6/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Quelle drôle de gosse! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you have a soft spot for 1930s French comedies where people talk very fast and doors are slammed with professional frequency, you’ll dig this. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it doesn't care if you remember the plot five minutes after the credits roll.
If you prefer your cinema with heavy stakes or quiet, contemplative pauses, stay away. This movie is a loud, messy room that refuses to be cleaned.
Danielle Darrieux is basically the entire movie. She plays Lucie with this infectious, slightly annoying energy that feels like she’s trying to wake up the furniture. Watching her disrupt Gaston’s life is like watching someone try to teach a cat to tap dance. It’s silly, sure, but you can’t look away.
The whole house feels like a stage set, which it obviously is. There’s a distinct lack of 'real' air in the scenes, but that adds to the manic, theater-kid energy of the whole production. It’s not trying to be The Case of Lady Camber, and thank goodness for that.
It’s not perfect. Sometimes the shouting gets a bit much and you just want everyone to sit down for a glass of water. It’s nowhere near the weird, experimental energy you get in something like Bismillah, but it hits the spot if you want something vintage and breezy.
Don't look for deep meaning. Just enjoy the chaos. 👒