Michel Audiard
Centenary

The most famous dialogue writer in French cinema, Michel Audiard began composing his bouquets of words in the streets of Paris. Introduced by director André Hunebell to the world of cinema, he would write for the great post-war filmmakers: Gilles Grangier, Claude Autant-Lara, Denys de La Patellière and Henri Decoin. He would also collaborate with Jean Delannoy, Henri Verneuil and later Georges Lautner for Les Tontons Flingueurs/Monsieur Gangster (1963), giving us some of the greatest films of the era, with Lino Ventura, Jean Gabin, Bernard Blier, Francis Blanche, Mireille Darc, and a gallery of delicious supporting roles. The handful of films he directed bear his mark: scathing dialogues, absurd situations and explosive confrontations between social classes.

In collaboration with Jacques and Stéphane Audiard, Gaumont, Les Productions Jacques Roitfeld, Pathé, StudioCanal, Tamasa, Éditions Montparnasse and TF1 Studio.

With the support of  

Michel Audiard / Georges Simenon
Three screenplays presented and edited by Benoît Denis

A newly published book, issued on the occasion of Michel Audiard’s centenary as part of the Lumière Institute/Actes Sud collection, in collaboration with Jacques and Stéphane Audiard.
 
In bookstores on October 28.


Young Love by Guy Lefranc (Une histoire d’amour, 1951, 1h34)
A man (Daniel Gélin) and woman (Dany Robin) are found dead in an abandoned bus outside of Paris. The lovers had committed suicide by cyanide… A modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet marked by the last appearance of Louis Jouvet and the sharp dialogues by Michel Audiard.
Villa Lumière Sun.11 5:30 pm | Lumière Bellecour Tue.13 5:45 pm | UGC Confluence Thu.15 2:15 pm

The Long Teeth by Daniel Gélin (Les Dents longues, 1953, 1h40)
Louis becomes the secretary of a journalist from Lyon. The latter does not take long to notice his talent as a reporter... The only film directed by Daniel Gélin, on ambition, the press environment and life in the provinces (including beautiful scenes shot in Lyon). With Danièle Delorme.
Lumière Terreaux Sun.11 2:30 pm | Comœdia Wed.14 2:30 pm | Villa Lumière Thu.15 4:30 pm

Blood to the Head by Gilles Grangier (Le Sang à la tête, 1956, 1h23)
François, a former docker who became one of the richest shipowners in the city, is looking for Marthe, his wife who left him to find a pathetic love from her youth, Mimile... A splendid and inspired adaptation of Simenon with Jean Gabin, Monique Mélinand, Renée Faure.
Lumière Institute Sat.10 10:30 am | Villa Lumière Mon.12 10:45 am | Pathé Bellecour Wed.14 11:15 am | UGC Confluence Sat.17 3 pm

There’s Always a Price Tag by Denys de La Patellière (Retour de manivelle, 1957, 1h58)
After having saved Éric Fréminger, Robert (Daniel Gélin) is offered a job as a driver. Two days later, Fréminger, ruined, shoots himself in the head... An inspirational American thriller with Michèle Morgan in a non-typical role, and Michèle Mercier at the début of her career.
Cinéma Opéra Sun.11 3:15 pm | Lumière Institute Mon.12 2:30 pm | Comœdia Fri.16 2:30 pm | Pathé Vaise Sun.18 4:30 pm

Maigret Sets a Trap/Inspector Maigret by Jean Delannoy (Maigret tend un piège, 1958, 1h56)
In Paris, four women are killed. The murderer leaves no trace, until his last crime. Maigret leads the investigation... The first instalment in the Maigret series by Georges Simenon, starring Jean Gabin, Annie Girardot, Jean Desailly. Tension reaches new heights thanks to Audiard’s exacting dialogues.
Lumière Institute Tue.13 10:30 am | UGC Confluence Fri.16 5:15 pm | Lumière Terreaux Sat.17 11 am | Pathé Bellecour Sun.18 2 pm

