The Madman of Lab Four

1967 1h 30m FR

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 19

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This talkative and unevenly paced feature finds Fou (Jean Lefebvre) the inventor of a gas that makes the users fall in love. He is chased by his boss, the police, and spies, who seek to secure the secret recipe for their own selfish purposes. A shadowy American underworld figure tries to intimidate the inventor. A half-hearted attempt at comedy tries to go along with the double dealing and trickery of the thin plot of the film.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jean Lefebvre
Eugène Ballanchon, scientific researcher, single
Maria Latour
Régine, Mr. Beauchard's spy
Bernard Blier
Mr. Beauchard, executive secretary linked to a gang
Michel Serrault
Mr. Granger, director of the scientific laboratory
Pierre Tornade
DST inspector
Pierre Brasseur
Father Ballanchon
Margo Lion
Mrs. Ballanchon, Eugène's mother
Robert Dalban
Merchant, spy in the laboratory

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jacques Besnard
Writers: Jacques Besnard, Jean Halain
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

59 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jacques Besnard, shot by Raymond Lemoigne. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bernard Gérard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Gilbert Natot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jean Lefebvre and Maria Latour and Bernard Blier carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0131401 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jacques Besnard directs. Raymond Lemoigne behind the camera. Bernard Gérard scores. Gilbert Natot cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
259 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Jacques Besnard, shot by Raymond Lemoigne. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Bernard Gérard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Gilbert Natot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jean Lefebvre and Maria Latour and Bernard Blier carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0131401 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.