L'aile ou la cuisse is a French film realized by Claude Zidi, release in (1976).

♦ Synopsis :

Charles Duchemin, the director of a guide gastronomical universally known, which with the practice to visit incognito the restaurants of the Hexagon under the most various disguises, has been just elected with French Academy. It then decides to take its retirement as of the publication of the last edition of its guide and thus prepares his Gerard son to take his succession. However, this last is hardly impassioned by the business world and animates in hiding-place a small troop of circus, its true passion. But Charles, defender of a traditional gastronomy and quality, wishes to leave on a blow glare and is an adversary of size in the person of Jacques Tricatel (caricatures transparent of the businessman Jacques Borel), chairman of a chain of establishments of industrial food. The father then involves his son in his ultimate crusade…

♦ Specification sheet :

Title : L'aile ou la cuisse
Realization : Claude Zidi
Scenario : Claude Zidi, with the cooperation of Michel Fabre
Adaptation and Dialogues : Claude Zidi
Production assistants : Jean-Jacques Beineix, Hélène Bernardin and Yvan Isaac (trainee)
Images : Claude Renoir, Wladimir Ivanov
Operators : Jean-Paul Schwartz, Jean-Paul Meurisse, assisted of René Chabal, Yves Pouffary, Jean-Paul Jarry
Operator transparency : Wladimir Ivanov
Music : Vladimir Cosma (Editions musical Vogue International)
Sound : Jean-Claude Laureux, assisted of Gilles Ortion and Catherine Zidi (sound trainee)
Sound editing : Maurice Laumann, assisted of Christine Noël and Olivier Mauffroy (trainee)
Decorations : Michel de Broin, assisted of Henri Sonois and Michèle Abbé
Editing : Robert and Monique Isnardon, assisted of Hélène De Luze and Claudie Adès
Suits models : Jacques Fonteray
Wardrobe master : Jeannine Vergne and Nadine Dumas (dresser)
Interior designer : Claude Suné
Make-up : Anatole and Renée-Madeleine Paris
Production : Films Christian Fechner
Leader of production : Christian Fechner
Director of production : Roger Morand
Producer's assistant : Jeanne-Marie Liron
Administrator of production : Pauline Martel
Assistant administrator : Jean Brun
Executif producer : Pierre Grunstein
Delegated producer : Bernard Artigues
Distribution : A.M.L.F
Script-girl : Sylvie Koechlin, and Florence Koechlin (trainee)
Sound-effects engineer : André Naudin and Luc Périni for the sound-effects
Mixing : Claude Villand, Nora Kollery
Photographer of tray : Bruno Bueno
General manager : Francis Peltier
Assistant manager : Ginette Méjinsky
Outside manager : Gérard James, Jean-Jacques Desages
Manager trainee : Frédéric Plas
Tapestry-maker : Roger Fresca
Special effect : Christian Bourqui, Henri Assola
Waterfalls automobiles : Rémy Julienne
Property man : Marcel Lande, Jacques Preisach
Stagehand : Roger Robert
Electrician : Jacques Touillaud
Leader builder : Robert Dauphy
Thanks in : Raymond Oliver, Society Pernod, Chamber of Commerce of Paris, The conference hall, The restaurant "Chez les anges", The direction of the tower Manhattan (the défense), The sociéety Fermatic, The sociéety Matrex, The house Bertrand, Jean-Charles automobiles, The "Notre" (Caterer), The sociéety Rosières, Chaumet (Joallier)
Realized with the cooperation of the airport of Paris
Editing : Laboratory Eclair - Auditorium "Paris-Studios-Cinéma" of Billancourt
Credits and Special effect : Michel Saignes (Eurocitel)
Electrical equipment : Cinélumières of Paris
Country origin : France
Format : Colors, process Eastmancolor-Panavision (anamorphique)- 2,35:1 - mono sound- 35 mm
Genre : comedy
Duration : 1h50
Date exit : October 27th, 1976
Visa of exploitation : 45950

♦ Distribution :

Louis de Funès : Charles Duchemin
Coluche : Gérard Duchemin
Julien Guiomar : Jacques Tricatel
Ann Zacharias : Marguerite 2
Daniel Langlet : Lambert
Claude Gensac : Marguerite 1
Philippe Bouvard : His own role
Fernand Guiot : Mr Dubreuil
Vittorio Caprioli : Vittorio
Aurora Maris : Gina
Raymond Bussières : Henri, the driver of Duchemin
Gérard Boucaron : Ficellle
Yves Afonso : The false plumber
Antoine Marin : The co-worker of Duchemin
Martin Lamotte : Roland
Robert Lombard : The butler of "la coquille d'or"
Pierre Forget : The boss of "Dindon Farci"
Marcel Dalio : The tailor
Jean Martin : The doctor
Dominique Davray : The muscular nurse
Georges Chamarat : The president of the academicians
Albert Michel : Mr Morand
Maurice Vallier : The co-worker of Duchemin
Paul Bisciglia : The baggage handler of the hotel-restaurant
Pierre Decazes : The boss of hotel
Mac Ronay : The wine steward
Max Montavon : Mr Godefroy
François Viaur : The wine steward
Jean Amadou : The voice of the commentator (not credited)
Gérard Lanvin : The friend of the circus
Marie-Anne Chazel : The friend of the circus
François Guillaume : The journalist
Francesca Siperney : The spectator in the circus
The Cantarelli - Freddy and Bibi : The Clowns of the circus
Dianik Zurakowska
André Clos
Marie Frey
Auguste Géronimi
Bergara Leumann
Gérard Lorin
Catherine Meurisse
Bob Morel
Gérard Victor
Guy Truffet
Charles Vinadel
Jacques Mathou
Bouboule/Alain Chevestrier
Bruno Moynot
Claude Zidi

♦ Around the film :

The character of Tricatel interpreted by Julien Guiomar is freely inspired by the French industrialist Jacques Borel, "Napoleon of loan-with-eating" incarnating malbouffe years 1970 and like Jacques Borel, Jacques Tricatel is a pragmatic personality and relatively lout.

It is Pierre Richard who was had a presentiment of for the role of Gerard, but finally Coluche replaces it with the raised foot, Pierre Richard being already taken on another film (There will be all considering).

This film sees it face to face between two superstars : Coluche then in full rise and Louis de Funès of return after a serious cardiac attack.