Le Coeur sur la main (1949)
Directed by André Berthomieu

Film Review

Of the half a dozen or so films that Bourvil made with director André Berthomieu at the start of his illustrious screen career, Le Coeur sur la main is the one that has best stood the test of time.  By this stage, Bourvil was beginning to find his feet as an actor and was proving to be far more than just a pleasing personality with musical ability.  Once again (alas), he is cast in the role of the sympathetic country bumpkin, a persona he had created for himself as a cabaret artist, but this time his character appears to have more depth than in previous films.  Naturally, Bourvil is at his best in the film's musical numbers, the highlights being a lively swing dance duet entitled Chanson anglaise and a nostalgic accordion number, Sous la lune.  Whilst it is let down by a hackneyed plot that seems to have been lifted from another film and shows little in the way of inspiration on the directing front, Le Coeur sur la main manages to be an entertaining little timewaster that perfectly reflects the congenial character of its avuncular star.  For those who only know Bourvil as a comic actor, the film is something of an eye opener - he can also dance, sing and play the accordion, all with considerable style.

Film Synopsis

Léon Ménard is a church warden in a small Normandy village who is renowned locally as an accordionist.  One evening, a famous singer, Mary Pinson, turns up in the region and before he knows it Léon is coerced into backing her at a concert.  Mary shows her gratitude by kissing Léon, but when this gets back to his prim parishioners he is disgraced.  Having lost his job, Léon decides to make a fresh start in Paris, and, with Mary's help, he opens a night club.  Léon mistakes Mary's kindness for genuine affection and he falls in love with her, not knowing that he is being exploited for his talent...