
95 minutes
6/29/1956
Benoit, the head guard of Clouville Prison, prefers to be liked than feared. This basic principle transforms the jail-house into a joyful prison, where all the inmates live amicably together. Among them, various colorful characters : a farmer, a poacher, a distiller, a forger, two pickpockets, a safe-cracker, a gangster and... a good-looking guy who pleases Rosette, Benoit's daughter, well. But too much leniency takes its toll : after Vauclin, the gangster, manages to escape and a complaint is filed against "the deplorable disorder reigning in the joyful prison", Benoit is given early retirement. He will know how to take advantage of his new status live a joyful life with his wife, his daughter and André, his son in law, in fact the nice-looking young prisoner who, in the meantime, has been cleared of all charges.

Michel Simon
as Benoit, chief guard

Ded Rysel
as Auguste Tuboeuf, inmate farmer

Paulette Dubost
as Justine Benoit

Lisette Lebon
as Rosette Benoit

Michel Roux
as André Chauvin

Christian Alers
as Sub-prefect
Georges Baconnet
as Ferdinand Bouchonnet
Francis Boyer

Henri Coutet
as Gustave

Robert Dalban
as Vauclin, inmate gangster
Paul Derly
as Breton, safe-cracking inmate

Émile Genevois
as 'Petit Louis', burglar inmate
Marguerite Héliès
as Sub-prefect

Jane Helly

Marcel Rouzé
as Brigadier

Maryse Martin
as Charlotte Tuboeuf

Paul Faivre
as Filasse, poacher inmate

Charles Bouillaud
as Blafard, forger inmate

Alice Tissot
as Madame de St-Leu

Darry Cowl
as Maître Larigot