Personal comments : Louis de Funès is marked in the credits, he appears :

- 1 minutes at 33 minutes and 19 seconds after the beginning of the film,
- 15 seconds at 35 minutes and 40 seconds after the beginning of the film,
- 4 seconds at 37 minutes and 32 seconds after the beginning of the film,
- 4 seconds at 37 minutes and 54 seconds after the beginning of the film,
- 19 seconds at 37 minutes and 9 seconds after the beginning of the film,
- 24 seconds at 58 minutes and 6 seconds after the beginning of the film.

♦ Synopsis :

Jean, the post-office employee ; Marcel, the boxer ; Roger, the actor ; Andre, the student, and Philippe, the son of good family, five young boys inseparable companions from war, are returned to the civil life and swear to preserve their friendship. Roger, without employment, finds his sister Valerie, singer in a night club. It is engaged by Frédo for equivocal works and becomes the lover of Simone, the friend of Jean. Marcel who goes from defeat in defeat, joined the team of Frédo. Andre to repurchase the control of his father during the occupation will be made kill in Indo-China. At the time of a blow, Marcel is killed. Valerie is killed by an accomplice of Frédo and Roger is imprisoned. The friendship will be able to perhaps join together still Philippe, Jean and Roger with the release of this last.

♦ Specification sheet :

• Title : Ils étaient cinq
• Realization : Jack Pinoteau
• Scenario : Michel Jourdan
• Adaptation, Dialogue : Pierre Laroche
• Producteur assistant : Claude Pinoteau
• Images : Jacques Lemare
• Operator : André Dumaître
• Music : Georges Van Parys
• Decorations : Jacques Colombier
• Suits : Jean Boulet
• Editing : Marguerite Beaugé
• Sound : Antoine Petitjean, assisted of Jacques Maumont
• Make-up : Jean Ulysse, assisted of Lina Gallet
• Hairstyles : Serge Stern
• Photographer of tray : Paule Converset
• General manager : Roger Rogelys
• Shooting from February 23rd, till April 14th, 1951
• Film 35mm, black and white
• Production : Sud Film, Jeannic Films (France)
• Leader of production : Robert Jallies
• Director of production : Jean Velter
• Distribution : Jeannic Films
• First presentation the 23/01/1952
• Duration : 89mn
• Genre : Comedy drama

♦ Distribution :

• Louis de Funès : Albert, the manager
• Jean Carmet : Jean, the post-office employee
• Jean Gaven : Marcel, the boxer
• Michel Jourdan : Roger Courtois, the actor
• François Martin : André Lamberay, the student
• Jean-Claude Pascal : Philippe, the young man of means
• Jean Marchat : Frédo, the director of cabaret "La joie de vivre"
• Arlette Méry : Valérie
• André Versini : Serge, the impresario of Valérie
• Nicole Besnard : Simone, the friend of Jean
• Marcel André : The police captain
• Robert Dalban : Dufau, the manager
• Irène Hilda : Fabienne Dorée
• Paul Mesnier
• Georges Galley
• Jean Ozenne
• Georgette Anys
• René Hell
• René Pascal
• Guy Henry
• Charles Fawcett
• Roland Carey
• Bernard Hilda and his orchestra

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