The Counterfeit Constable (French: Allez France!) is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Robert Dhéry and Pierre Tchernia and starring Ronald Fraser, Diana Dors and Arthur Mullard.
Plot
A French rugby supporter (Robert Dhéry), in England for a match at Twickenham, is accidentally elbowed in the face and loses two teeth. He goes to the dentist who fits new teeth and tells him he musn't open his mouth for two hours, to allow the cement holding them to set properly. He starts to wait, and in the waiting room he sees the uniform of another patient, who's a policeman (Bernard Cribbins). He tries it on for fun, and while wearing it by sheer chance he saves Diana Dors, a movie star who lives next door. He is congratulated by police chiefs who take him for a true police officer. He can't tell them he isn't because he can't open his mouth and besides, he doesn't speak English. He becomes lost in London, and many misunderstandings and misadventures follow. And to make matters worse he needs to return home to France urgently as he is due to be married.
Main cast
Robert Dhéry as Henri Martineau
Colette Brosset as Lady Yvette Brisburn 'Vévette'
Diana Dors as herself
Ronald Fraser as Sergent Timothy Reagan
Henri Génès as Gros Max
Jean Lefebvre as Le supporter saoul avec le coq
Jean Carmet as Le porte drapeau
Bernard Cribbins as Bob, l'agent 202
Jean Richard as Un français dans le bus
Raymond Bussières as Un français dans le bus
Pierre Tornade as Un français dans le bus
Richard Vernon as Lord Brisburn
Catherine Sola as Nicole
Percy Herbert as L'agent Baxter
Amy Dalby as Mrs. Throttle
Robert Rollis as Le supporter avec le bonnet tricolore
Colin Blakely as L'aveugle
Colin Gordon as Le dentiste W. Martin
Georgina Cookson as L'assistante du dentiste
Robert Burnier as Le supporter tarbais
Robert Destain as Le supporter cinéaste
Pierre Doris as Un français dans le bus
Mark Lester as Gérald
Arthur Mullard as Le malfaiteur
Godfrey Quigley as Inspecteur Savory
Margaret Whiting as La femme de l'agent 202
Pierre Olaf as Le standardiste du commissariat
Production
Diana Dors was then living in Los Angeles but returned to Europe to make the film.
Location shooting took place around London. Interiors were shot at Shepperton Studios and the Billancourt Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jean Mandaroux.
Review
Although it is a French film, The Counterfeit Constable 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.