A PAIN IN THE ASS – aka L’Emmerdeur
| 1975 – 85′ – Classic – Comedy –
Written by Francis Veber.
Directed by Edouard Molinaro.
Starring Jacques Brel, Lino Ventura, Caroline Cellier, Jean-Pierre Darras, Nino Costelnuevo.
In French with English subtitles.
A Kino Lorber Classic release.|
Trailer
From director Édouard Molinaro (LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), and writer Francis Veber (THE DINNER GAME, LA CHEVRE, THE TALL BLOND MAN WITH A BLACK SHOE – also on COLCOA VIRTUAL CINEMA) comes this action-comedy starring screen great Lino Ventura with Jacques Brel and Caroline Cellier. When a hired killer crosses paths with a suicidal shirt salesman, the resulting calamity makes for one of the funniest, most original films you’ll ever see. Ralf Milan (Ventura) has come to Montpellier to fulfill a “contract” that a powerful crime organization has placed on a man about to testify against the mob at an upcoming trial. As Ralf waits for the man in his hotel room with gun in hand, he notices something very strange in the attaching room next door: François Pignon (Brel), a cuckolded, unhappy man who is trying to hang himself, but is failing—ridiculously. Ralf finds himself compelled to protect François from his hapless attempts at self-destruction to avoid attracting attention. What develops is one odd friendship you’ll never forget. Legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder remade the film in 1981 as BUDDY BUDDY, starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.