La joyeuse prison (1956)
Benoit, the head guard of Clouville Prison, prefers to be liked than feared. This basic principle transforms the jail-house into a joyful prison, where all the inmates live amicably together. Among them, various colorful characters : a farmer, a poacher, a distiller, a forger, two pickpockets, a safe-cracker, a gangster and... a good-looking guy who pleases Rosette, Benoit's daughter, well. But too much leniency takes its toll : after Vauclin, the gangster, manages to escape and a complaint is filed against "the deplorable disorder reigning in the joyful prison", Benoit is given early retirement. He will know how to take advantage of his new status live a joyful life with his wife, his daughter and André, his son in law, in fact the nice-looking young prisoner who, in the meantime, has been cleared of all charges.
Director: André Berthomieu
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Michel Simon as Benoit, chief guard |
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Ded Rysel as Auguste Tuboeuf, inmate farmer |
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Paulette Dubost as Justine Benoit |
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Lisette Lebon as Rosette Benoit |
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Michel Roux as André Chauvin |
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Christian Alers as Sub-prefect |
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Georges Baconnet as Ferdinand Bouchonnet |
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Francis Boyer as |
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Henri Coutet as Gustave |
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Robert Dalban as Vauclin, inmate gangster |
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Paul Derly as Breton, safe-cracking inmate |
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Émile Genevois as 'Petit Louis', burglar inmate |
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Marguerite Héliès as Sub-prefect |
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Jane Helly as |
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Marcel Rouzé as Brigadier |
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Maryse Martin as Charlotte Tuboeuf |
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Paul Faivre as Filasse, poacher inmate |
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Charles Bouillaud as Blafard, forger inmate |
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Alice Tissot as Madame de St-Leu |
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Darry Cowl as Maître Larigot |
| Writing | André Berthomieu | Writer |
| Writing | Pierre François | Writer |
| Writing | Paul Vandenberghe | Writer |
| Directing | André Berthomieu | Director |