User Reviews

This comedy 'short' marks the film debut of one of the greatest of French artistes, Edwige Feuilliere. As a bonus we have a youthful Fernandel who is very slowly moving up the ranks, having previously played a thankless role in 'Baby's laxative' for Jean Renoir. Luckily for them and for us they were granted the opportunity to progress to become masters of their craft and to enjoy long careers. Mlle Feuilliere's last part was on television in 1995 playing a character role in 'Duchesse de Langeais', having created the title role on film over fifty years earlier! Monsieur Fernandel came full circle in 1970 with another 'short', playing the role of Don Camillo that he had made his own in 1952. It is a pity that the name of Edwige Feuilliere is not generally known to film goers outside Europe whilst her only film in the English language is the awful 'Woman hater'. Despite Fernandel's tremendous output only a handful of his films have lasting value. The title of this refers to a 'combination' bet and proves once more that racehorses make monkeys out of men. The film itself is utterly inconsequential but even the best actors have to start somewhere!

A short where you can find two great actors of the FRench cinema:Fernandel and Edwige Feuillère.

This is a very funny story:Mr Topinois ,a married man,has an affair with an artist in a show ("I play a guinea-fowl !I have a verse to sing!" ).His servant (Fernandel) bets on the horses.So to cheat on his wife without tears ,Topinois pretends to do the same and he says he goes to Longchamp,where the horse races take place .But he plays it safe and bets on the worst nags ,one of them is called "Donne-ta-Galette" (Give-your-dough).While he is away ,dallying with his lover,Mrs Topinois and the servant are listening to the radio: the nags,against all odds,are winning more and more money....

The old cars in the streets of Paris 1931,the old radio set with horn add to the charm of this oldie .

Not so funny short, Fernandel is OK, but yet doesn't show that he'll be one of the greatest...

Edwige Feuillière also doesn't come out of this rather interesting film.

Everyone plays like on a Theatre stage, so everything is slightly forced !

And it's not TNP (Théâtre Nationale Populaire) standards,

which brought us to cinema some brilliant actors like Gérard Philipe or Maria Casares.

Apparently, André Chotin was a minor french director, and this film shows it.

So except you want to see all Fernandel's movie, you can easily pass away, on my opinion, you won't miss much !

One suggestion : Le Chômeur de Clochemerle (1957), fairly underrated, but in that case it's unjustified !