Le tracassin ou Les plaisirs de la ville (1961) User Reviews

charming comedy about life in a busy city

[myriamlenys · 7/10 · 13 October 2019]

A man has fallen in love with his beautiful female collegue, who returns his sentiments. Sadly, both are modest citizens without access to the large house or apartment they dream of. Moreover, their demanding boss does not like office romances. Trying to progress to the next stage in life is no walk in the park...

Now this is a comedy that feels decidedly modern AND relatable. Many real-life inhabitants of busy cities, or many real-life commuters to busy cities, will recognize a lot of the problems : the busy traffic, the frustrating parking regulations, the stressful contacts with police or traffic wardens, the narrow spaces, the lack of privacy, the forced interaction with hundreds of unknown fellow citizens, including the crazed, the bored, the rude and the intolerant. Also very recognizable : the need to take little pills (relaxing pills, stimulating pills, nourishing pills, etcetera etcetera) in order to keep on functioning in this most artificial of environments.

The working environment too is relatable. Many of us will be familiar with a boss who is away a lot, but leaves stacks of enormously detailed instructions, mostly of the kind which expects the employee to be present in two locations at once.

It's a very charming and humane little movie without great pretensions. Would make a nice companion piece to another French comedy, "Tant qu'on a la santé" (As long as you've got your health).

For those who know and love Bourvil!

[RodrigAndrisan · 5/10 · 8 May 2021]

Bourvil has its unique charm, without him, the film would be very difficult to watch. Anyway, very modern filmed and edited for 1961.

Pep pills make life easier ,they say...

[dbdumonteil · 16 February 2016]

An overlooked director,who retired long before his death ,Alex Joffé made several interesting movies:the bizarre " Six Heures A Perdre 1946" with a totally unexpected ending;his mini-disaster movie in real time long before "Cleo De 5 A 7" ("Les Fanatiques"1957) ;"Les Assassins Du Dimanche " (1956),dealing with responsibility;"Fortunat"(1960) ,a wonderful film depicting the dark days of the Occupation ,and friendship between a resistant fighter's family and a Jewish one,hiding in the same house.

"Fortunat" was Bourvil,probably Joffé's favorite actor. we find him back in "Tracassin".It is a very pleasant comedy ,which depicts the hard times in the city (Bourvil ,who often played peasants ,is cast against type ): He's employed in a laboratory which makes BH33, a magical anti-depressant;and as many of the inhabitants of Paris,he does need these pep pills : his apartment is tiny ,but he's got a folding metal bed (when you press a button ,but it does not always work);his boss is a tartar ,but he is in love with his secretary (Pierrette Bruno,who often played opposite Bourvil in those days );his car ,A Deux Chevaux -in his street ,ther's only this kind of car- has to fight against the Gendarmes and lots of traffic jams,but he plays the occasional taxi driver for elegant (or pregnant) women.

These urban problems give the movie a contemporary feel,but the long scene restaurant ,where people often go to watch TV -in the early sixties,few homes boasted a TV set- ,is now a thing of the past :the customers are more interested in the western than in food.

Alex Joffé was praised for his actors' direction,quite rightly so;nevertheless,in the final scenes ,he makes Bourvil overplay ,and it does not work,except maybe for proving that the pills are effective .