The Devil by the Tail (1969) User Reviews

a robber hides out with a family

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 15 May 2012]

"Devil by the Tail" is a 1969 French film directed by Phillipe de Broca, starring Yves Montand, Madeleine Renaud, Maria Schell, and Marthe Keller.

A family that has fallen on hard times runs a hotel which has one permanent weekend guest and little else in between. In the opening scene, coffee cups are being placed strategically in the attic to catch water leakage during the rain.

The family consists of an elegant older woman, la marquise (Renaud), her flirtatious married daughter (Schell), la comtesse Diane, her husband, le comte George ( Jean Rochefort) and their beautiful, leggy daughter le jeune baronne Amelie (Keller). Amelie has a some time boyfriend, Charles, who works at a local garage, who occasionally gets the hotel guests by disabling their cars when they stop for gas.

When Charles disables the car of a group of gangsters who have just stolen 100,000 francs, the three reluctantly check in at the hotel and put the money in the wall safe. The head man, Cesar (Yves Montand) charms the women. After a visit from the police, the family realizes who their guests are -- in one hilarious scene, unaware that Cesar has left with the money, they try to break into the safe from the back. The three men leave, but two are killed when their car gets into an accident and goes into the water. Cesar makes his way back to the hotel to hide out.

Absolutely delightful film that could be made today. It's not dated at all and manages to be sexy, warm, and funny all at the same time. Marthe Keller is so fresh and young, and her long, gorgeous legs are shown throughout the film. Maria Schell is unabashedly playful and romantic, though she loves her husband. Renaud, a stunning older woman, is no-nonsense and practical throughout. And the star, Montand, is the essence of French smoothness and charm as he captivates the family.

Highly recommended, with wonderful direction, acting, music, and scenery. It will leave you with a smile on your face!

Life at the castle

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 29 August 2009]

The old baronial castle of an impoverished French aristocratic family had seen better days. When the story begins we meet count Georges attending to a leaking roof by placing several chamber pots to gather the water that seeps through. To make matters worse, the hotel business the family decided to turn the castle in, has no paying guests. Leave to the enterprising old marquess and her beautiful granddaughter Amalie. How about enlisting the young woman's admirer, Charlie, a gas station attendant, to disable the cars of unsuspecting patrons and then taking them to the castle where the room rates are steep.

Everything goes according to plan until a trio of bank robbers' Cadillac arrives at the filling station and Charlie does his magic act. Little prepares the royal owners when they discover the true identity of baron Caesar. What they like more is the bank loot he is carrying and entrusts to the marquess for safekeeping.

This delightful farce-like movie directed by Phillipe De Broca, the man that gave us "King of Hearts" and "That Man from Rio", just to name two other of his comedies, was a surprise when it showed recently on a cable channel. Not having seen it before, we took a chance that paid off royally. Written by Mr. De Broca with his usual collaborator, Daniel Boulanger, the film doesn't disappoint.

It was a pleasure to see Yves Montand playing doing comedy for a change. One tends to forget this actor was a versatile performer who is a joy to watch as the crook that really missed his call as a gourmet cook. Madeleine Renaud was another surprise. She does an amazing job as the old royal that has been reduced to being poor, but she has a grand scheme to be rich again. A young Marthe Keller as Amelie makes the most out of her role with her intelligent approach to the role. Maria Schell and Jean Rochefort have little to do. The large supporting cast does wonders for the director.

This is a fun film thanks to Phillipe De Broca's inspired direction.

French Comedy with Yves MONTAND and Maria SCHELL

[ZeddaZogenau · 6/10 · 10 December 2023]

In France, too, the impoverished rural nobility has to struggle with the pitfalls of the modern world. An adorable Margravine (Madeleine RENAUD) does everything she can to maintain the dilapidated family castle. She is supported more badly than well by her manly daughter Diane (Maria SCHELL), son-in-law (Jean ROCHEFORT) and adorable granddaughter Amelie (GOLDEN GLOBE nominee Marthe KELLER). However, many travelers don't get lost in the cozy country castle. You have to help a little if you want to have paying guests. But one day the impoverished Margravine is really lucky. A charismatic crook (Yves MONTAND) ends up stranded in the castle with his millions in loot. A turbulent struggle for money immediately breaks out, which could reorganize the aristocratic miscellany in one fell swoop. But perhaps the solution lies in an alliance between the impoverished nobility and the criminal world...?

