La Petite vertu (1968)
Directed by Serge Korber

Film Review

Having made a number of short films in the early 1960s, director Serge Korber established his filmmaking credentials with a noteworthy first feature entitled Le Dix-septième ciel (1966).  It was on the back of this success that producer Alain Poiré invited him to direct a comedy scripted by the legendary French dialogist Michel Audiard, Un idiot à Paris (1967).  The popularity of this film led Korber to direct another Audiard script, La Petite vertu, this time one adapted from a James Hadley Chase novel (But a Short Time to Live), released on 21st February 1968.  The English writer had previously been adapted for French cinema by a distinguished roll-call of filmmakers that included Denys de La Patellière (Retour de manivelle, 1957), Joseph Losey (Eva, 1962), Julien Duvivier (Chair de poule, 1963) and Jacques Deray (Par un beau matin d'été, 1965).  Alas, Korber's Hadley Chase offering is far less memorable than any of the above, a routine crime drama that is only just redeemed by its top notch cast and another crackling screenplay from the ever-reliable Audiard.

La Petite vertu has one thing in common with Un idiot à Paris: a woman of easy virtue as the main character, played by the stunning Dany Carrel.  Here, the fate of the heroine is far less cosy than that depicted in the gentle fable inspired by René Fallet.  The plot may be a little predictable, but Carrel's vivacious presence alone prevents the film from being dull.  Audiard was assisted in his screenwriting duties by Claude Sautet, who would, the following year, establish himself as a great film auteur with Les Choses de la vie (1969).  A superb score by Georges Delerue adds further lustre to the film and includes a memorable ballad 'Qui je suis' sung by Carrel.

There isn't much to moan about on the acting front.  A young Jacques Perrin is well-equipped to play opposite the charismatic Dany Carrel in the role of the artless, good-natured photographer Fred, making an effective contrast with the arrogant gigolo played to villainous perfection by Robert Hossen.   The monstre sacré Pierre Brasseur brings his characteristic flair to the part of the unpredictable shopkeeper Polnick, with Micheline Luccioni, Raymond Gérôme, Alfred Adam and Robert Dalban completing a fine supporting cast.  The eager-eyed will spot the French New Wave drector Claude Chabrol in one of his (many) cameo appearances. 

La Petite vertu has a great deal going for it but it failed to impress the critics and struggled to attract an audience (on its first release it was seen by only 650 thousand spectators in France).  Korber followed this disappointment with two lacklustre Louis de Funès comedies, L'Homme orchestre (1970) and Sur un arbre perché (1971), which both failed spectacularly to capitalise on the success of their star.  After these humiliating misfires, Korber turned his back on mainstream comedy and began making pornographic films under the pseudonym John Thomas.  When he returned to the mainstream in the late 1970s, Korber found success as elusive as ever.  In the 1980s, he began working for French television on a long succession of series and TV movies, finally winning acclaim for his eye-opening celebrity documentaries which included Louis de Funès intime (2007) and Jean-Louis Trintignant, pourquoi que je vis (2012).

Film Synopsis

Ferdinand, known to his friends as Freddy, is a young photographer who appears destined for great things.  One day, he arranges to meet up in a bar with a potential cover-girl, Claire Augagneur.  For Freddy, it is love at first sight.  Claire bewitches him as soon as she enters his field of view, and naturally he is blind to the fact that she is nothing more than a common pickpocket.  Claire disappears from Freddy's life as suddenly as she entered it, and the next the photographer sees of her is when she is in the company of another man.  Acting on impulse, Freddy cannot resist taking a photograph of the couple, but as he does so he is knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant, who runs off with the incriminating film.  When Fred comes to his senses, he is in hospital, being questioned by the police.  Not wishing to incriminate the woman he has lost his heart to, he keeps his mouth shut.

Claire is so grateful for Fred's reticence that she pays him a visit and reveals that she is completely in the power of a nasty piece of work named Louis Brady.  It was this good-for-nothing crook who made her become a pickpocket, and he has no intention of letting her go.  Not realising what he is up against, Fred urges Claire to leave Brady and start a new life with him, working as his model.  An impromptu visit by the police puts paid to these plans.  Recognising a stolen cigarette holder in Fred's possession, the police inspector arrests Claire on the spot. 

Unwilling to denounce the crook who got her into this mess, Claire ends up being sent to prison for one year.  Her darling Freddy is waiting for her when she comes out and they are soon making plans to get married.  It isn't long before Claire is up to her old felonious ways - working as a singer in a nightclub and surreptitiously helping herself to her patrons' jewels and wallets.  Just when things are beginning to look up for Claire, Brady suddenly resurfaces, threatening to expose her bigamy unless she hands over a large share of her criminal earnings.  Rather than risk Freddy finding out about her unsavoury secrets, Claire opts to accept what is coming to her...