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Crooks in Clover

Play trailer Crooks in Clover 1963 1h 55m Comedy Action Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 1 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In this French comedy, former criminal Fernand Naudin (Lino Ventura) must leave his peaceful existence behind after being contacted by a dying friend, a renowned gangster with some unfinished business. Reluctantly drawn back into the mob world, Naudin inadvertently incurs the wrath of local thugs, including the imposing Raoul Volfoni (Bernard Blier), and must return to his gun-toting, law-breaking ways in order to survive a series of attempts on his life.

Critics Reviews

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Leah Pickett Chicago Reader Many of the quips in the slangy, metaphorical dialogue seem to lose their bite in translation. But the kooky sound design, the supple direction, and the thugs' rubber-faced reactions generate plenty of chuckles on their own. Aug 18, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The ultimate French film Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/17 Full Review Audience Member French gangster spoof that finds Lino Ventura (best known for his later appearances in Melville's Army of Shadows and Deuxieme Souffle) unexpectedly inheriting a crime syndicate from an old friend that comes with the obligation to look after the friend's teen daughter. This is the kind of role that De Niro might take on, a tough guy who plays for laughs but maintains a straight face. Of course, the teenager causes all sorts of trouble, as do the underbosses of his old friend who wish to run the business themselves. So, there are some broadly comic moments (as when Ventura takes to punching the deliciously put-out Bertrand Blier every time he sees him) and some action sequences (some shoot-outs). But apparently something is lost in translation for the English-language viewer because this film is much loved in France specifically for its clever dialogue by Michel Audiard; the subtitles do show some unusual phrasing but nothing that leaps out to make you laugh. One scene where the gangsters reminisce about the old days while drinking moonshine was funny anyway and probably was hysterical to French-speakers. In the end, I was hoping for a bit of a Grisbi type picture but instead I got a situation-comedy that nevertheless evokes some of the genre. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member It is one of those movies which get a nice shine after all those years. Yes it is short, yes all the translated jokes are gone but, but, because there is a but. Thoses actors had charisma and this is gold dust. If you do speak French, what the original Version. The accents and melodies of those voices are excellent. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member "Les Tontons Flingeurs" é merecedor de um lugar elevado, em qualquer escala que considere o género do "gangster com problemas familiares", mesmo que a página de Rotten Tomatoes não lhe dedique uma única crítica. Merece-o porque é tão eficaz e convincente nas suas vinhetas de humor, como nas sequências de acção (que, entre explosões e execuções, oferecem-nos tudo a que temos direito). "Les Tontons Flingeurs" deve uma boa parte desse estado de graça a um Lino Ventura que sabe perfeitamente até onde pode ir na paródia do durão que herdou um império da Máfia. Leva as 4 estrelas com naturalidade. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member "C'est curieux chez les marins ce besoin de faire des phrasesâ?¦" Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent film noir. Awesome dialogues and great cast. A must see for every film geek! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Crooks in Clover

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis In this French comedy, former criminal Fernand Naudin (Lino Ventura) must leave his peaceful existence behind after being contacted by a dying friend, a renowned gangster with some unfinished business. Reluctantly drawn back into the mob world, Naudin inadvertently incurs the wrath of local thugs, including the imposing Raoul Volfoni (Bernard Blier), and must return to his gun-toting, law-breaking ways in order to survive a series of attempts on his life.
Director
Georges Lautner
Producer
Irénée Leriche, Robert Sussfeld
Screenwriter
Michel Audiard, Georges Lautner
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy, Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 55m