Irma la Douce (1963)

Release date: 1963-06-05
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Billy Wilder
Production Co: Phalanx Productions, The Mirisch Corporation
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: 7.4/10
Length: 2h 27min

Storyline

Naive, by the book French police officer Nester Patou, is transferred to the Red Light district. Upon witnessing what must be a brothel, he calls the station and organizes a raid, transporting all the 'ladies' to the jail. This unfortunately disrupts the well organized system of the police and the Pimps union. Not to mention inadvertently netting his station superior at the brothel. Fired, he goes to a bar to drink, is befriended by Irma, beats up her pimp, and finds he is now Irma's new pimp. Nester's doesn't like the thought of his girl seeing other men, so comes up with a plan.

Plot Keywords

pantyhose, based on play, paris france, foreign language adaptation, female stockinged legs, female stockinged feet, prostitute, man slaps a woman, face slap, famous score, reference to vincent van gogh, police officer, red light district, pimp, fruit, rain, love, lover, marriage, married couple

Short Review

Irma also misses on several important counts, and the fact that it does illustrates the sizable problems inherent in an attempt to convert a legit musical into a tuneless motion picture farce.