Fernandel and the messy business of Les gaîtés de la finance

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s French cinema and you find Fernandel’s face inherently funny, then sure, dive in. It’s a breezy watch for a rainy afternoon. But if you’re looking for a tight, logical plot or anything that makes a lick of sense, you’re going to be frustrated by the second act.

It’s not exactly The Freshman in terms of rhythm, that's for sure. The whole thing feels like it’s vibrating at a frequency only dogs and people who really love slapstick can hear. Fernandel is basically the whole movie. He carries every scene like he’s terrified the set is going to collapse if he stops moving for five seconds.

Notes from the couch

• The bank scenes have this weird, claustrophobic energy that I actually kind of liked.
• Fernandel’s eyebrows deserve their own credit in the opening titles.
• Some of the dialogue moves so fast it sounds like they were being paid by the syllable.

There’s a moment midway through where the pacing just hits a wall. The characters start running in circles, and I’m pretty sure I saw someone in the background of a wide shot checking their watch. It’s that kind of movie. It’s not trying to be The Corsican Brothers or some grand epic; it’s just a messy, loud, slightly unhinged comedy.

I found myself wondering if they just let the actors improvise half the physical bits. There’s a specific sequence involving a desk and a stack of papers that feels like it went on for about three minutes too long. It’s awkward, but in a way that’s actually pretty endearing.

It doesn't reach for anything profound. It barely reaches for a coherent ending. But honestly? Sometimes it’s nice to watch a movie that doesn't care if you're taking it seriously or not. It’s just old-fashioned noise. 🎥