This is the last movie directed by Jean Devaivre who only directed two interesting movies ("la dame d'onze heures" et "la ferme des sept pêchés"). It's a very entertaining action spy thriller with lot of car chases and fights that are much more dynamic than usual, with real fighters. Don't miss the unusual and violent car chase in Paris, parisians must have been surprised during the shooting, like they were for another car chase in "Contre Enquête" directed by Jean Faurez (impossible to see this one). Casting is great with Paul Meurisse, Nicole Courcel, Louis Velle, Jane Marken, Albert Dinan, Roland Toutain, ... Certainly not a masterpiece, but very fun.
3 Reviews
Nothing works according to plan(s).
ulicknormanowen23 September 2021
Jean Devaivre made some estimable entertaining works,already mentioned by the precedent user ; let's be nice ,and let's pass over in silence his "Caroline Chéries " (the sequels,the latter interesting,because of Brigitte Bardot's presence) and "le roi des resquilleurs ".
It's useful,when you are in dire straits and blackmailed to make you steal pivotal plans for the national defence , to have a twin brother who is a superintendent ,closer to James Bond than to Commissaire Maigret ; the plot is muddled and confused ,but it does not matter when you deal with an action-packed movie,including a car-chase by night from the Champs Elysées to la Place De la Concorde,by night ,and a boat chase on the Seine where you can spot l'Île saint-Louis and Notre -Dame.
Paul Meurisse is true to form, but he takes a back seat to essentially stage actor Louis Velle,who successfully created two different characters with his twins; and to servant Jean Tissier , who enjoys eavesdropping and to Roland Toutain , often cast as an aviator (see also "Rouletabille aviateur" and Renoir's masterpiece " la règle du jeu" ). Nicole Courcel provides the obligatory love interest.
It's useful,when you are in dire straits and blackmailed to make you steal pivotal plans for the national defence , to have a twin brother who is a superintendent ,closer to James Bond than to Commissaire Maigret ; the plot is muddled and confused ,but it does not matter when you deal with an action-packed movie,including a car-chase by night from the Champs Elysées to la Place De la Concorde,by night ,and a boat chase on the Seine where you can spot l'Île saint-Louis and Notre -Dame.
Paul Meurisse is true to form, but he takes a back seat to essentially stage actor Louis Velle,who successfully created two different characters with his twins; and to servant Jean Tissier , who enjoys eavesdropping and to Roland Toutain , often cast as an aviator (see also "Rouletabille aviateur" and Renoir's masterpiece " la règle du jeu" ). Nicole Courcel provides the obligatory love interest.
A mix of espionage and boozing
myriamlenys4 June 2024
Warning: Spoilers
As a Belgian I like to watch (and review) movies that possess some kind of link to my mother country. So on to "L'inspecteur aime la bagarre", part of which is set in France and part of which is set in Belgium.
I'd like to say that "L'inspecteur" is a jewel for the ages, but it isn't. It isn't even a particularly good movie.
To begin with the positive : "L'inspecteur" boasts a lively, energetic performance by the male lead actor, who plays a dual role. The movie is also sure to appeal to those viewers who like scenes (including stunts and races) involving vintage cars, ships and airplanes.
Unfortunately the intrigue is very thin. The plot deals with a weak-willed man who has fallen in with a dangerous and traitorous gang. When the water becomes too hot for him, he reaches out to his twin brother, who turns out to be an unusually successful combination of top police detective and secret agent. The brother bests the villains and restores the family honor, mainly through manly fisticuffs. The action moves from France to Belgium and back, because both countries lie next to each other anyway. The end.
Those of us with a nasty, suspicious mind might suspect some under-the-table deal with producers or distributors of strong alcohol. That's because many of the characters drink like fishes. After a while it feels like watching the "Before" part from a "Before and after" warning about the dangers of liver damage. ("Yes, Reginald thought nothing of downing half a bottle of scotch a day. He drank while blackmailing, he drank while plotting, he drank while throwing victims out of moving cars, he drank while accompanying his wife to the opera. A week before turning forty he found a hard lump in his abdomen - but by then it was already too late. Don't make the same mistake as Reginald, avoid the opera.")
By way of final remark I'd like to point out that there's an element of involuntary humor creeping in. According to the movie, the flawed, weak-willed brother was raised in France, while the strong, courageous, nearly invincible brother was raised in Belgium. Now I've always loved Belgian cuisine, but this is the first time I've seen anyone suggest that a steady diet of endive salad, mussels with fries and beef tongue in madeira sauce turns a lad into a stout-hearted superman. Or perhaps it were the Brussels waffles that did the trick ?
I'd like to say that "L'inspecteur" is a jewel for the ages, but it isn't. It isn't even a particularly good movie.
To begin with the positive : "L'inspecteur" boasts a lively, energetic performance by the male lead actor, who plays a dual role. The movie is also sure to appeal to those viewers who like scenes (including stunts and races) involving vintage cars, ships and airplanes.
Unfortunately the intrigue is very thin. The plot deals with a weak-willed man who has fallen in with a dangerous and traitorous gang. When the water becomes too hot for him, he reaches out to his twin brother, who turns out to be an unusually successful combination of top police detective and secret agent. The brother bests the villains and restores the family honor, mainly through manly fisticuffs. The action moves from France to Belgium and back, because both countries lie next to each other anyway. The end.
Those of us with a nasty, suspicious mind might suspect some under-the-table deal with producers or distributors of strong alcohol. That's because many of the characters drink like fishes. After a while it feels like watching the "Before" part from a "Before and after" warning about the dangers of liver damage. ("Yes, Reginald thought nothing of downing half a bottle of scotch a day. He drank while blackmailing, he drank while plotting, he drank while throwing victims out of moving cars, he drank while accompanying his wife to the opera. A week before turning forty he found a hard lump in his abdomen - but by then it was already too late. Don't make the same mistake as Reginald, avoid the opera.")
By way of final remark I'd like to point out that there's an element of involuntary humor creeping in. According to the movie, the flawed, weak-willed brother was raised in France, while the strong, courageous, nearly invincible brother was raised in Belgium. Now I've always loved Belgian cuisine, but this is the first time I've seen anyone suggest that a steady diet of endive salad, mussels with fries and beef tongue in madeira sauce turns a lad into a stout-hearted superman. Or perhaps it were the Brussels waffles that did the trick ?
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