Slow Local Trains (1960) User Reviews

A De Funès Film with Mixed Appeal

[Zooha-47207 · 5/10 · 18 February 2024]

Slow Local Trains, featuring the beloved Louis de Funès, earns a modest 5/10. While the film carries the charm typical of a de Funès comedy, it falls short in delivering a compelling narrative, making it a mixed experience even for fans of the iconic actor.

As a devoted Louis de Funès fan, I appreciate the unique brand of humor and expressive acting he brings to every role. In Slow Local Trains, de Funès' comedic timing and quirky mannerisms are evident, providing moments of genuine amusement. His performance is, as always, a highlight and a testament to his talent in comedic acting.

However, the film's plot is where it falters. The story feels disjointed and overly absurd at times, lacking the coherence and strength seen in some of de Funès' more acclaimed works. While absurdity can be a hallmark of comedy, in this instance, it seems to detract from the overall enjoyment rather than enhance it.

Despite these shortcomings, Slow Local Trains still offers some value, especially for die-hard Louis de Funès fans. The film showcases his unique style and comedic flair, which alone might make it worth watching for those who appreciate his work.

Break a leg !

[myriamlenys · 7/10 · 3 October 2023]

A young man announces to his father that he wants to marry a charming girl named Suzy. Alas, Suzy is but the daughter of a couple of travelling actors, whereas the young man stems from a family of well-off bourgeois. After a serious quarrel with his father, the fiancé storms off in order to join the same theatrical company as his beloved. He is about to discover the many joys of a touring actor's existence, such as crummy venues, ramshackle dressing rooms and vile acoustics...

"Les tortillards" is a nearly forgotten black-and-white comedy with actors like Jean Richard, Roger Pierre and Louis de Funès. (You'll notice how De Funès, at this point, had already perfected his short-tempered, excitable comic persona.) The movie follows the adventures of a young man adopted by a modest but merry group of travelling actors. After a somewhat tame beginning it gains steadily in speed and fun. The plot isn't anything to write home about, but there are amusing jokes and gags to enjoy.

The climactic highlight consists of the performance of a fictional play called "Romulus le connétable". (A tragedy dealing with the Punic Wars, the play was updated to the Middle Ages in order to go with the costumes.) During the performance everything that can go wrong does go wrong, up to and including a lament on famine getting overrun by ever more animals and ever more people carrying foodstuff. The result is an inspired chaos.

If you like "Les tortillards", feel free to take a look at "Noises Off" (1992), with Michael Caine.

Amusing little french comedy

[searchanddestroy-1 · 5 July 2014]

One of the earliest Louis de Funès films, and rather underrated. I am not a De Funès specialist, I admit. But always the same features starring him are usually aired on french broadcasts. Always the same ones, unfortunately. This one is not among them. I got it in DVD. De Funès is the greatest french comic actor of all times, and always will be. It is a delight to Watch such a pure french comedy. OK I agree that American audiences would not appreciate this kind of movie.

The story itself is not so terrific. Just Watch and let you go, laugh... These french comedy flicks from the early sixties are easily available in DVD releases.