Le Triporteur (1957)
Directed by Jacques Pinoteau

Film Review

Darry Cowl was a hugely talented and much-loved comic performer, with an incredible list of film credits that spanned six decades.  In Le Triporteur, he shows every facet of his comedy talents to great effect, making this his most memorable cinematic outing.  Through a series of neatly dovetailed comedy sketches, director Jack Pinoteau evokes something of the style of the great American silent comedy classics and also that of Jacques Tati's films.  Whilst a few of the jokes now appear somewhat drawn out and well past their sell-buy date, others - particularly some of the complex visual gags - are wonderfully effective.  It may be a relic from another era, but Le Triporteur still has its appeal, and more than a few decent laughs.

Film Synopsis

Football is something of a national obsession in France, so when their team qualifies for the Cup Final the inhabitants of the town of Vauxbrelles are naturally overjoyed.  So delighted is Antoine Peyralout, a bread deliveryman, by this news that he crashes his delivery tricycle into his boss's shop and promptly loses his job.  Antoine is not too downhearted by his dismissal, because he now knows that he can attend the Cup Final, to be held in Nice in a few days' time.  In his customary cheery frame of mind, Antoine sets out on the long road journey on his tricycle, and has plenty of adventures along the way.  Falling in with some country folk, he gets himself blind drunk and ends up having to chop up a huge stack of wood.  He follows this by unwittingly setting free some cattle and setting fire to some hay.

After this amusing little escapade, Antoine is struck down with a romantic infatuation when his path crosses that of the lovely Popeline.  As soon as he sees this divine nymph, bathing nude in the river, Antoine knows she is the girl for him.  Alas, she would rather hitch-hike than accept a lift on his tricycle.  Jean-Claude shows up in his sports car and not only does he offer Popeline a seat in his car, he also agrees to tow Antoine's own vehicle.  Beware the Greeks bearing gifts...  The journey may not have been quite as comfortable as Antoine might have wished, but he finally manages to get to Nice in time for the match, although his adventures are far from over.  When one player in the Vauxbrelles team walks away, Antoine is forced by the mischievous hand of serendipity to take his place...