Director Philippe De BROCA, with a brilliant cast, has created a wonderful film with slight socially critical tips. BAFTA AWARD nominee Maria SCHELL in particular is in her element as the man-crazy matron. Her flirtations with Yves MONTAND and her subsequent remorse towards her husband are quite funny.

Truly not an indispensable classic of French cinema! But it's a nice opportunity for rediscovery, suggested by the German-French television station ARTE.

Lighthearted and innocent

[Epaminondas · 9/10 · 26 December 2004]

In director Philippe de Broca's vast production this is probably the most underrated effort: almost fallen into oblivion (no DVD out) this movie is a gem of wit and innocence. You have to accept the utter futility of the plot and the impossibility to believe the twists, to enjoy the grace of youth displayed by Marthe Keller (the films constantly captures her long, naked, legs as she runs or rides a bike in the French countryside), the wonderful comic performances by Marielle and Rochefort, the consummate acting of Madeleine Renaud and the serene charm of Montand.

Though extremely lighthearted and quick-paced, the film manages to be poignant thanks to the superb score by Delerue (De Broca said that he would like the piano theme he composed to be played at his own funeral). What makes this film so special for me is the feeling of freedom that radiates from the characters as they move about in this tale, completely separated from social or political issues (remember the film was made in 1968). They manage to convey innocence while frantically pursuing love, happiness and enjoying themselves.

One of the best French humorous movies

[hermanfo · 10/10 · 3 May 2004]

one of the most "charming" French films ever made - very well playd by all the actors, like Yves Montand or Martha Keller ( in her first french film ) Never boring - a good musical score with some "classical" piano music, and the filmmusic made by Delerue. The movy isn't outdaded, even if it dates from 1969 - only the very short skirt ( and I do mean SHORT !) dates the picture in the ends of the '60ies. Yves Montand plays a gangster who is stranded in the mounains of France, in a small almost broke hotel. With the help of the daughters lover ( "amant") who sabotages some cars, more guests will arrive at the hotel, and at the end, Yves Montand with the money of a bank robbery, will restore the hotel and working as the cook.

English translation of French Critic review

[Pavones · 9/10 · 10 July 2019]

This is the itranslate version of the French critic review of L'Oeil Sur L'Ecran:

To keep their dilapidated castle, a family of desginated nobles turned it into a hotel. But as customers are scarce, they arrange with the small local garage for travelers to make a forced stop. This will lead to very different people at the castle, including a bank robber... Written by Daniel Boulanger and cut by Claude Sautet, The Devil by the Tail is often described as "marked by the spirit of May 68" (in reality, this qualifier would apply much more precisely to Philippe de Broca's previous film, The King of Hearts shot in 1966. It is certainly more accurate to say that this is a light and wacky, kindly amoral comedy. Nothing is serious here, we seduce, we play with love, in all its forms. The film is imbued with a communicative pleasure. Yves Montand obviously had a good time composing this exuberant and charming southerner and Marthe Keller as a young nymph with long legs brings a nice touch of mutinous freshness. There are good scenario finds, the whole is fluid; we have a lot of fun.

Rated: 3 out of 4 stars

A family of flirts run a wonderful hotel.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 11 March 2022]

Three generations of beautiful women join forces to turn their impoverished fortune around by turning their gorgeous estate into a bed and breakfast, and they attract the most eclectic of guests. If it isn't a feuding couple on a date arguing over the weather, it's a family of a bunch of young children running around with the parents disagreeing about everything, obvious criminal types and a bank robber with a briefcase full of cash that the police are after. Madeleine Renaud is the still gorgeous matriarch, white haired yet smooth skinned, dressed to the nines and charming everybody she encounters. Daughter Maria Schell is trying to hang onto her glamour girl image, and son Jean Rochefort runs around in desperation trying to fulfill all of his mother's orders. There's also a piano playing cousin, Clotilde Joano, cool according to her and isn't much good for anything.

Then there's the baron played by Yves Montand who sings to be based on John Barrymore's character from "Grand Hotel", or as his character was described, "nothing more pathetic than an nobleman without money", although his briefcase indicates something quite different even if it isn't his. There's lots of witty dialogue, some terrific chase sequences, a great use of music and costumes of the 60s that are very pastel and delightful to look at, pure camp. I'm not much of a connoisseur of foreign language films, but found this one very easy to enjoy with its light-hearted atmosphere, glamorous setting and a delightful mix of a variety of personalities. It's definitely a feast for the eye even for those who struggle with subtitles and don't know French.