La joyeuse prison (1956)

Plot Summary

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.

Full Cast & Characters

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

Director & Crew

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