It's in the Bag (1932) User Reviews

It's In The Bag

[writers_reign · 7/10 · 2 February 2009]

This was the first of several collaborations between Jacques Prevert and his kid brother Pierre. Prevert senior wrote two other screenplays that same year but it was junior's first At Bat. For a four and a half reeler it's quite tasty albeit weighed down by a hackneyed plot - the one where all the guys want to marry the girl with the dowry - but Prevert's linguistic touch is well in evidence and he can even be seen in a matelot-type striped jersey playing the flute. Julien Carrette is also on hand and that is always a good sign. The majority of the cast were and remain relatively unknown - Sound was still a new concept in French cinema and actors were selected as much for how they sounded as for acting ability - but the film is definitely more than a curio.

Small Beret.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 7 April 2019]

Getting back home after seeing Shazam! (2019-also reviewed) in Manchester,I decided to watch a flick before bed. Finding their Voyage surprise (1947-also reviewed) magical,I was intrigued to find a 1932 title by the Prevert brothers,which led to this being a viewing that was in the bag.

Note: Some spoilers.

View on the film:

Appearing to be part of a double feature due to only having a 45 minute run time,Jacques Prevert pulls back from his distinctive poetic dialogue for broad comedy slingshots, with Jacques bringing the wit out of set-pieces involving various sizes of berets! Matching the tone set by Jacques script,director Pierre Prévert holds the kidnapping attempt in a mad-cap atmosphere of smooth panning shots following the kidnappers attempts to open the bag.