''Short Head'' (French: '' Courte tête'') is a 1956 French

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Norbert Carbonnaux Norbert Carbonnaux (28 March 1918 – 6 November 1997), was a French film director and screenwriter. Filmography Director * 1951: ''90 degrés à l'ombre'' * 1953: '' La Tournée des grands ducs'' * 1954: ''The Pirates of the Bois de Boulog ...

, written by

Michel Audiard Paul Michel Audiard (; 15 May 1920 – 27 July 1985) was a French screenwriter and film director, known for his witty, irreverent and slang-laden dialogues which made him a prominent figure on the French cultural scene of the 1960s and 1970s. He ...

and starring

Fernand Gravey Fernand Gravey (25 December 1905 in Ixelles (Belgium) – 2 November 1970 in Paris, France),Death certificate # 8/445/1970 also known as Fernand Gravet in the United States, was the son of actors Georges Mertens and Fernande Depernay, who a ...

Micheline Dax Micheline Dax (3 March 1924 – 27 April 2014) was a French film and stage actress and singer. She did the voice to Ursula in the French dub in Disney's "The Little Mermaid". The Paris-born actress was born Micheline Josette Renée Etevenon. Sh ...

and Jean Richard. The film is known under the

alternative title An alternative title is a media sales device most prominently used in film distribution. Books and films are commonly released under a different title when they are screened or sold in a different country. This can vary from small change to the ...

''Photo Finish''. It was shot at the Photosonor Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jacques Colombier.

Synopsis

Two swindlers try to cheat a provincial poultry magnate by getting him to bet on a sure loser in a major horse race.

Cast

as Olivier Parker, a notorious crook. posing as an equestrian coach *

as Lola d'Héricourt, a venturer * Jean Richard as Ferdinand Galiveau, poultry dealer and racegoer *

Jacques Duby Jacques Duby (7 May 1922 – 15 February 2012) was a French stage, film and television actor. He was born in Toulouse. Jacques Duby as narrator Some of his works include '' 101 Dalmatians'' (1961), ''Pinocchio'' (1968), and ''The Jungle ...

as Amédée Lucas aka fake jockey "Teddy Morton" *

Darry Cowl Darry Cowl (born André Darricau; 27 August 1925 – 14 February 2006) was a French comedian, actor and musician. He won a César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2004 for his role as a concierge in '' Pas sur la bouche'' (''Not on ...

as the receptionist at the hotel "Lutécia" *

Hubert Deschamps Hubert Deschamps (13 September 1923 – 29 December 1998) was a French actor. He was the son of the museum curator Paul Deschamps (1888–1974) and uncle of the French stage director Jérôme Deschamps. Selected filmography * ''The Strol ...

as Le serveur 'Gay Paris' *

Max Révol Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

as the general agent for starch * Robert Murzeau as the taylor, also a racegoer *

Jacques Dufilho Jacques Dufilho (19 February 1914 – 28 August 2005) was a French actor. He was born at Bègles (Gironde) and he died at Ponsampère (Gers). Life and career Dufilho appeared in 65 French productions. Moreover, he was frequently seen in Italian ...

as the stable-boy * Harry-Max as Cyril Mauvoisin, l'entraîneur * Pascal Mazzotti as Le maître d'hôtel * Annick Tanguy as La danseuse de Mambo *

Louis de Funès Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...

as Father Graziani, a fake monk *

Guy Bedos Guy Bedos (; né Guy René Bédos, ; 15 June 1934 – 28 May 2020) was a French screenwriter, stand-up comedian and actor (mostly known for his part in the film ''Nous irons tous au paradis''). He was a French man born in Algeria , a former Fr ...

as Fred Campuche *

Paul Bisciglia Paul Antoine Alphonse Bisciglia (30 July 1928 – 18 April 2010) was a French film actor. Career Throughout his acting career, Bisciglia appeared in more than one hundred feature films. He made his debut in the 1950 film ''Trois télégram ...

as Un chasseur de l'hôte

References

Bibliography

* Ginette Vincendeau. ''Stars and Stardom in French Cinema''. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2000.

External links

*
Courte tête (1956)
at the ''Films de France'' 1956 films French sports comedy films 1950s sports comedy films 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Norbert Carbonnaux Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard Films with screenplays by Albert Simonin French horse racing films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub