NAUGHTY GIRL (CETTE SACRE GAMINE)

(director/director: Michel Boisrond; screenwriters: from an idea by Jean Perine/Roger Vadim; cinematographer: Joseph Brun; editor: Jacques Mavel; music: Henri Colla,/Hubert Rostaing; cast: Brigitte Bardot (Brigitte Latour), Jean Bretonniere (Jean Clery), Francoise Fabian (Lily Rocher-Villedieu), Raymond Bussieres (Jerome), Bernard Lancret (Paul Latour), arcel Charvey (Louis Dubrey), Jean Poiret (1st Inspector), Michel Serrault (2nd Inspector), Mischa Auer (school pianist); Runtime: 86; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Georges Senamaud/Albert Mazaleyrat; Lionsgate; 1956-France-in French with English subtitles)

“Made Brigitte Bardot a star in France.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

This lightweight slapstick comedy directed by Michel Boisrond (“Come Dance With Me!”/”Act of Love”) made Brigitte Bardot a star in France. It’s based on the idea by Jean Perine, and is co-written by Boisrond and Roger Vadim. Paul Latour (Bernard Lancret) owns the nightclub in the Pigalle section of Paris called the Mississippi. After taking his teenage daughter Brigitte ( Brigitte Bardot, 22 when the film was released), an aspiring ballet dancer, to a high-end boarding finishing school, he learns from his loyal club singer Jean Clery (Jean Bretonniere) that the police are after him for counterfeit money circulating in his club. Paul asks Jean to look after Brigitte in his apartment while he’s in Switzerland trying to clear his name. When Paul’s therapist fiance, Lili Rocher-Villedieu (Françoise Fabian), spots the girl she becomes jealous and her relationship with the singer is sabotaged by the naughty girl. Things become more hectic for Brigitte and Jean when the guilty party turns out to be Louis Dubrey (Marcel Charvey), the nightclub manager and head of the counterfeit ring, who sends his goons after them in the club. The slight pic is pleasing if you are not demanding. But it probably would work better as a Three Stooges vehicle than a romantic comedy.

REVIEWED ON 8/30/2016 GRADE: C+