The Devil by the Tail

1969 [FRENCH]

Comedy / Crime

1
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 70%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 70%
IMDb Rating 6.7/10 10 1109 1.1K

Plot summary

In this comedy, a run-down hotel drums up customers by sabotaging passing cars. The stuck motorists are then obliged to stay. Unfortunately, one of the sabotaged cars belongs to a bank robber. The hotel staff wants the robber out, but they also want to keep his ill-gotten money.

Director

Philippe de Broca Photo
Philippe de Broca

Top cast

Jacques Balutin Photo
Jacques Balutin as Max, un gangster
Jean Rochefort Photo
Jean Rochefort as Le comte Georges
Maria Schell Photo
Maria Schell as La comtesse Diane
Yves Montand Photo
Yves Montand as Le baron César Maricorne
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
869.31 MB
1280*766
French 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr   cz   us   es   hr   hu   it   pt   ru   sv  
24 fps
1 hr 34 min
Seeds ...
1.58 GB
1792*1072
French 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr   cz   us   es   hr   hu   it   pt   ru   sv  
24 fps
1 hr 34 min
Seeds 2

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by dromasca 6 / 10

the merry castle

'Le diable par la queue' (1969) is part of a series of successful films that Philippe de Broca made in the 60s and 70s. Most of them combined comedy with action films, and the casts included some of the best-known actors of the era, which ensured them immediate and constant success with audiences. Revisited half a century or more after release, we can see that many of these films have not only 'aged beautifully', but are still enjoyable entertainment for today's viewers and have something special and interesting to say in addition. This is also the case for 'Le diable par la queue'.The film's premise might as well be that of a thriller. In a corner of France, a noble family runs a hotel in a semi-ruined castle. They attract their customers in complicity with the local garage and gas station owner, who sabotages the cars of passers-by. Arriving at the castle-hotel, these are greeted by the family composed of counts, countesses, barons and marquises, who ensure a stay full of special services. Things get complicated when one of the customers forced to spend the night at the castle turns out to be a burglar, who had just committed a robbery and tries to leave the area with a hard case bag containing the loot of the heist.The French love castles and movies set in castles. 'Le diable par la queue' was made at the end of a decade in which several of the successful 'serious' films had castles as a setting. This time the romantic vein and social commentary are almost completely replaced by the naughty and sexy humor of many comedies of the same period. Although the film is not a parody, we can guess that Philippe de Broca and his screenwriters had in mind the mentioned French models, but maybe also horror films like 'Psycho'. The result is very nice. The ladies of the noble family, from the marquise mother of the family played by Madeleine Renaud, the countess daughter (Maria Schell) and the baroness niece (Marthe Keller) flaunt and use their charms with aplomb. We can also see Jean Rochefort, at an age when he was more of a cuckolded husband than a standard of French pronunciation. Of course, however, the bulk of the feast is provided by Yves Montand, in a role in which he makes extensive use of his showmanship talents. A viewing of this film is likely to appeal to spectators looking for nostalgia, as well as to those who just want to be amused by a sparkling comedy.
Reviewed by ZeddaZogenau 6 / 10

French Comedy with Yves MONTAND and Maria SCHELL

In France, too, the impoverished rural nobility has to struggle with the pitfalls of the modern world. An adorable Margravine (Madeleine RENAUD) does everything she can to maintain the dilapidated family castle. She is supported more badly than well by her manly daughter Diane (Maria SCHELL), son-in-law (Jean ROCHEFORT) and adorable granddaughter Amelie (GOLDEN GLOBE nominee Marthe KELLER). However, many travelers don't get lost in the cozy country castle. You have to help a little if you want to have paying guests. But one day the impoverished Margravine is really lucky. A charismatic crook (Yves MONTAND) ends up stranded in the castle with his millions in loot. A turbulent struggle for money immediately breaks out, which could reorganize the aristocratic miscellany in one fell swoop. But perhaps the solution lies in an alliance between the impoverished nobility and the criminal world...?Director Philippe De BROCA, with a brilliant cast, has created a wonderful film with slight socially critical tips. BAFTA AWARD nominee Maria SCHELL in particular is in her element as the man-crazy matron. Her flirtations with Yves MONTAND and her subsequent remorse towards her husband are quite funny.Truly not an indispensable classic of French cinema! But it's a nice opportunity for rediscovery, suggested by the German-French television station ARTE.
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