The Counterfeit Constable
The Counterfeit Constable is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Robert Dhéry and Pierre Tchernia and starring Ronald Fraser, Diana Dors and Arthur Mullard.[1] Its French title is Allez France!. A French rugby supporter in England for a match at Twickenham is knocked out and loses two teeth. He goes to the dentist and during waiting he wears a uniform of another patient, a police officer. He saves by chance Diana Dors, a nextdoor movie star. He is congratulated by his chiefs who take him for true police officer. Many misunderstandings follow after. He becomes lost in London. Not speaking a word of English, he needs to return home to France urgently as he is due to be married.
Main cast
- Pierre Tornade – Un français dans le bus
- Pierre Doris – Un français dans le bus
- Raymond Bussières – Un français dans le bus
- Jean Richard – Un français dans le bus
- Catherine Sola – Nicole
- Robert Dhéry - Henri Martineau
- Mark Lester - Gérald
- Ronald Fraser - Sergent Timothy Reagan
- Diana Dors - Herself
- Colette Brosset - Lady Yvette Brisburn 'Vévette'
- Arthur Mullard - Le malfaiteur
- Percy Herbert - L'agent Baxter
- Amy Dalby - Mrs. Throttle
- Bernard Cribbins - Bob, l'agent 202
- Robert Burnier - Le supporter tarbais
- Richard Vernon - Lord Brisburn
- Robert Rollis - Le supporter avec le bonnet tricolore
- Henri Génès - Gros Max
- Jean Lefebvre - Le supporter saoul avec le coq
- Jean Carmet - Le porte drapeau
- Robert Destain - Le supporter cinéaste
- Colin Blakely - L'aveugle
- Godfrey Quigley - Inspecteur Savory
- Georgina Cookson - L'assistante du dentiste
- Colin Gordon - Le dentiste W. Martin
- Margaret Whiting - La femme de l'agent 202
Review
Although it is a French film, it nevertheless carries all the hallmarks and shows the type of humour found in an Ealing comedy. This is probably because nearly half the cast were composed of British actors and the film was mostly set in London.