Le Cerveau (The Brain) (1969)

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(187 ratings)

The Brain (Le Cerveau) is a tongue-in-cheek caper film with more twists and turns than a rural Oregon highway. David Niven plays The Brain, so named because it was he who mapped out the British Great Train Robbery (it says here). Now The Brain plans to lift a fortune in NATO money, which is being… More The Brain (Le Cerveau) is a tongue-in-cheek caper film with more twists and turns than a rural Oregon highway. David Niven plays The Brain, so named because it was he who mapped out the British Great Train Robbery (it says here). Now The Brain plans to lift a fortune in NATO money, which is being shipped by train from France to Belgium. Complicating matters are a pair of free-lance thugs (Jean-Paul Belmondo and Bourvil), who hope to steal The Brain's plans and claim the money for themselves. A plot device derived from The Lavender Hill Mob involves a 50-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty. An amusing closing-credits bit caps this exhilarating exercise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Gérard Oury
Genres: Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 13, 1969 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 1992

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Jens S

This French action comedy film from the late 60s has Jean Paul Belmondo and his ditsy aide go for the same train heist as Europe greatest and smartest burglar, David "The brain" Niven. The chaos is complete when an Italian mafiosi (Eli Wallach) and his lascivious little… More
This French action comedy film from the late 60s has Jean Paul Belmondo and his ditsy aide go for the same train heist as Europe greatest and smartest burglar, David "The brain" Niven. The chaos is complete when an Italian mafiosi (Eli Wallach) and his lascivious little sister enter the scene. The result makes for lots of laughs, lovable characters, chaotic chases, misunderstandings and a fun heist scene. Overall fun, entertaining and original.

Cast

            Bourvil as Anatole

            David Niven as Col. Carol Matthews

            Jean-Paul Belmondo as Arthur

            Eli Wallach as Scannapieco

            Henri Attal
            
            Jacques Balutin as L'inspecteur Pochet

            Yves Barsacq as Le gerant

            Jacques Ciron as L'inspecteur Duboeuf

            Robert Dalban as Belgian with a Cold

            Mario David
            
            Raoul Delfosse
            
            Tom Duggan as Le superintendant Cummings

            Raymond Gerome as Le Commanissaire

            Fernand Guiot as L'inspecteur Mazurel

            Jean Le Poulain as Man from Fifth Floor

            Silvia Monti as Sofia

            Fernand Valois as Bruno

            Dominique Zardi
            
            Henri Génès as Le gardien-chef

            Roger Lumont
            
            Paul Mercey
            
            Patrick Préjean
            
            John Rico
            
            Arch Taylor
            
            Max Montavon
            
            Sophie Grimaldi
            
See full cast