It's interesting how quality is just quality. It doesn't matter that you might be a millennial watching this film from France, from the 50's, it's just as good as any more contemporary or culturally relevant top drawer picture.

The best feature in this is efficiency. It's short and sweet (just about 1hr20min),no scene ever stalls the movie, no line in the dialogue branches out into its own thing. It's tight, focused, and efficient. It knows exactly what it's about.

It's both fantastical in its concept and terribly realistic at the same time. Both lead actors were perfect for the cast and play their roles perfectly, while Louis de Funes is also excellent in a more secondary but not any more quiet role.

The film dishes out bits of life lessons here and there, forces a bit of thought and perspective, but never feels self-complacent or happy about itself. It delivers the goods, with a super simplistic plot, a bit of humor, a bit of wisdom, a bit realism, a bit of fantasy; it's a little tragic, but also quite light... and it does it damn well.

When I saw this unknown picture on 2014 l stayed impressed by Jean Gabin made a comedy, sounds weird for me, however the duo comic Bourvil and Gabin accept a dangerous endeavor crossing on a dark Paris streets occupied by Nazi forces to delivery a four case of pork meat at black market , also they have avoid the local police, a hard time indeed, at unfolding the story Martin (Bourvil) realize that Grandgil (Jean Gabin) wasn't a wall painter that he early thought, actually is swashbuckler, due he is a famous painter, also has several funniest moments along the journey, those dogs following them by smell of the meet, the old prostitute on the way, Grandgil is a joker, trying convinces Martin selling the meat by themselves, suggesting the cases was really taken by the police, a mix of two genre black comedy and drama, delightful and well-crafted screenplay, this picture deserves my respect to be unusual and fresh, the final scene is compelling and touching, the life began again in already free France, awesome French picture!!

Resume:

First watch: 2014 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.25

Jean Gabin and Bourvil star in this film set during the German occupation. During this time, everyday items were often impossible to get and the black market, though very illegal, was the only way to get things like fresh meat and soap. The two stars of this film spend the evening trying to smuggle four suitcases full of pork through the streets of Paris without the Nazis catching them. Not the noblest of enterprises, I must admit.

The reviews for "Four Bags Full" are extremely favorable--and have ratings that mostly fall in the 8 or 9 range. Because of this, my sights were set very high with this film. This, combined with my love of French films, made me think I'd really like this film...but I didn't. I only found it passable and, most importantly, I kept having trouble staying awake as I watched. I guess I just don't see things the way others do when it comes to this movie. I found the plot sluggish and much of Gabin's behaviors through the film just didn't make a lot of sense. I also strongly believe the film played much better long ago...when memories of the occupation and rationing were still quite fresh.