THE INSPECTOR'S HONEYMOON (ON A VOLE LA CUISSE DE JUPITER, JUPITER'S THIGH)

France, 1980, 100 minutes, Colour.
Philippe Noiret, Annie Girardot, Francis Perrin.
Directed by Philippe de Broca.

The Inspector's Honeymoon is a pleasant sequel to the very popular Dear Inspector. It is the work of Philippe de Broca - with the more human touches of his films of the '70s combined with the extraordinary special effects and stunts of his '60s comedy adventures. The stars continue to exercise their charm for the audience - and further sequels seem possible.

1. The film seen in itself, as a sequel? The popularity of the first film -romance, police, archaeology? The stars? The addition of theft, murders, mayhem, chases, stunts, special effects - and happy endings?

2. The establishing of the French background? The opening crime and Lise's presence as policewoman? Transition to Greece and its beauty? The colour photography of Greece and the sunlight, landscapes, mountains, sea? Museums and archaeology? Monasteries? The special effects and the stunts? The use of rear projection for the helicopter stunt? The musical score?

3. The tone of the film as a police story: Lise and the chase, the drugs, the drugs, the entry, the criminals, the arrest? The impact of the woman policeman? The humour of the car hurrying her to the Town Hall for the wedding? The humour of the wedding sequence - with the pompous speech by the Mayor? Lise and her mother's advice about honeymoons?

4. Lise and Antoine as an odd couple: Lise's background in the police compared with Antoine's scholarly background and his archaeology? His interest in the past, her interest in the present? Their different styles? The romance, the wedding, the honeymoon and the hotels? The holiday atmosphere? The introduction to the mystery with Antoine's speech and the throwing of the rock and the discovery of Charles-Hubert? The mockery by Charles-Hubert? of Antoine?

5. The tangling of the older couple with the younger couple? Charles- Hubert and his awkwardness, his attempt to apologise, his inviting them to his apartment? Agnes and her moods, anger, sexuality? Her carrying on with the boyfriend? Reacting against Charles- Hubert's archeological interests? Lise and Antoine seeming out of place?

6. The build-up to the discovery of the statue? Charles- Hubert's place in history? Lise's enjoyment, Antoine's support? Agnes and her dealings with Aristotle, money? The stealing of the statue? Aristotle's death? The introduction of the art dealer - and the running joke about mistaking his name? The involvement of Antoine? The phone calls, the monastery bells as an alibi? The ingredients for chases and investigation?

7. The Greek policeman and his anti-French speech? The irony of the comments about the Greeks and the French? His involvement in the investigation? The apprehension of Antoine and Charles- Hubert? Lise's being involved? The train ride and the policeman being hit on the head after falling? His slow recovery? The comic touches with the police?

8. Lise and her bewilderment, her wanting to help, the arrival of Antoine and Charles- Hubert, the escape via the roof, the cars and the smashes in the marketplace, the long journey and the various devices of chasing cars? The swim. the night in the fields, romance? Lise’s observation of the situation? Using her detective work? Going to the museum and the explosion? The trip to the monastery? The humour of going up the walls? The encounters in the monastery. the chases, the escape by helicopter? Lise and Antoine and their sharing the experience - an active honeymoon!

9. Antoine and his archaeology, pomposity? His love for Lise? His becoming involved in the investigation of the theft, his becoming lawless and reckless? The murder, his arrest, his involvement in the escape, the gun? The car adventures - and the stealing? The visit to the museum and his reputation? His disguise as a monk? The final heroics?

10. Charles- Hubert and his eccentricity, moodiness, relationship with Agnes and the emphasis on the sexual relationship? His injuries? The find, the loss, his frantic behaviour? The jokes about his injury? His participation in the adventures? The happy ending?

11. Agnes - the unlikely wife of an archeologist? Flaunting her sexuality? Her mercenary attitudes? Her participation in the adventures, driving the car, falling in love again with Charles Hubert?

12. The art dealer and his lies, the visit, being on the train, the murders, the murdering of the monks?

13. The car chases, the train chases, the people whose cars were stolen, the tourists, the stopping of trains etc. ? The frantic pace?

14. The museum and the stealing of the part of the statue? The build-up to collecting the various parts of the statue - Aphrodite becoming Jupiter!