Adémaï au moyen âge (1934) Directed by Jean de Marguenat
Comedy / History
Film Review
After Adémaï et la
Nation armée (1932), Adémaï
Joseph à l'O.N.M. (1933) and Adémaï aviateur (1934),
the ever-popular comic actor Noël-Noël steps into the shoes
of the accident-prone Adémaï (a Gallic 1930s version of Mr
Bean) for the fourth time in this likeable medieval romp scripted by
Adémaï's creator Paul Colline. Most of the gags and
comicbook situations are painfully predictable, and the plot shows a
distinct lack of inventiveness, but Noël-Noël's unflagging
genius for comedy, aided and abetted by an outrageously over-the-top
Michel Simon (hilarious as an English lord), ensures there is plenty to
laugh at. Among the best gags is a madcap joust sequence in which
the hopelessly inept Adémaï manages to virtually wipe out a
massed throng of spectators before accidentally knocking his opponent
out. Simon's exaggerated English accent gets almost as many
laughs but in the end this is Noël-Noël's film - so
successful was he in the role of Adémaï that it is hard to
believe he played the loveable comic goon in just one more film, Adémaï bandit d'honneur
(1943). The film is also worth noting for being one of the
first to which the legendary chansonnier Tino Rossi lent his talents
as an actor and singer, here in the minor role of a troubadour.
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Film Synopsis
France, 1429. The Hundred Years War is nearing its end but,
despite Joan of Arc's best efforts, the English armies still occupy the
north of the country. Châteauneuf is one small French
village that remains under English control, governed by the formidable
Lord Pickwickdam. Joseph Adémaï, a cowardly peasant,
is none too pleased when his beloved Tiennette is abducted and taken to
Pickwickdam's castle to provide some courtly entertainment. In
his attempts to rescue his wife, Adémaï stumbles from one
disastrous situation to another and ends up getting caught in the
crossfire between the French and English armies. Luckily, our
hero appears to have as many lives as a cat...
Cast: Noël-Noël (Adémaï),
Michel Simon (Lord Pickwickdam),
Jacques Grétillat (Le connétable),
Maurice Maillot (Philippe de Beauregard),
Marguerite Pierry (Miss Crocks),
Suzy Vernon (Tiennette),
Tino Rossi (Le troubadour),
Raymond Cordy (Le chef de garde),
Maurice de Canonge (Un officier anglais),
Daniel Mendaille (Un chevalier),
Georges Flateau,
Robert Ozanne,
Pierre Nay,
Gaston Dubosc,
Maurice Schutz,
Anthony Gildès,
Clairette de Savoye,
Paul Oettly,
Pierre Marnat,
Charles Dechamps
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 77 min
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