Cruchot is Putting the Band Back Togethernote
Le Gendarme en balade (The Gendarme to Stroll) is a 1970 French comedy film starring Louis de Funès, Michel Galabru, Claude Gensac and Jean Lefebvre, and the fourth installment of the Gendarme de Saint-Tropez series.
The gendarmes of Saint-Tropez are forced into retirement to make way for a younger breed, and they don't react very well to it, especially Cruchot. Even so, when they learn that one of them has had an accident and has become amnesiac, they happily reunite to help him get his memory back and embark on a series of wacky antics as the new gendarmes chase after them (since they illegally practice their old job, including wearing their old uniforms).
Le Gendarme en balade provides examples of:
- The '70s: No better indicator of that than the hippies.
- Becoming the Mask: The gendarmes except Cruchot quite enjoy the life of the hippies. They would have stayed in the community if Cruchot had not prompted them out.
- The Big Bad Wolf: Discussed. Gerber warns the boys of the convent that the Big Bad Wolf could eat their friends if they do not tell where they are.
- Big Fancy House: Cruchot and Josépha live in a very big house.
- Bomb Disposal: Cruchot has to disarm a bomb in the end.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Sister Clotilde greets the gendarmes by saying she's happy to meet them in each movie.
- Continuity Cavalcade: The small museum about the brigade that Cruchot has created in his house.
- Contrived Coincidence: Josépha and Madame Gerber happen to be in the room where the rocket ends up (followed by Gerber and Cruchot).
- Creepy Changing Painting: Played for Laughs. Josépha's smiling photograph changes to a surprised then "Oh no, you don't!" expression when Cruchot secretly takes money from the safe. After he puts all the money back in the safe bar one banknote, she smiles again.
- Deadpan Snarker: The boys in the convent during the interrogation scene.
- Drives Like Crazy: Sister Marie-Bénédicte, a nun whom Sister Clotilde had taught how to drive.
- Empty Quiver: Kids steal a nuclear bomb.
- Faint in Shock:
- Cruchot faints when he is informed he has to retire.
- When Cruchot and Gerber try to disarm the bomb, many people faint.
- Faking Amnesia: Fougasse (Jean Lefebvre) suffered only from a short amnesia after an accident, but he likes so much the convalescent home he's staying in, he pretends in order to remain longer.
- Fanservice: When the gendarmes watch the nudists on the beach with binoculars.
- A Friend in Need: When they learn that Fougasse suffers from amnesia, the other gendarmes decide to help him.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: Played for Laughs when Gerber and Cruchot question the boys at the convent.
- Harmless Electrocution: Gerber gets an electric shock when he tries to enter Cruchot's property and he seems not to suffer from it afterwards.
- Henpecked Husband: Josépha controls Cruchot. In particular, the money he can spend seems to be strictly controlled.
- Idle Rich: Josépha is one and Cruchot cannot adapt to this new life.
- Line in the Sand: When they realize they have to chase the kids in a military base, Gerber asks for volunteers and all the gendarmes step forward.
- Magical Security Cam: How could Cruchot have footage of his past career in his museum?
- Mistaken Identity:
- The English servant thinks Cruchot chasing the poacher is some kind of monster and he shoots at him.
- The same happens again when Cruhot chases Josépha.
- Cruchot and Josépha think Gerber and his wife are thieves when they get in their property.
- My Car Hates Me: Cruchot's car breaks down in front of the gendarmerie office just as a young gendarme comes out.
- Naked People Are Funny: The nudists are back and Fougasse is threatened to be undressed again.
- New-Age Retro Hippie: Some of the nudists are hippies. Cruchot and his fellow retirees disguise themselves as hippies in order to avoid being arrested by the new brigade (they were wearing their old uniforms and doing their beloved old job illegally) and venture into a hippie community. Naturally, they start smoking pot for the first time in their life and end up stoned.
- Nuns Are Funny: Sister Clotilde has become Mother Superior and there is a whole sequence in the convent.
- Only Sane Man: When they are forced to disguise themselves as hippies, Cruchot is the only one to not take drugs and snap back the squad to their senses:Cruchot: [to a stoned Fougasse] If you tell me that [I love you!], YOU'LL GET FOUR DAYS!!
- Overly-Nervous Flop Sweat: Cruchot when he has to disarm the bomb.
- Protect This House: Played for Laughs. Cruchot defends his house from people who might be thieves. It turns out they are Gerber and his wife.
- Rags to Riches: Cruchot gets wealthy thanks to his marriage with Josépha.
- Reluctant Retiree: The whole brigade has to retire. Gerber and Cruchot are especially reluctant.
- Rich Boredom: Cruchot doesn't enjoy his forced retirement in his rich wife's property and wants to get back to his beloved job. Badly.
- Shout-Out: Gerber recites a poem by romantic poet Lamartine.
- Stoners Are Funny: The gendarmes smoke pot for the first time of their life in the hippie community, with the expected results.
- Trap Door: Cruchot has one in his house and Gerber and his wife fall into it, when Cruchot mistakenly think they are thieves.
- Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Cruchot and Josépha.
- Upper-Class Equestrian: Now Cruchot is very rich since he married Josépha. His new hobbies include horse-riding. He has got the full equipment (the typical red jacket and riding cap), but not the style.
- You Say Tomato: There is a prolonged gag with Fougasse being unable to pronounce "Saint-Tropez" right. Cruchot later briefly hallucinates a signpost sporting the spelling used by Fougasse.