The Night Affair by Gilles Grangier (Le Désordre et la nuit, 1958, 1h33, EngST)
The owner of a posh Parisian club has just been killed in the woods of Boulogne. The investigation is entrusted to Inspector Vallois of the socialite Brigade… A great thriller that plunges into the nocturnal Paris of the 1950s, one of the triumphs of the Gabin-Grangier-Audiard trio, with Danielle Darrieux.
Pathé Bellecour Tue.13 2:15 pm | Villa Lumière Wed.14 10:45 am | UGC Confluence Fri.16 8:30 pm | Charbonnière-les-Bains Sat.17 8 pm (Screening canceled) | UGC Astoria Sun.18 2:30 pm

Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case by Jean Delannoy (Maigret et l’affaire Saint-Fiacre, 1959, 1h38)
Threatened by an anonymous letter announcing that she will die, the countess of Saint-Fiacre calls on Commissioner Maigret (Jean Gabin)... Maigret’s second case, with a slew of colourful supporting characters.
UGC Astoria Sun.11 2:30 pm | Écully Mon.12 7:30 pm | Lumière Bellecour Fri.16 8:30 pm | Pathé Bellecour Sun.18 4:45 pm

125 Rue Montmartre by Gilles Grangier (1959, 1h25, EngST)
A naive newspaper auctioneer finds himself involved in a dark and wild case, after saving a man from drowning... An unpredictable leap into the little petty jobs of working-class Paris, with Robert Hirsch and Lino Ventura. An amusing gem worth discovering.
Lumière Institute Sun.11 10:30 am | Cinéma Opéra Mon.12 5:30 pm | Lumière Terreaux Fri.16 9:15 pm | Villa Lumière Sun.18 5:15 pm

The President by Henri Verneuil (Le Président, 1961, 1h48)
Émile Beaufort, retired Chairman of the Board, learns that his former chief of staff is expected to become the head of government. Old memories come back to the surface... An enjoyable dive behind the scenes of the political world with Jean Gabin and Bernard Blier.
Rillieux Sun.11 3 pm | UGC Confluence Tue.13 5:30 pm | Comœdia Thu.15 11:15 am | Cinéma Opéra Fri.16 2:30 pm | UGC Cité Internationale Sun.18 2:45 pm

Taxi for Tobruk by Denys de La Patellière (Un taxi pour Tobrouk, 1961, 1h33, EngST)
Libya, 1942. Four hired men in the Free French Forces blow up the German petrol depots... A pacifist plea - the dialogues fly like lightning - on the absurdity of war. With Lino Ventura, Maurice Biraud and Charles Aznavour.
Villa Lumière Sat.10 7:45 pm | Pathé Bellecour Mon.12 10:45 am | Lumière Bellecour Wed.14 5:45 pm | Saint-Denis Sat.17 2:30 pm | UGC Confluence Sun.18 6:15 pm

The Counterfeiters of Paris by Gilles Grangier (Le Cave se rebiffe, 1961, 1h38, EngST)
A bunch of mobsters set up a case of counterfeit money ... A humorous thriller with Jean Gabin, Bernard Blier and Martine Carol. Bertrand Tavernier: "Formidably inventive dialogues and colourful, poetic, humorous language by Michel Audiard, one of its big achievements.”
Pathé Bellecour Sun.11 10:45 am | Comœdia Tue.13 3:15 pm | Caluire Thu.15 8:30 pm | Institut Lumière Sun.18 2 pm

Emile’s Boat by Denys de La Patellière (Le Bateau d’Émile, 1962, 1h41)
Knowing he is ill, the wealthy Charles-Edmond Larmentiel returns to La Rochelle, his hometown, in
search of his natural son… Michel Simon, Lino Ventura, Annie Girardot and Pierre Brasseur give performances full of flavour and humour.
Lumière Terreaux Thu.15 8 pm | Villa Lumière Fri.16 5:15 pm | Comœdia Sat.17 2 pm

