Le diable par la queue [The Devil by the Tail] *** (1969, Yves Montand, Madeleine Renaud, Maria Schell) – Classic Movie Review 11,060

French garage mechanic Charlie (Xavier Gélin) sabotages cars and takes the stranded motorists to stay at struggling owner the Marquise (Madeleine Renaud)’s mountain area hotel.

But they get a shock when the baron César Maricorne (Yves Montand), a gangster trying to evade the law after a bank job, is his latest victim.

The 1969 French film Le Diable Par la Queue [The Devil by the Tail] is a sweet, simple, delicate and delightfully amusing comedy effort by director Philippe de Broca, with a strong taste of its place and moment in time and an excellent cast well deployed. Georges Delerue’s score is a delight.

Also in the cast are Maria Schell, Jean Rochefort, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Clotilde Joano, Claude Piéplu, Tanya Lopert, Marthe Keller and Xavier Gélin.

Le Diable Par la Queue [The Devil by the Tail] is directed Philippe de Broca, runs 93 minutes, is made by Fildebroc, Produzioni Associate Delphos, Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA), Les Productions Artistes Associés (PAA), is released by Les Artistes Associés (United Artists) (1969) (France) and Lopert Pictures Corporation (1969) (US), is written by Philippe de Broca (scenario, uncredited) and Daniel Boulanger (scenario and dialogue), is shot in Eastmancolor by Jean Penzer, is produced by Philippe de Broca and Alberto Grimaldi, is scored by Georges Delerue and designed by Dominique André.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,060

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