Monsieur Gangster 1963 Based on the novel Grisbi Or Not Grisbi by Albert Simonin, screenplay by Michel Audiard and Georges Lautner, directed by Georges Lautner. Les Tonton Flingueurs is the French title and it translates as Gun-toting Uncles, it's also known as Crooks In Clover.
Lino Ventura plays Fernand, that's Lino on the left, he was a gangster but he got out and runs a legit business. His quiet life is interrupted by his old gangster pal Louis. Fernand visits Louis on his deathbed to find the man wants him to run his criminal empire. It also involves being Guardian to Louis' daughter Patricia. She's a young modern woman who can't stay at any school more than 6 months. She likes her free and easy life style and daddy's cash.
Fernand moves into Louis' mansion and meets with the people who run the whores, booze and gambling parts of the business. A power struggle develops causing Fernand to punch some of them in the eye. The gang members try killing Fernand but he survives the attacks and meters out more socks. The violence ramps up and some gang members don't make it to the end of the movie.
Horst Frank is a German actor who appeared in over 100 movies, some might remember him from The Vengeance Of Fu Manchu with Christopher Lee. Here he's the guy in charge of the gang's distillery and he's one of the more entertaining characters. He's got a hot scene near the end of the film.
I found it highly entertaining. I liked the characters, there's some action, comedy, gun battles, yelling and an explosion. I was glad I picked up the Olive DVD on clearance at Hamilton Book. Turned out to be a movie I'd want to watch again sometime.
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