'' The Gentleman from Epsom'' (French: ''Le Gentleman d'Epsom'') is a 1962 French–Italian

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 Gilles Grangier and starring

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

Madeleine Robinson Madeleine Robinson (born Madeleine Svoboda; 5 November 1917 – 1 August 2004) was a French actress. She was born to a French mother and Czech father near Paris. She was orphaned at the age of 14, and worked to support herself and her two younge ...

and Frank Villard.Harriss p.197 The film was shot at the

Saint-Maurice Studios Saint-Maurice is the name or part of the name of places. It refers to the legendary Saint Maurice. Canada * Saint-Maurice (Lower Canada), an electoral district 1792–1838 * Saint-Maurice (Province of Canada), an electoral district 1841–1867 * ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

. Racetracks scenes were shot at the

Hippodrome d'Enghien-Soisy The hippodrome ( el, ἱππόδρομος) was an ancient Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words ''hippos'' (ἵππος; "horse") and ''dromos'' (δρόμος; "course"). The term is used in ...

and

Longchamp Racecourse The Longchamp Racecourse (french: Hippodrome de Longchamp) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced ...

on the outskirts of the city. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jacques Colombier.

Synopsis

Richard Briand-Charmery is an older gentleman who frequents the

racetrack A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also use ...

s of Paris, selling tips to customers while always looking to make himself a profit out of the dealings. Circumstances generally conspire to prevent his fortune, and he is forced to rely on assistance of his family, partly by threatening to embarrass them by being sent to jail for failure to settle his losses. One day he encounters Maud, an old flame who he once come close to marrying before having to abandon her following a heavy loss at the Epsom Derby. Now married to a banker and living in New York, they relive the good old days, and he treats her to an extravagant dinner in a high-class restaurant that he can not pay for. He plans to dig himself out of his problems with a big scam, but soon finds himself even deeper in debt. Brief salvation comes when he is accidentally given the wrong ticket when laying a bet on horserace and wins a small fortune.

Cast

as Richard Briand-Charmery, called "le Commandant" *

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 Gaspard Ripeux, the restaurateur of the Auvergne *

Jean Lefebvre Jean Marcel Lefebvre (3 October 1919Some sources indicate he was born in 1922. – 9 July 2004) was a French film actor. His erratic studies were interrupted by World War II. Taken prisoner and then requisitioned as a laborer, he escaped to joi ...

as Charly le "tubeur" *

Paul Frankeur Paul Frankeur (29 June 1905 - 27 October 1974) was a French actor who appeared in films by Jacques Tati (''Jour de fête'') and Luis Buñuel (''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' and ''The Phantom of Liberty''). He was sometimes credited a ...

as Arthur, the boss of the circle of games * Franck Villard as Lucien, the boss of the nightclub *

as Maud, an old flame *

Joëlle Bernard Joëlle Bernard (1928–1977) was a French film and television actress.Turk p.442 Partial filmography * ''Lunegarde'' (1946) * ''Quai des Orfèvres'' (1947) - Ginette (uncredited) * ''To the Eyes of Memory'' (1948) - (uncredited) * '' Miquette'' ...

as Ginette, wife of Lucien * Josée Steiner as Béatrice, wife of Richard * Marie-Hélène Dasté as the aunt Berthe * Aline Bertrand as the patroness of the bar * Camille Fournier as Thérèse, the sister of Richard *

Georgette Peyron Georgette is a feminine given name, the French form of (''Geōrgia''), the feminine form of George. Georgette may refer to: People * Georgette Barry (1919–2003), stage name Andrea King, American actress * Georgette Bauerdorf (1924–1944), Am ...

as the player *

Jean Martinelli Jean Martinelli (15 August 1909 – 13 March 1983) was a French actor who appeared in over 50 French films between 1933 and 1983, mostly in supporting roles. One of his few international films was Alfred Hitchcock's classic film '' To Catch a Th ...

as Hubert, the husband of Theresa *

Paul Mercey Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

as Oscar Robineau, the provincial *

Alexandre Rignault Alexandre Rignault (14 February 1901 – 2 April 1985) was a French actor. He appeared in more than a hundred films between 1931 and 1985. Selected filmography External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rignault, Alexandre 1901 births 1985 deaths ...

as Charlot *

Albert Dinan Albert Dinan (27 March 1902 – 3 July 1976) was a French film actor.Goble p.347 He appeared in more than ninety films and television series during his career. Selected filmography * ''Bric à Brac et compagnie'' (1932) - Jean Verly * ''Lunegard ...

as Léon, the bonneteur * Jacques Marin as Raoul, the butcher racegoer * Léonce Corne as Mr. Freedman, a player * Albert Michel as a player *

Marcel Bernier Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian ...

as a player * Edouard Francomme as a player *

René Hell René Hell (1891–1965) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' Special Mission'' (1946) * ''Dilemma of Two Angels'' (1948) * '' After Love'' (1948) * '' Five Red Tulips'' (1949) * '' The Red Angel'' (1949) * '' The Unexpected Voyager'' ...

as a player * Robert Blome as a player *

Léon Zitrone Léon Zitrone (25 November 1914 – 25 November 1995) was a Russian-born French journalist and television presenter. Biography Zitrone was born in Petrograd, Russia. He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. H ...

as commentator *

Raymond Oliver Raymond Oliver (27 March 1909 – 5 November 1990) was a French chef and owner of Le Grand Véfour restaurant in Paris, one of France's great historical restaurants. Oliver detested '' nouvelle cuisine'', preferring the rich ingredients favored ...

as in his own role on the television *

Paul Faivre Paul Faivre (3 March 1886 – 5 March 1973) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' The House Opposite'' (1937) * ''Behind the Facade'' (1939) * '' Vidocq'' (1939) * '' Annette and the Blonde Woman'' (1942) * '' The Count of Monte Cri ...

as the recorder of tickets P.M.U

References

Bibliography

* Harriss, Joseph. ''Jean Gabin: The Actor Who Was France''. McFarland, 2018.

External links

*
Le Gentleman d'Epsom (1962)
at the ''Films de France''

at the defunes.de 1962 films French comedy films French horse racing films Italian comedy films Italian horse racing films 1960s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Gilles Grangier Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard Films with screenplays by Albert Simonin Films shot at Saint-Maurice Studios Films about gambling Films shot in Paris Films set in Paris 1960s French films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-France-film-stub