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The Counterfeit Constable
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Wikipedia article
'The Counterfeit Constable' (French: 'Allez France!') is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Robert Dhry and Pierre Tchernia and starring Ronald Fraser, Diana Dors and Arthur Mullard.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116082625/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/130985 BFI.org]
Plot
A French rugby supporter (Robert Dhry), in England for a match at Twickenham, is accidentally elbowed in the face and loses two teeth. He goes to the dentist who fits new teeth and tells him he musn't open his mouth for two hours, to allow the cement holding them to set properly. He starts to wait, and in the waiting room he sees the uniform of another patient, who's a policeman (Bernard Cribbins). He tries it on for fun, and while wearing it by sheer chance he saves Diana Dors, a movie star who lives next door. He is congratulated by police chiefs who take him for a true police officer. He can't tell them he isn't because he can't open his mouth and besides, he doesn't speak English. He becomes lost in London, and many misunderstandings and misadventures follow. And to make matters worse he needs to return home to France urgently as he is due to be married.
Main cast
* Robert Dhry as Henri Martineau
* Colette Brosset as Lady Yvette Brisburn 'Vvette'
* Diana Dors as Herself
* Ronald Fraser as Sergent Timothy Reagan
* Henri Gns as Gros Max
* Jean Lefebvre as Le supporter saoul avec le coq
* Jean Carmet as Le porte drapeau
* Bernard Cribbins as Bob, l'agent 202
* Jean Richard as Un franais dans le bus
* Raymond Bussires as Un franais dans le bus
* Pierre Tornade as Un franais dans le bus
* Richard Vernon as Lord Brisburn
* Catherine Sola as Nicole
* Percy Herbert as L'agent Baxter
* Amy Dalby as Mrs. Throttle
* Robert Rollis as Le supporter avec le bonnet tricolore
* Colin Blakely as L'aveugle
* Colin Gordon as Le dentiste W. Martin
* Georgina Cookson as L'assistante du dentiste
* Robert Burnier as Le supporter tarbais
* Robert Destain as Le supporter cinaste
* Pierre Doris as Un franais dans le bus
* Mark Lester as Grald
* Arthur Mullard as Le malfaiteur
* Godfrey Quigley as Inspecteur Savory
* Margaret Whiting as La femme de l'agent 202
* Pierre Olaf as Le standardiste du commissariat
Production
Diana Dors was then living in Los Angeles but returned to Europe to make the film.
Location shooting took place around London. Interiors were shot at Shepperton Studios and the Billancourt Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jean Mandaroux.
Review
Although it is a French film, 'The Counterfeit Constable' nevertheless carries all the hallmarks and shows the type of humour found in an Ealing comedy. This is probably because nearly half the cast were composed of British actors and the film was mostly set in London.
References
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