French Cops Learning English
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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French Cops Learning English, originally copyrighted in the United States as French Interpreter Policeman, is a 1908 French short silent comedy film directed by Georges Méliès. It was released by Méliès's Star Film Company and is numbered 1288–1293 in its catalogues.
Plot
In a room labelled "English School under the management of Miss Blackford," four French policemen and their chief are practicing English words. Miss Blackford, writing "What a fair fish" on her blackboard, tells one of the policemen to translate it into French; his attempt is "Va te faire fiche." The process repeats, with "Very well thank you" translated as "Manivelle St. Cloud." Miss Blackford, holding up a placard reading "Conversation," lets in four young English ladies; the policemen and ladies court each other fervently.
The lesson is interrupted by the entrance of a higher-ranking officer, a Police Inspector, who is appalled at the sight of the police force in chaotic flirtation. However, when the "Conversation" placard is shown to him by way of explanation, he is immediately appeased, and nods cheerfully. The entire classroom bursts into a raucous can-can dance as the Inspector holds up a placard reading "Entente Cordiale."
