaints his own car under the stunned eyes of two witnesses, and the scene in which he takes a shower in the company of some ox-like Muscle Man.

Tourist Trap

[writers_reign · 8/10 · 7 May 2006]

Outstanding location shooting in two of Europe's most photogenic countries (Italy and France), a comic 'caper' plot with guns that don't really kill plus two of the greatest comedians in French cinema - Louis de Funes and Bourvil - has to be an unbeatable parlay and in fact the following year they did it again - or something very, very similar in Le Grande Vadrouille in which the director of both films, ex-actor Gerard Oury, brought his daughter, Danielle Thompson, on board as co-scriptwriter. It was also a nice touch to name the Louis de Funes character after the Armenian-American writer William Saroyan, now largely forgotten but once hugely popular whose schtick was humorous whimsey. The plot won't really stand scrutiny under a harsh light; Bourvil's 2CV is totally written off by the roller of de Funes even before he has left Paris on his proposed driving holiday in Italy. Knowing a rube when he sees one de Funes makes Bourvil an offer he can't refuse; the 'loan' of a Cadillac which needs to be driven from Naples to Bordeaux plus a ticket to Naples and spending money. What Bourvil doesn't know, of course, is that the car is bristling with gold, heroin and diamonds and how unwittingly he gets rid of these en route is half the fun. Perhaps a tad dated forty years on but still one of the best 'feelgoods' around.

Worth it for Bourvil

[jromanbaker · 4/10 · 23 May 2021]

This is not the sort of French film I usually watch, but recovering quietly after a short illness, I decided to watch the combined forces of Bourvil and Louis de Funes to relax me. This ' fun ' gangster caper nearly sent me to sleep as the visual jokes and banal dialogue were a bore after an hour, and the film stretches to nearly 2 hours. Bourvil made it tolerable to reach the laughter finale, as he has the sort of face that even in poor material can win you over. As for Funes I found his heavily choreographed pranks tiresome, and I am not fond of his delivery of dialogue. Shown on France 2 it was in widescreen and the views of Paris, Rome and some superb views of Carcassonne were a joy to watch, and hardly a tourist in sight. I give this recovery film a 4 for Bourvil's expressive face and also for the views that managed to take me elsewhere. Georges Delerue's accompanying music was not his best, and the director is an acquired taste I do not have. The film's best merit was not being studio bound, and at least something had been learnt from the last splashes of the Nouvelle Vague. I also did not find Louis de Funes funny in two homophobic joke scenes, one set in a shower and another in a tent. But then popular French cinema had a lot to learn back in 1965 on that subject, and I felt suddenly unwell recalling audiences of the time literally rolling in the aisles with laughter. It is watchable but only for those who like this genre of film, rich in pratfalls and poor on wit.

Bourvil plays the role of Antoine Marechal, a seem...

[Ali-14 · 17 August 1998]

Bourvil plays the role of Antoine Marechal, a seemingly witless insurance salesman, who on his way to a vacation in Italy in his "deux cheveaux" automobile gets hit and has his car literally destroyed by the Rolls Royce of Leopold Saroyan, an affluent industrialist played by Louis de Funes. In order to make amends, Saroyan offers to have Marechal complete his trip to Italy in his convertible Cadillac (replete with a mobile phone and phonograph player - this is no less than twenty years before the advent of cellular phones and CD players). What Marechal doesn't know is that the Cadillac is also laden with stolen jewelry and drugs to be smuggled unwittingly by him across the border. What's more, Saroyan and two cronies as well as a smattering of other criminals tail Marechal during his journey across Italy and try to intercept or recharge, as the case may be, the merchandise on board the Cadillac. The hi-jinks in this movie are incredibly funny. This film is a worthy precursor to de Funes' "The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob."

A very good comedy.

[zutterjp48 · 8/10 · 14 July 2020]

Le corniaud is an excellent comedy !! Together are working two important comic actors of France ,Bourvil and Louis de Funès ,(their first work together was "Poisson d'avril") and this gives to film a great touch of humour.In 1946 Bourvil makes "Pas si bête", the story of of a peasant who seems to be little dumb, but in reality this peasant is more intelligent and astute that the people who want to control him.So 19 years later we have a similar story: some gansters pretend to use an ordinary and simple man for transporting illegal things from Italy to France.In the travel the ordinary man becomes more astute and there will be a lot of surprises. A great collaboration between Bourvil and Louis de Funès who had really pleasure to work together.

Fun and extraordinary

[Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt · 8/10 · 27 January 2020]

Supreme , nacho supreme of zany sequences, pizza slices of excitement.

DAN VADIS IS NOT IN THIS MOVIE, IT IS ANOTHER ACTOR, VERY WRONG

[larryanderson · 1/10 · 17 March 2022]

The great DAN VADIS, star of many Sword & Sandal movies and some westerns, is listed as being in this movie. Some blind jerk thinks that is Dan in the shower scene and it is not Dan. Some blind jerk-off made a mistake. I have tried to CORRECT this mistake with IMDB but they are blind as well. This is an insult to a great actors career.

classic comedy

[Kirpianuscus · 5 May 2016]

a lot of gags and humor of situation. parody of a popular genre. and a couple who gives memorable mark to a film not real different by many others from the French cinematography of ''60's. Louis de Funes and Bourvil. a Cadillac. and a ruined plan. and many hilarious situations who mix ingenuity and neurosis, fights and revenges, stupid characters and insignificant small man who reimpose justice. and the end is a gem. clichés of crime films are exploited with great art. the love has its slice. the tension is not ignored. and few Italian/French classic landscapes are the perfect spices. a popular comedy, off course. special for the art of two great comedians. and for the freshness of irony about lifestyle's aspects from the period, not different by present.

Even the comedy haters will love it

[searchanddestroy-1 · 17 January 2023]

The best French comedy movie of all times, besides LA GRANDE VADROUILLE, directed by the same Gerard Oury and starring the same stars: Louis De Funès and Bourvil. Everyone, even the new generations, the young audiences, will love it and won't get tired by watching it again and again. It is so funny, refreshing, bringing the old timers back in the sixties charming atmosphere, the music, the magical settings of the French Riviera, the sun, blue sea.... It is so funny, exciting, never boring. I have seen it one thousand times and am still so happy to watch it over and over.... It deserved the huge gross when it was released.