Boniface somnambule (1951)

Monsieur Boniface finds that his services are much in demand after he brings a notorious gang of crooks to justice. Hired as a store detective, his latest mission is simply to keep an eye on the jewellery on display in an upmarket department store. Boniface takes his job seriously and he would no doubt be extremely good at it were it not for the fact that he suffers from chronic somnambulism. It is in the course of one of his nocturnal peregrinations that the unfortunate Bonifance breaks into the store and unconsciously steals several of the jewels that he has been guarding so assiduously during the day. Some crooks are quick to capitalise on Boniface's unwitting thievery but there is even greater trouble in store when the sleepwalker finds his way into the bedroom of an attractive girl named Stella. When he comes to his senses, Boniface ends up marrying the store's owner, not realising that his unfortunate condition is hereditary.

Boniface somnambule is far from being the most memorable of French comedies but it does have one claim fame - a hilarious scene in which two of France's legendary comic actors - Louis de Funès and Fernandel - appear in bed together. Alas, this unforgettable (and highly improbable) rencontre takes up less than five minutes of screen time and the rest of the film is the usual poldding Fernandel fare, with the horse-faced comedian reprising the role he had played in L'Héroïque Monsieur Boniface (1949). Director Maurice Labro makes the most of the lacklustre scenario but the distinct dearth of gags and a mostly recycled storyline offer limited scope for creativity. A few limp musical numbers provide a little relief from the heavy pall of ennui that hangs over the film, but apart from the aforementioned clash of comedy titans there's not a great deal to write home about. It's an amiable little time waster if you're a Fernandel fan, otherwise don't bother.

The above article is protected by copyright and should not be reproduced in any medium.

User Comments

Click here to display user comments or add a comment of your own

Similar Films

External Links

For a complete set of credits and other relevant data visit the Internet Movie Database.

Film Credits

• Director: Maurice Labro
• Script: Gérard Carlier, Jean Manse (dialogue)
• Cinematographer: Pierre Levent
• Music: Louiguy
• Cast: Fernandel (Victor Boniface), Andrex (Charlie), Gaby André (Stella Gazzini), André Roanne (Louis), Raoul Marco (Le directeur des magasins), Louis de Funès (Anatole), Julien Maffre (Victor, le lampiste), André Numès Fils (Jules), Rivers Cadet (Jean), Michel Ardan (Un gangster), Mathilde Casadesus (Mademoiselle Thomas), Yves Deniaud (René, un gangster), Léo Campion (Un policier), Nicole Lemaire (Aline), Christiane Richard (Une vendeuse), Simone Silva (Louise), Nadine Tallier (Ginette), Leila Lampi, Liliane Barrial, Liliane Charpentier, Eliane Corteyn, Luce Huet, Huguette Montréal
• Editor: Germaine Fouquet
• Set designer: Jean-Louis Boutie
• Producer: Lucien Masson, Roger Ribadeau-Dumas
• Production company: La Société Française de Cinematographie, La Société des Films Sirius
• Country: France
• Language: French
• Support: Black and White
• Runtime: 82 min
• Aka:The Sleepwalker

DVD & Blu-ray

Related articles

Best French Comedies

Thanks to comedy giants such as Louis de Funès, Fernandel, Bourvil and Pierre Richard, French cinema abounds with comedy classics of the first rank.

Best French War Films

For a nation that was badly scarred by both World Wars, is it so surprising that some of the most profound and poignant war films were made in France?

Continental Films

At the time of the Nazi Occupation of France during WWII, the German-run company Continental produced some of the finest films made in France in the 1940s.

Best of Italian Cinema

Fellini, Visconti, Antonioni, De Sica, Pasolini. who can resist the intoxicating charm of Italian cinema?

For books, DVDs and other bargains

Please browse the latest DVDs, books and other bargain buys. We value any purchases because they will allow us to maintain and grow filmsdefrance.com.

Other things to look at

Review of Le Jugement de Dieu

Review of The Damned