Chicken Feed for Little Birds (1963)

movie

(127)

Country: France, Italy
Genres: Comedy
Release: 1963-02-15
Director: Marcel Carné
Writers: Marcel Carné , Jacques Sigurd
Language: French
Stars: Paul Meurisse , Dany Saval , Suzy Delair , Suzanne Gabriello , Robert Dalban , Jean Richard , Jeanne Fusier-Gir , Roland Lesaffre , Franco Citti , Jean-Marie Proslier
Runtime: 109 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Chicken Feed for Little Birds , Futter für süße Vögel , I et hus i Paris (Denmark) , Alpiste para los pajaritos (Mexico) , Muruja pikkulinnuille (Finland) , Parigi proibita (Italy) , Du mouron pour les petits oiseaux (France, French Republic) , Du mouron pour les petits oiseaux , To mystiko tou kitrinou domatiou (Greece) , Skuffen full av gryn (Norway)
Plot: Considering the overall negative tone of the only available review , I felt this film deserved a more generous opinion. Okay this is not Les Enfants du Paradis, even Hôtel du Nord, yet it is never boring and on the contrary quite amusing due to excellent actors and very good dialogs by Jacques Sigurd. It is a good comedy, but with far better cinematography than most french comedies of the time - Carné of course.The cast is a delight for connoisseurs of the french stage of the time, mixing the well established stars Meurisse (one of the few french actors whose mere presence makes a film worth viewing), Jean Richard and Suzy Delair, with a younger one Dany Saval absolutely excellent here thanks again to lines written by Sigurd, and a basketful of always pleasant "second rôles" Jeanne Fusier-Gir, Roland Lesaffre, Robert Dalban and others. Special mention to Jean Paredes as a lustful old guy mailing telegrams to himself in order to get visits by postmen, hopefully young and obliging - but rather unfortunate in getting both qualities together.The film is also a great document for lovers of the Old Paris, still alive then but for very few years. Most of the action is set in the Quartier Latin on the Place de la Contrescarpe, then a popular neighbourhood with miserable hotels sheltering poor students, tramps and emigrates, now one of the most expensive areas in Paris and a tourist trap.In conclusion, a useful guideline to inexperienced viewers of french films from the 50-60s : a supposedly bad Carné (or Duvivier) will always be more rewarding than a supposedly good Truffaut (or Godard).
IMDB:tt0055934