Directed by Michel Boisrond, this movie stars new talented French actors at that time: Lino Ventura, Alain Delon, and Jean-Claude Brialy. Set in Paris 1943, André Bourvil plays Charles Michaud, father of Antoine (Delon), a 17 year-old-student who involves in black market to maintain his mistress Yvette (Françoise Arnoul). He and his friend Paul Tiercelin (Brialy) prepare for the big operation to smuggle champagne which will profit them 200,000 francs each. Antoine must keep his activity from his honest father (Michaud doesn't agree with black market, depicted in the scene where he grunts over chocolate and butter which his son has brought home), while Paul's father (Ventura), a restaurant owner, is one of their clients. All goes well until Michaud receives his son's rapport card and the bad marks make him suspect his son having a mistress. He goes to Tiercelin's restaurant to inquiry, but Tiercelin sends a prostitute to Michaud to occupy his mind.
Prior to the champagne operation, Antoine wants to spend the Easter holiday with Yvette, so he tells his parents that he will go with Paul in his family house in Burgogne. Michaud gives his son 1,000 francs pocket money without knowing that Antoine is much richer than himself, but his son accepts it to avoid suspicion. However, Antoine's little sister Pierrette sees him riding his bike in Paris, so she cries when they receive a letter from Antoine from the country, knowing that he lies to them. The letter is a bit funny, telling how he saves his spot for others, the big, nice country dog etc. As if the letter alibi is not enough, Antoine and his friends send their friend Lulu, dressed as a German officer to the Michauds', to tell them stories that their son is busy involving in something dangerous, and now he is wanted by the Gestapo. Fortunately it also explains Antoine's bad rapport, that he has no time to study. However, Michaud can't let his son in danger without warning him and he goes back to Tiercelin's restaurant, trying to reach Paul via his father, and finds his son and the group are about to celebrate the success of the champagne deal. I wonder what happened to the 400,000 francs. Michaud has it wrapped in the table cloth and brings it with him when he goes into the shelter, but when he goes out with his son answering the soldier's cry for help, he doesn't hold it anymore.
The theme song by Paul Misraki is lovely. Love the scene where Antoine rides his bike, whistling the tune. Hope this movie will be available on DVD, so that I can watch it again whenever I want.
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