La Prison De Saint-Clothaire: When the inmates are just your neighbors

Is it worth your time?

If you like old, dusty comedies that feel like a stage play taped in someone’s backyard, you might dig La Prison De Saint-Clothaire. If you need pacing that doesn't feel like it’s taking a nap every fifteen minutes, stay away. This is for the folks who enjoy watching people scramble in black and white.

The whole premise is just absurd. A prison with zero prisoners is a dream for any warden, right? Until the government shows up and says, "Hey, prove these cells aren't just for show."

The warden’s solution—grabbing his drinking buddies and telling them to act like hardened criminals—is so obviously going to fail. It’s the kind of logic you only find in movies from this era, and honestly, I kind of love it.

The "Acting"

There is a lot of mugging for the camera here. Pierre Moreno looks like he’s terrified the whole time, and maybe he should be. The way the "inmates" try to look tough while clearly struggling not to giggle in the background is a highlight.

It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Wise Kid, though with significantly less at stake. At least these guys aren't actually breaking any laws, just common sense.

Odd Little Moments

• The warden’s office looks way too cozy for a place of incarceration.
• I swear the "prisoner" in the third cell is just reading a newspaper upside down for half the scene.
• The background extras seem like they’re having a better time than the actual cast.

The dialogue moves at a snail’s pace sometimes. You can almost see the actors waiting for their turn to say a line, which makes it feel a bit stiff. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got this weird, humble vibe that’s hard to hate.

If you want high-octane thrills, go watch Thunderbolt instead. This movie is just about a bunch of guys in a room trying to convince an inspector that they’re dangerous. It’s silly. It’s barely a movie. It’s fine. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