A PIG ACROSS PARIS/LA TRAVERSEE DE PARIS (FOUR BAGS FULL)

France, 1956, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Gabin, Bourvil, Louis de Funes.
Directed by Claude Autant- Lara.

A Pig Across Paris is a story of the German occupation of Paris. It is based on a story by Marcel Ayme (whose story, Rue St Sulpice, was the basis for Ben Lewin's film The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish). The film was directed by veteran Claude Autant- Lara.

The stars of the film are two veterans of French cinema of the middle of the century, Jean Gabin and Bourvil. They play ambiguous characters - involved in the black market, carrying several hundred kilos of pork across Paris at night for distribution for the black market. Bourvil is the ordinary citizen, a taxi driver caught up in the black market, clashing with his wife, not sure of himself. Gabin portrays a mysterious figure who turns out to be a celebrated artist. Comedian Louis de Funes is the black marketeer.

In their trek across Paris at night, the two encounter a wide range of French citizens: the owners of bars and cafes, sympathetic bystanders, the police, the German military. This is a blend of comedy and serious drama, tension building up in the finale with the two being caught by the Germans. A postscript, a sympathetic aftermath of war, brings the film to a conclusion.

1.Interesting and entertaining French story of the occupation? The offbeat characters? The situation? The black market? Parisians, Germans?

2.The black and white photography, the atmosphere of Paris during the war, the occupation, Paris at night? The musical score?

3.The short stories of Marcel Ayme? The adaptation for the screen? Serious and comic? The title?

4.French perspective on the occupation, on the black market, on the behaviour of French citizens? On the Germans? The perspective of the aftermath of the war? Later decades?

5.Marcel Martin and his wife? Their links with the black market? Playing the accordion while the pig was killed? The carving up of the pork? The possibility of carrying it across Paris? Marcel and Mariette at the bar? The clashes, the meeting with Grandgil? Marcel's suspicions, the clash with his wife, slapping her face, her leaving him? His bewilderment? Going after her, trying to prevent Grandgil going after her? The eating of the pork, drinking of the wine? The proposal - and his suspicions? His hold over Grandgil, Grandgil playing along with him? Going to Jambier? The pork, the money deals, Grandgil and his extortion of more money? The two of them going across the city, carrying the cases, handles breaking, dogs following and the devices of getting rid of the dogs? Evading the police, Grandgil and his bashing the policeman? Talking German? Going to Marcel's home - and Mariette overhearing Grandgil talking German on the phone (when he was only checking the German quote)? The mutual suspicions? The sympathetic girl thinking they were Americans parachuting in? Going to Grandgil's home, Marcel's misunderstanding about his being a painter? A celebrated painter, getting background and experiencing the occupation? The arrival at the black marketeer's, the shouting at the door, their being taken in by the Germans? The interrogation, the pretence about owning the pig (paralleling Marcel's story about Grandgil being his servant)? Grandgil being appreciated by the German commander? The assassination of the colonel, tension in German headquarters? Their being loaded as hostages on the trucks? Grandgil being taken off and saved? Martin going to prison? One night in occupied Paris?

6.The character of Martin, ordinary, the taxi driver, dumb, shrewd? Clashing with his wife? Suspicions of Grandgil? The money arrangements with Jambier? His wanting to keep his job in the black market? The tensions with Grandgil, the police, the dogs? Going to his home and the encounter with Mariette? Going to Grandgil's home? Wanting to be saved at the German command?

7.Grandgil, sullen, tough, washing his hands - and the suspicion that he was in the black market? Enjoying the meal, drinking? The job? His bullying of Jambier? Speaking German to elude the police, getting rid of the dogs? Allowing himself to be seen as Martin's servant? Going to his own home, his artwork, appreciation by the Germans? His being saved?

8.Jambier, the black market, the killing of the pigs, the cutting up of the meat? Money and deals? The phone calls to the receiver, the receiver and his wife, their tension, hiding the meat in the coal? The Germans at the door? Tensions for the black market?

9.The police, the people in the bars? Grandgil and his abuse of the proprietors of the bar, smashing their bar - and Martin following suit? The patriotic girl?

10.The Germans, the occupation? The commander and his French, appreciation of art? The tensions with the assassination? The grim reality of hostages?

11.The aftermath, Grandgil's success - and the irony of meeting Martin, carrying other people's cases? The bond between them?

12.The French tone of the film, characters, friendships? Memories of the war?