Comment réussir quand on est con et pleurnichard[a] is a French comedy film directed by Michel Audiard, released in 1974.[2] It is notable as the first film with the actor Jean-Claude Dreyfus. Audiard appears in the film as a nurse.[3]
Plot
In Paris, Antoine lives modestly with his sour old mother and sells cases of fake vermouth to owners of little bars, his ploy being to win their sympathy, particularly the wives. Telling tales of his sad life, he recites fake Baudelaire poetry and ends with the burial of his beloved mother. He wins the sympathy of Marie-Josée, a hotel employee who is the mistress of Gérard, the manager. He wins the sympathy of Jane, a stripper who lives with Foisnard, a pianist. After sending Jane and Gérard off touring in a double act, he wins the sympathy of Gérard's wife Cécile and moves into her country house, spending his days as manager of Gérard's hotel, where he enjoys the favours of Marie-Josée. As everybody comes to realise how he has manipulated them, the game ends and he is back with his mother, planning a campaign to unload more vermouth.
