Zeus

The Devil By The Tail (1969)

• Director
  • Philippe de Broca
• Writers
  • Daniel Boulanger(scenario and dialogue)
  • Claude Sautet(decoupage)
  • Philippe de Broca(scenario)
• Stars
  • Yves Montand
  • Madeleine Renaud
  • Maria Schell

  An eccentric family in need of money turns their crumbling chateau into a hotel in order to renovate the old place. Repairs are made to the aging structure, but they only have one guest and too many empty rooms. The young granddaughter, with the help of her mechanic boyfriend, manages to make sure all the cars that stop at his garage are in need of overnight repairs. The hotel business soon improves as tourists are stranded and forced to seek lodging at the chateau. Cesar (Yves Montand) leads a trio of bank robbers to the hotel. Posing as aristocratic nobles, the crooks hide out in the splendor of the old house, charming the ladies and winning at poker games to pass the time. The mother of the family offers herself as a lure to draw more guests, who often take advantage of her adulterous yearnings. The hotel business does very well as the family saves their ancestral home after a dubious start in this romantic comedy.