La joyeuse prison

La joyeuse prison (1956) is a comedy film directed by André Berthomieu rated 8.0/10.

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.

Cast

Michel Simon

Benoit, chief guard

Ded Rysel

Auguste Tuboeuf, inmate farmer

Paulette Dubost

Justine Benoit

Lisette Lebon

Rosette Benoit

Michel Roux

André Chauvin

Christian Alers

Sub-prefect

Georges Baconnet

Ferdinand Bouchonnet

Francis Boyer

Henri Coutet

Gustave

Robert Dalban

Vauclin, inmate gangster

Paul Derly

Breton, safe-cracking inmate

Émile Genevois

'Petit Louis', burglar inmate