The Wing or the Thigh

The Wing or the Thigh
Directed by	Claude Zidi
Written by	Claude Zidi Michel Fabre
Produced by	Christian Fechner
Starring	Louis de Funès Coluche Julien Guiomar
Cinematography	Wladimir Ivanov Claude Renoir
Edited by	Robert Isnardon Monique Isnardon
Distributed by	Films Christian Fechner
Release date	27 October 1976
Running time	104 minutes
Country	France
Language	French
Box office	$43,814,670

L'aile ou la cuisse (French pronunciation: [lɛ.lu.la.kɥis]) French for The Wing or the Thigh) is a 1976 French comedy film directed by Claude Zidi, starring Louis de Funès and Coluche.

Plot

Charles Duchemin (Louis de Funès) is the editor of an internationally known restaurant guide. After being appointed to the Académie française, Duchemin decides to retire as a restaurant critic and trains his son Gérard (Coluche) to continue the family business. However, Gérard Duchemin is more interested in his true passion—the circus—than high cuisine. Soon, however, Charles' plans to retire are complicated by the arrival of Jacques Tricatel (Julien Guiomar), the owner of a company of mass-produced food. Fearing for the future of high cuisine, Charles and his son strive to ruin Tricatel's company in any way they can. This movie is an allegory of the antagonism between USA culture and French culture as it was seen by French people in the 70's.

Reception

Critical reception

The film was received critical reception mixed.

Awards

The film received a Goldene Leinwand (Golden Screen) in Germany in 1978.

Trivia

The "Duchemin Guide" is likely a reference to the real life Michelin Guide. Jacques Tricatel is likely a reference to Jacques Borel.

External links

• The Wing or the Thigh at IMDb
• The Wing or the Thigh at the TCM Movie Database
• The Wing or the Thigh at AllMovie
• L'aile ou la cuisse at Rotten Tomatoes
• L'Aile ou la cuisse at www.unifrance.org