Le Train de huit heures quarante-sept (1934)
Directed by Henry Wulschleger

Film Review

For a film that proudly boasts (in its opening credits) to be adapted from an "immortal masterpiece", Le Train de 8 h 47 does tend to oversell itself somewhat.  It's not the only formulaic, army-themed comedy to which rising star Fernandel lent his talents in the 1930s but it is easily one of the most forgettable, despite his pairing with another popular comedian of the time, Bach.  Georges Courteline's supposed "immortal masterpiece" had already been adapted for cinema in 1925 by Georges Pallu, but, going by the pedestrian and pretty humourless sound version that followed, it scarcely merited a remake.  Infinitely less memorable than Les Gaietés de l'escadron (1932) and almost as grimly unfunny as Le Coq du régiment (1933), this lacklustre Fernandel misfire deserves its place in obscurity, despite some distinguished names in the cast list (Charpin, Ledoux, Delmont)...

Film Synopsis

France in the mid-1880s.  Life in the 202nd cavalry regiment is hardly a bed of roses, especially if your names happen to be La Guillaumette and Croquebol.  These two unfortunates are not cut out for army life and this makes them an easy target for adjutant Flick who is determined to make their lives a misery.  Trouble seems to follow La Guillaumette and his equally dim-witted buddy around wherever they go, but Captain Hurluret gives them both a chance to redeem themselves by recovering four horses that have somehow gone astray.

Confident that this is one mission they cannot possibly botch, our two intrepid heroes set out with enthusiasm but they soon get into trouble by taking the wrong train.  They arrive in Bar-le-Duc just after the entire town has turned in for the night, but that doesn't stop them getting into even deeper water.  Numerous mishaps later, the two hopeless cavalrymen are escorted back to their barracks by some helpful policemen.  For their efforts, they are now faced with the grim prospect of being confined to prison for the next two months...