Zazie dans le Métro ***** (1960, Catherine Demongeot, Philippe Noiret, Hubert Deschamps) – Classic Movie Review 5008

Louis Malle relishes directing one of the key films of the French New Wave about the precocious 11-year-old sophisticated girl Zazie (Catherine Demongeot) who spends a day or so in Paris, travelling the Métro with her female impersonator Uncle Gabriel (Philippe Noiret, already looking like a bloodhound years ago back in 1960).

Based on the novel by Raymond Queneau, it is a carefree, clever comedy, overflowing with eccentric people, chases, fights, daft sight gags and movie spoofs. Co-written and directed by Malle with great gusto, inventiveness and exuberance, it is a precious little gem of the cinema. And it is still bright, sparkly and entertaining all these many years later.

Also in the cast are Vittorio Caprioli, Carla Marlier, Hubert Deschamps, Annie Fratellini, Yvonne Clech, Nicholas Bataille, Jacques Dufilho, Odette Picquet, Marc Doelnitz, Jacques Ghuesi and Louis Lalanne.

It is co-written by Jean-Paul Rappeneau.