Amour et compagnie (1950)
Directed by Gilles Grangier

Film Review

Amour et Compagnie, one of Gilles Grangier's early comedies, would be a pretty humdrum affair were it not for the charismatic presence of Georges Guétary, a popular singer of the period who subsequently had a role in Vincente Minnelli's An American in Paris (1951).  Guétary has more success with the film's musical numbers than with his farmyard impressions, and he is somewhat spoiled playing piggy-in-the-middle between two ravishing starlets, Tilda Thamar and Gaby Sylvia.  The routine plot is livened up by some amusing comedy scenes, the best being the restaurant scene in which Sylvia mis-translates for Guétary and Thamar, resulting in a predictable punch up.  Grangier directed many comedies in his career but surprisingly few traditional American-style rom-coms of this kind.

Film Synopsis

Claude Andrieux, a young accountant for an insurance company, is about to dismissed by his boss when he is charged with a most delicate mission - to prevent a wealthy client from committing suicide.  Knowing that if he fails his company will be bankrupted, Claude sets to his task with uncharacteristic diligence, much to the chagrin of his boss's niece, who is secretly in love with him.  On the Riviera, Claude discovers that a fake drowning is to be staged, and by uncovering the fraud he earns himself a welcome promotion.