Slightly Ahead (1956) User Reviews

A forgotten must see

[searchanddestroy-1 · 11 June 2014]

Norbert Carbonneaux, the director, is one of the many french film makers who were specialized in run of the mill frenchy comedies. Most of them were very tepid, flat, but never charmless, with actors like Darry Cowl, Jean Richard, Louis de Funès - his earliest films - Roger Pierre and his pal Jean-Marc Thibaut, Francis Blanche and many many others.

So, speaking of this one, this is the story of a small crook who intends to swindle a rich merchant on horse races bets. The crook is here played by Fernand Gravey and the stool pigeon Jean Richard. A pure delicious little french comedy flick. So shame that is not more known.

A highlight of the french comedies from the late fifties.

Backing the wrong horse.

[ulicknormanowen · 4/10 · 3 August 2020]

The follow-up to "les corsaires du bois de Boulogne ", "courte-tête " enjoys a much better reputation which seems unjustified today ; the first effort was not derivative and had ,in its second part,an obsolete charm.

The good scenes are to be found in the first part: Jacques Duby suffering torment of Tantalus as a would be jockey on a crash diet while his coach is wolfing down a gastronomic meal ,the same forced to lose weight in a ham-mam. De Funès as a false priest provides the story with good gags (his sermon)

But the rest ,dealing with betters ,racecourses,and a mare called "Reine de Cachemire " (Kashmir queen") may be dull for people who do not like the genre.