The Gentleman from Epsom by Gilles Grangier (Le Gentleman d’Epsom, 1962, 1h27, EngST)
Richard takes advantage of the gullibility of horse racing betters. When he meets Gaspard, an angry restaurateur, he sees the ideal target… A film close to a character comedy with its dynamic cast of Jean Gabin, Louis de Funès and Madeleine Robinson.
Dardilly Sun.11 5:30 pm | Comœdia Mon.12 2:45 pm | UGC Astoria Thu.15 4 pm | Villa Lumière Sat.17 7:45 pm (Screening canceled)

Les Tontons flingueurs/Monsieur Gangster by Georges Lautner (Les Tontons flingueurs, 1963, 1h52, EngST)
On his deathbed, a Mexican asks his childhood friend, Fernand, to promise to take care of his interests and watch over his daughter Patricia... A comedy that has become a classic, thanks to its biting lines delivered by an extraordinary cast.
Mions Mon.12 8 pm | Pathé Bellecour Wed.14 9 pm | Tassin la Demi-Lune Thu.15 8:30 pm | UGC Confluence Fri.16 2 pm | CinéDuchère Sat.17 1pm  (initially scheduled for 8:30pm, has been moved up and will start at 1pm )

Let’s Not Get Angry by Georges Lautner (Ne nous fâchons pas, 1966, 1h46, EngST)
Antoine, a former mobster, is now manager of an honest nautical club on the Riviera. Two former acolytes come to ask for his help... A funny and prankster thriller with Lino Ventura, Michel Constantin and Jean Lefebvre.
Pathé Bellecour Sun.11 5:30 pm | Neuville-sur-Saône Wed.14 8 pm | Pierre-Bénite Thu.15 8 pm | UGC Astoria Fri.16 5 pm

The Swindle by Gérard Pirès (L’Entourloupe, 1980, 1h29)
After a failed burglary, Olivier and Roland, two little Parisian thugs, try to clean up their act… A fierce film carried by Michel Audiard’s script, with Jacques Dutronc, Gérard Lanvin and Jean-Pierre Marielle.
Pathé Bellecour Sun.11 11:15 am | Villa Lumière Tue.13 7:15 pm

The Inquisitor/The Grilling by Claude Miller (Garde à vue, 1981, 1h24)
It is New Year’s Eve, when at 9 pm, Inspector Gallien summons Mr Martinaud in order "to clarify some minute details” on a case of which he is the main witness... A closed-door film, where there are a few flashbacks and verbal confrontations of a duel by the sometime duo of Lino Ventura and Michel Serrault. Also starring Romy Schneider.
Bron Tue.13 8:30 pm | UGC Confluence Thu.15 5:30 pm | Pathé Bellecour Sat.17 2:30 pm

The Professional by Georges Lautner (Le Professionnel, 1981, 1h48, EngST)
A French special services officer is instructed by his superiors to kill an African head of state on behalf of interests of the nation... A greatly successful action film heightened by the music by Ennio Morricone, with Jean-Paul Belmondo.
UGC Confluence Wed.14 4:30 pm | Saint-Priest Thu.15 8 pm | Cinéma Opéra Sat.17 8:45 pm (Screening canceled)

Director

Don’t Take God’s Children for Wild Geese/Leontine by Michel Audiard (Faut pas prendre les enfants du Bon Dieu pour des canards sauvages, 1968, 1h23, EngST)
Rita collects love affairs with gangsters. After a hold-up, Charles deprives her of her share of the booty... Michel Audiard steps behind the camera for this pastiche from Série Noire full of comic gems, with Marlène Jobert and Bernard Blier.
Pathé Bellecour Mon.12 5:30 pm | Cinéma Opéra Tue.13 8 pm | Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon Sat.17 6 pm

Documentary

Le Terminus des prétentieux by Sylvain Perret (2020, 1h04, EngST)
On the occasion of Michel Audiard's centenary, Gaumont opens its archives (with certain never before screened works) and reveals some little-known pieces from the author's career. A look back at the life and work of one of the most inventive and prolific dialogue authors in French cinema.
Villa Lumière Wed.14 2:30 pm