The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of La sonnette d'alarme: Cult...

Dir: Christian-Jaque

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

One man enlists his friend's help in wallpapering his dining room. The result is not quite what he had in mind.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Ça colle perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

In the fictitious republic of Carvolie, the Council President, Desnoyaux, although he has a nice wife and a daughter, lets himself be bossed around by his mistress, Lulu de Pompadour. In the hands of Lulu, he does not even notice that a party has formed against him. The main conspirators are Gargarousse, Cornillet, General Dubul, Petit-Morin, and Desnoyaux's chauffeur Prosper. One night, Prosper drives the President into a trap where the men kidnap him and keep him prisoner. Meanwhile, other men spot a sewer man who looks exactly like Desnoyaux! He names is Justin Morille, aka "father Lampion", and they offer him to take Desnoyaux's place. With the help of a few drinks, and before he even realizes it, Lampion wakes up in Desnoyaux's bed. After he has reinstated Desnoyaux as a good husband and good father, he launches new laws and reforms. He decides to install loudspeakers in villages to promote good sense and his "gold policy" : each citizen has to give the State a small amount of gold as tax. Unexpectedly, his measures earn him a great popularity. Though he asks Desnoyaux to take his place back, he asks the man to keep acting just like he did. Lampion then goes back to taking care of the sewers, only as a "General inspector", as he promoted himself.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

Léonce Vavin, an entomologist, marries Cecile Debienne, but the parents of the bride quickly realize that he's not just ugly but also a complete ignorant of all sexual matters.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Le père Lampion perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

Three narrators (French writer Jean Martin, an English royal equerry, and a papal chamberlain) tell the story of seven matched pearls, four of them now in the British Crown. Episodes whirl us from Pope Clement VII to Mary Queen of Scots, from whom the pearls are stolen while she's occupied with the headsman. Historic events are seasoned with sly, satiric humor, and famous beauties are portrayed by stunning actresses. Then the narrators meet, and decide to try tracing the three unrecovered pearls from 1587 to the present...

Dir: Christian-Jaque

While walking back home at night, an examining judge is robbed of his watch. Fortunately he offers resistance and, by roughing up the mugger, manages to recover his belonging. Imagine his surprise when he realizes his thief is none other than... the President of the Court of Justice! How will the poor man behave with him knowing what he knows?

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Sacré Léonce perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

Lina Bourget, a realist singer, is forced to leave Dakar because of a murder she believes she has committed. Taking refuge in Paris, she unexpectedly becomes a star in the capital.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

On his wedding day, Robert confesses his father-in-law that twenty years ago, he seduced a lady in a sleeping car of a train. His mother-in-law overhears the conversation and convinces Robert that she was that lady and that makes Robert's bride also his daughter. The wedding is in danger of being annulled when the trickery is finally discovered.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Pearls of the Crown perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

Jerome has made his wife to believe that he's in prison in order to spend a few days with his girlfriend. But the deal goes bad when he found himself arrested, but this time for real.

Dir: Christian-Jaque

The notary Tremplin wants to give his daughter to the young rich farmer Adhemar. He goes with both of them to Paris where Henriette meets a sleazy car salesman who is precisely the rich heir sought by her father.