Szczury Paryża

Lately, I’ve been trying to appreciate older cinema, not just American. My eye caught an older comedy, The Down-in-the-Hole Gang, where you can see several interesting actors, including Michel Galabru, Philippe Noiret, and a young Gérard Depardieu. French comedies have been and still are very popular. Just think of films about policemen or Fantomas. I found The Down-in-the-Hole Gang on a rather old VHS tape with the corresponding quality. Unfortunately, the sound was a bit off, so it wasn’t the greatest experience, but on the other hand, it couldn't weaken the power of French humor. The plot itself isn’t particularly funny; for other authors, it could serve as the basis for a rather bad horror film. In Paris, which is in the middle of summer, meaning roadworks, excavations, and construction, people suddenly begin to go missing. The police are called to the case, but it’s a bookseller whose daughter has been kidnapped who ultimately uncovers something. Underground live people seeking silence and peace, but they are constantly disrupted by demolition and the creation of holes above ground. The film is full of great gags and scenes, as well as quirky characters. Philippe Noiret demonstrated his significant comic potential, and Michel Galabru (the police chief from Saint Tropez) only confirmed it. Today, it feels a bit like an apparition, but I must say, in the best sense of the word. (26.02.2013)

I can’t believe I missed this movie as a kid. Back then, I thought I had seen just about every French comedy, from The Gendarme series to Le Mille-pattes fait des claquettes, but The Down-in-the-Hole Gang totally flew under my radar. Luckily, it came along just in time to kick off my 2015 on a high note—I turned on the TV, and there it was. The atmosphere, the actors, and the humor instantly took me back to my childhood, and it felt amazing. I might need to rewatch it soon and give it that fifth star. Let’s see what a little nostalgia can do! (01.01.2015)