Operation Lady Marlene is a 1975 French war comedy film directed by Robert Lamoureux (of The 7th Company fame) and starring Michel Serrault, Bernard Ménez, Pierre Tornade, Lamoureux himself and Sybil Danning.
In Paris during the German occupation that followed the French defeat of 1940, Clovis (Ménez) is a young and hot-headed patriotic Frenchman who wants to join the Resistance and doesn't hesitate insulting or punching Les Collaborateurs in public when he sees them. His path crosses that of Paulo (Serrault), a Black Market crook and robber who steals things in empty homes during air raid alerts and small animals in farms.
Both Clovis and Paulo end up working for a general (Lamoureux) who's stayed in France to lead operations in the Resistance. With the help of Commandant Moulinot (Tornade), they set out to steal German plans pertaining to a secret landing operation to invade the United Kingdom called "Lady Marlene".
This film provides examples of the following tropes:
- Black Market: Paulo steals objects in houses during air raid alerts and small farm animals in farms, and resells it all on the black market.
- Bridal Carry: After Georgette is knocked unconscious, Clovis carries her in his arms.
- Les Collaborateurs: Whenever Clovis sees someone praising Marshal Philippe Pétain or showing respect to the German occupiers, he either insults the guy or starts punching him.
- During the War: The film is set during World War II.
- Getaway Driver: Commandant Moulinot waits with his wood gas generator-powered van outside of the Kommandantur while Clovis and Paulo steal the plans. It takes a while and he has to move away several times due to incoming German troops and then the firefighters when an apartment close to the Kommandantur catches fire.
- Operation: [Blank]: "Operation Lady Marlene", a (fictional) German plan to invade the UK (which, in the film, chronologically takes place after Operation Seelöwe
was scrapped). - Power Cable Attack: During the heist to steal the German operation's plans, Clovis uses a cut off cable to electrify the stair railing, which electrocutes a number of incoming German soldiers.
- La Résistance: Clovis, Paulo, Moulinot and the General work in the French resistance against the German occupation.
- Same Language Dub: Georgette was dubbed by French actress Marion Game, as Sybil Danning didn't have a strong enough command of the French language.
- Shout-Out: The operation's name is a reference to anti-Nazi German actress and singer Marlene Dietrich.