THE BRAIN
France, 1969, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Paul Belmondo, Bourvil, David Niven, Eli Wallach, Sylvia Monti.
Direc ted by Gerard Oury.
The Brain is one of a number of light comedies written and directed by actor Gerard Oury from the 1960s to the 1990s. Often he wrote for French comedians Bourvil, who appears in this film, as well as Louis de Funes (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob). They both appeared in the 1966 Don’t Look Now – We’re Being Shot At.
This is a robbery caper with Jean- Paul Belmondo, always a charming hero and an agile athlete, teaming up with Bourvil, rather cumbersome, as robbers. However, others have plans also to rob a train.
David Niven brings some British suave style to the proceedings and Eli Wallach the American atmosphere.
An entertainment.
1. An entertaining comedy? An enjoyable robbery caper? The comic aspects of the caper? An international crime film? the contributions of comedy from the various nationalities? A good blend of excitement and humour?
2. How well did the film use farcical conventions of French and English and Italian-American? humour? The various characters as types representing expected humour? The set pieces, for example the leopard destroying the rooms, the gun fight and the fireworks, the robberies, the scattering of the money etc.? Audience response to these situations?
3. Colour photography, Britain, France as locations? The humorous musical score? The special effects necessary for the success of this kind of film?
4. The basic humour of the Brain’s plan to repeat the Great Train Robbery in France? The help of Joanna Piece? The contrast with the bumbling French crooks trying to do the same robbery? Confusion of purpose and the consequent farcical elements? The scattering of the money and the final plan for Fort Knox?
5. David Niven’s style as The Brain? The suave British colonel, the dapper way of life and its detail? Strengths of character? War background and people confident in his appearances? His pursuit of Sofia? The inspector and his help? Scenes of jealousy, for instance at the swimming pool? The humour of the Italian compared with The Brain's suave English manner? 'The contrast with Arthur and Anatole with the French characterisation? Bourvil and his bovine good-natured humour? Jean Paul Belmondo and his agile stunt work and genial good humour? The humorous combination of these characters and the robbery?
6. The various preparations for the robbery - The Brain in England and his dapper timing and official recognition? Anatole and Arthur by way of contrast and the ‘soap’ from prison, cars, getting to the scene of the robbery?
7. The robbery itself in all its details, the various ways and timing? Where did audience sympathies lie?
8. Detection. cross-purposes, betrayals, shoot-outs?
9. The humour of The Brain fearing detection and the humour of his characteristically heavy brain? The irony of the ending with the Statue of Liberty?
10. How good-natured a film? How humorous a presentation of themes of honesty and dishonesty, ingenuity, jealousy, enterprise? The light touch on human foibles?
