The scares of the war were still fresh and the film was one of the first to break several taboos about the French people. Most of the movies till that point had been heroic dramas and made the French Resistance appear as heroes in the eyes of the public. “La Traversée de Paris” uses dark humour to portray collaborators as ordinary people and not as innocent victims. Most of the French during the war just lived their lives as before and didn’t resist even though that’s the image which was created after the ware. The film launched Bourvil’s career as a major actor.
Two unlikely companions, the straight-laced Martin and the bombastic Grandgil, must smuggle four suitcases filled with contraband pork across Nazi-occupied Paris. While Martin tries to make it through with workmanlike efficiency, Grandgil seems to create, and subsequently surmount, obstacles for the fun of it.
This movie is seen as Claude Autant-Lara masterpiece. Because of budget issues, the writer of the book was not convinced by Bourvil so the director choose to have his budget cut to shoot the movie as he wanted, and choosee to direct the film in black and white. This gave the film a ‘Film-Noir’ touch which gave “La Traversée de Paris” an extra dimension. Claude Autant-Lara infused danger into this comedy which makes you feel for the charachter from begining to end. He perfectly balance the realism and comedy by showing how ridiculous the situation was during the war. Jean Gabin was the perfect actor to play the bourgois Grandgil and Gabin plays it was a charmastic ease which is impressive for an actor used to play more serious roles. Bourvil is one of the greatest clown’s of French cinema and is hilarious and still very touching because of how he create a charachter that relate to the public like in most of his films. Louis de Funès is the cherry on top of the cake as he excels as Jambier, an egoistic crook who profits from the war.
The film was a triomphf in France even though the opinions was very divided. The film has received now universal acclaim and is seen as a French classic. Bourvil won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 17th Venice International Film Festival for the film.
