Louis de Funès and Jean Gabin are horsin' around.
Le Gentleman d'Epsom ("The Gentleman from Epsom") is a 1962 French-Italian comedy film directed by Gilles Grangier. Michel Audiard wrote the dialogues.
Richard-Briand Chamery (Jean Gabin), a.k.a "the Commander", is a Con Man who cheats people out of their money by selling them bad tips at horse races. Finding himself down on his luck, he targets an irate but enthusiastic race-goer named Gaspard Ripeux (Louis de Funès), who also owns a luxurious restaurant, for his next con... but things don't quite go as planned.
Gabin and De Funès were paired again in The Tattoo six years later.
Le Gentleman d'Epsom provides examples of:
- Angry Chef: Gaspard Ripeux's Establishing Character Moment is him berating his staff for not delivering an outstanding service. Even funnier, this is shot from "The Commandant" and Charly's point of view and we only see Ripeux miming his anger with cartoonish sounds.
- A Fool and His New Money Are Soon Parted: Gaspard Ripeux is the mark for "The Commandant".
- Foreshadowing: Comments on his "weak heart" and he needs to avoid "stressful situations"."The Commandant": Come tomorrow with me at Chantilly.
Gaspard Ripeux: Alas...
"The Commandant": Why "alas"?
Gaspard Ripeux: My thrombosis [taps his chest] I have chicken pulsations... I have been forbidden to have any high emotions and the doctor even told me if I go to a horse racing , I might die! - Greed: This how "The Commandant" manipulate Gaspard Ripeux to bet another time.Gaspard Ripeux: [when asked about gaining more money] Of course! I think about it every night! Why are you asking me that?
[later]
Gaspard Ripeux: I want to eat it all up! Rent chest, big chest! I WANT EVERYTHING! - Leaning on the Fourth Wall: After Ripeux claims he has tricked "The Commandant".Gaspard Ripeux: The primary school inspector remarked me and told me "Ripeux, you will be an actor." And I could have been!
- The Perfectionist: Right before the dishes are served, Ripeux insists that he still check them:Gaspard Ripeux: [after tasting] You call that a "medium-rare steak"? It is brown!
[later]
Gaspard Ripeux: A bechamel isn't a pile of mud... bring it back! - Professional Butt-Kisser: As always, De Funès as Ripeux is over-the-top slimy to his customers and odious towards his employees. Especially visible when "The Commandant" happens to be knowledgeable in horse racing.Gaspard Ripeux: When I like someone, I would like them to like me back. I was like that since I was a child.
- Rags to Riches: An off comment seems to imply Gaspard Ripeux came from a very modest family of Auvergne before becoming a Restaurateur.
- Villainous Breakdown: Gaspard Ripeux does a cardiac arrest when the horse he has bet 850,000 Francs loses after he though he would win 4-5 millions.Gaspard Ripeux: [in a delusional state] Minotaur, Minotaur! It will be great! I eat it up! I have the nose for this kind of business!
