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Vous n'avez rien à déclarer?
1937 Comedy
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Credits
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Director: Léo Joannon
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Script: Yves Allégret, Jean Anouilh, Jean Aurenche, based on a play by Pierre Veber et Maurice Hennequin
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Music: Casimir Oberfeld
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Cast: Raimu (M. Papillot),
Sylvia Bataille (Paulette Papillot),
Pierre Brasseur (Edmond Trivelin),
Pauline Carton (Angèle Papillot),
André Alerme (Helois de la Baule),
Germaine Aussey (Evelyne),
Blanchette Brunoy,
Saturnin Fabre (Le professeur Puget),
Gabrielle Fontan,
Annie France,
Micheline Francey,
René Génin,
Georgius,
Henri Guisol,
Marguerite Templey
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 102 min; B&W
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Aka: Confessions of a Newlywed
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Summary
The celebrated entomologist Monsieur Papillot couldn’t be happier when his daughter Paulette
marries his shy assistant, Edmond. His wife is less keen on the union and intends
to exploit any occasion which may lead to a divorce. Her wish is that Paulette will
marry Coco La Baule, the son of her own secret lover. Such an opportunity arrives
when the newly weds return early from their honeymoon. Edmond tells his stepfather
the bad news. Whilst making love to Paulette on the train, he was interrupted by
a customs inspector. Since then, every time he approaches his wife with amorous
intent, his head is filled with the words “Have you anything to declare?” Realising
that his daughter’s marriage is in jeopardy, Papillot consults a psychologist and then
decides to seek help from the women of a dubious nightclub…
Review
This typical mid-1930s French farce would most probably have been lost in the mists of
time if it were not for the fact that it features some very prestigious actors of the
period. Raimu, a greatly respected actor of stage and screen with a remarkable
talent for both comedy and drama, is on fine form, handling the jokes – both visual and
scripted dialogue – with great panache. His co-star is a remarkably young
and handsome Pierre Brasseur, an actor who would go on to be one of the most significant
players in French cinema. The film was based on a popular stage comedy and,
although the muddled plot leaves an awful lot to be desired, it does have great entertainment
value, thanks to some enthusiastic (indeed eccentric) performances and an abundance of
well-realised comic situations.
© James Travers 2007
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