Crooks in Clover

Les Tontons flingueurs (English: Crooks in Clover, also known as Monsieur Gangster, literally Gun-toting Uncles) is a 1963 French-Italian-German comedy crime movie, made in French, directed by Georges Lautner. It is an adaptation of the Albert Simonin book Grisbi or not grisbi. The movie was not popular with critics in its first release in 1963, but was loved by the public. Its reputation has grown over the years to cult status and it is now a French television classic, with snatches of dialogue and names of characters (like the whore Lulu la Nantaise) becoming part of popular culture. Its DVD version, released in 2002, sold 250,000 copies. One of the most famous scenes is set in a kitchen where the gangsters try to make conversation while drinking a vile and strong liquor. Screenwriter Michel Audiard considered it useless and it might never have survived, but the director included the scene in homage to the film noir Key Largo.