The Counterfeit Constable
The Counterfeit Constable is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Robert Dhéry and Pierre Tchernia and starring Ronald Fraser, Diana Dors and Arthur Mullard.[1] Its French title is Allez France!.
Plot
A French rugby supporter (Robert Dhéry), in England for a match at Twickenham, is accidentally elbowed in the face and loses two teeth. He goes to the dentist who fits new teeth and tells him he musn't open his mouth for two hours, to allow the cement holding them to set properly. He starts to wait, and in the waiting room he sees the uniform of another patient, who's a policeman (Bernard Cribbins). He tries it on for fun, and while wearing it by sheer chance he saves Diana Dors, a movie star who lives next door. He is congratulated by police chiefs who take him for a true police officer. He can't tell them he isn't because he can't open his mouth and besides, he doesn't speak English. He becomes lost in London, and many misunderstandings and misadventures follow. And to make matters worse he needs to return home to France urgently as he is due to be married.
Main cast
- Robert Dhéry - Henri Martineau
- Colette Brosset - Lady Yvette Brisburn 'Vévette'
- Diana Dors - Herself
- Ronald Fraser - Sergent Timothy Reagan
- Henri Génès - Gros Max
- Jean Lefebvre - Le supporter saoul avec le coq
- Jean Carmet - Le porte drapeau
- Bernard Cribbins - Bob, l'agent 202
- Jean Richard – Un français dans le bus
- Raymond Bussières – Un français dans le bus
- Pierre Tornade – Un français dans le bus
- Richard Vernon - Lord Brisburn
- Catherine Sola – Nicole
- Percy Herbert - L'agent Baxter
- Amy Dalby - Mrs. Throttle
- Robert Rollis - Le supporter avec le bonnet tricolore
- Colin Blakely - L'aveugle
- Colin Gordon - Le dentiste W. Martin
- Georgina Cookson - L'assistante du dentiste
- Robert Burnier - Le supporter tarbais
- Robert Destain - Le supporter cinéaste
- Pierre Doris – Un français dans le bus
- Mark Lester - Gérald
- Arthur Mullard - Le malfaiteur
- Godfrey Quigley - Inspecteur Savory
- Margaret Whiting - La femme de l'agent 202
Production
Diana Dors was then living in Los Angeles.[2]
Review
Although it is a French film, The Counterfeit Constable nevertheless carries all the hallmarks and shows the type of humour found in an Ealing comedy. This is probably because nearly half the cast were composed of British actors and the film was mostly set in London.
References
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 September 2020). "A Tale of Two Blondes: Diana Dors and Belinda Lee". Filmink.
External links
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