Maigret and the Hotel Majestic

Inspector Maigret #20

by Georges Simenon, Caroline Hillier (Translator)

When the corpse of a guest in a Paris luxury hotel is discovered by the breakfast cook in the basement, Maigret searches for the culprit among the hotel's employees and patrons

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, France, Noir, Detective, Audiobook

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903 – 1989) was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.

Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.

He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.

During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).

Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).

In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.

In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow on the morrow

Again, another really enjoyable Maigret, atmospheric, full of intrigue, full of Paris, and just soo French. Focussing on the murder of the wife of a wealthy American staying at the Hotel Majestic, Maigret haunts the cellars of the Hotel, where a myriad of chefs, waiters, cleaners and other hotel staff inhabit a twilight world of glass boxes.
As the investigation continues all clues point to the Hotel's chief coffee maker, Maigret though is not convinced, and delves deeper into everyone's background. In a book that has Maigret standing to accept a punch from a suspect, jumping on a bicycle to question a suspect, ignoring the advice (order) from local judiciary and delivering a real haymaker on a suspect, it also shows his sensitive and caring side when i comes to the denouement.
I really enjoyed this book but it didn't get 5 stars simply because I felt the last few pages almost felt rushed. A shame as it had been so atmospheric up to that point, that I could almost taste the pastis.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Поредната кримка за парижкия полицейски комисар Мегре, в която той се проявява като тънък психолог, получава и раздава юмруци и разгадава двойно убийство, абе - гледа си кефа, пък и му плащат за това!

А всичко започва с една спукана велосипедна гума…

Удоволствието бе изцяло мое, мосю Мегре!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good old Maigret. What would I do without him for sleepless nights?
A wealthy American's wife turns up strangled in the staff lockers of a luxury Paris hotel. Whodunit, and why dunit there? The accused is a hapless breakfast cook, but Maigret isn't buying his guilt.

This isn't the first or the last time that the Hotel Majestic and Bar La Cupole is as much a character in a Simenon novel as any one of the humans involved. We hear and see the bustle behind the scenes that creates the luxurious surroundings provided for the wealthy guests. Maigret uses his stolidity, silence and the humble look that so often infuriates Mme Maigret to great effect, whether it's questioning a raddled, addicted prostitute or dealing with his superiors. I enjoyed the sidelight thrown on the couple's relationship as Maigret finds himself facing a bilingual case, but he's not alone; the examining magistrate can't speak much English, either. I was amused by the translator's rendition of Maigret's confusion when faced with the to him, meaningless sounds of another language: "We you we you well well." Qu'est-ce qu'il dit?

Written in 1942, though publication was delayed due to the war. The book is of course set in peacetime, but perhaps that's why food is so important in the "reveal scene", during which Maigret devours a large steak, a slice of roast beef, three beers and three orders of chips. "Nothing could keep him from enjoying his chips. They were unbelievable, crispy outside, melting within." Dear old Maigret.

Reading this installment was a delight, if also a rather surreal experience; having seen the Bruno Cremer TV episode just recently, I was aware that the screenplay followed the book as closely as Maigret follows his suspects.

[Tim Orfanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Δικαίως, το συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα του Σιμενόν με τον επιθεωρητή Μαιγκρέ θεωρείται ότι είχε τέτοια επιδραστικότητα σε σημείο που να έχει αποτελέσει το έναυσμα για τη δημιουργία φημισμένων ταινιών και τηλεοπτικών σειρών ('Downton Abbey', 'Έγκλημα στο Γκόσφορντ Παρκ', 'Upstairs, Downstairs'), γιατί είναι, ίσως, το πιο κοσμοπολίτικο βιβλίο του.

Σχεδόν σε όλο το μυθιστόρημα τονίζονται οι διαφορές και η πάλη μεταξύ των ανώτερων και κατώτερων κοινωνικών τάξεων, στοιχείο καταλυτικό για την εποχή που γράφτηκε (1942), ενώ οι πληροφορίες προετοιμασίας των γευμάτων των επισκεπτών του πολυτελούς ξενοδοχείου από το προσωπικό της κουζίνας είναι άκρως ενδιαφέρουσες έως και διασκεδαστικές.

Ένα αρνητικό στοιχείο θα έλεγα ότι είναι η κάπως προβλέψιμη διαλεύκανση του μυστηρίου (τουλάχιστον από ένα σημείο και πέρα), αν και εμπεριέχει μια μικρή ανατροπή.

Προτεινόμενο ως καλοκαιρινό ανάγνωσμα και όχι μόνο.

Βαθμολογία: 4,2/5 ή 8,4/10.

Θα γίνει και εκτενέστερη κριτική.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a brief review. A rich American businessman's wife is found strangled in a locker in the basement of the Hotel Majestic. A cook of the hotel finds her and becomes the number one suspect, because it turns out he and the lady have a past together.

As the story plays out we learn who the murdered woman is, who the suspect is, how are they connected and did he in fact murder her. If not, who and why?

I enjoyed this story very much and one of the reasons is that Inspector Maigret is unusually jovial throughout the story. He seems to enjoy himself as he uncovers the facts and finally discovers the murder.

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not necessarily the best Simeon plot, but, as usual, the human quality of Maigret makes all the difference.
We should name him the quiet detective: no gun, no driving license, no any fight, no turbulent happenings. Well, with a little exception, as our hero punches a man in the nose, only to show him his despise...

[Rosenkavalier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il ritorno di Maigret

I sotterranei del Majestic segna il ritorno di Simenon alle vicende del Commissario Maigret dopo otto anni di pausa, durante i quali scrive alcuni dei miei romanzi preferiti (Il viaggiatore del giorno dei morti, Gli intrusi, La vedova Couderc, La verità su Bebé Donge).

Non ho idea delle ragioni di questo ritorno a un personaggio che aveva cominciato a stargli stretto, probabilmente ragioni editoriali, dato il grande successo del ciclo (che cominciava ad interessare molto anche il cinema).

L'azione torna al Majestic, prestigioso hotel parigino che già aveva ospitato parte dell'azione del primo romanzo (Pietr il lettone), con una storia ingarbugliata che verte, come quasi sempre, su un passato che non passa e che, quando torna, travolge tutti i suoi protagonisti.

Nulla di male in sé, ma lo svolgimento non mi ha lasciato quasi niente, se non il consueto piacere di certe atmosfere e di certe finezze di cui Simenon disponeva con prodigalità sospetta, disseminandole anche in lavori minori come questo.

Per me i Maigret sono un agile riempitivo tra una lettura e un'altra, non è saggio pretendere troppo da un riempitivo e, d'altra parte, ogni tanto si pesca qualche perla. Non è stato questo il caso.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enter Police superintendent Maigret of the Paris police force after a the wife of a rich American is found strangled and stuffed in a locker in basement of hotel Majestic. The culprit is easily found and when after a second killing happens it is once again the same suspect who is in the picture and he gets arrested. Maigret does not agree with the actions of his colleague and has his own ideas.

A Maigret story generally does not contain any real action, it is more about Maigret finding out what happened in the lives of the people involved in in the crime. And the solution comes from a rather different direction as expected. This might not be the best Maigret tale but it is an easy and quick read.

A very nice in betweener.

[The Frahorus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maigret è tornato

Ventesima indagine per il nostro commissario di Parigi Maigret, indagine che forse Simenon non pensava assolutamente di scrivere visto che col precedente Maigret lo aveva tranquillamente mandato in pensione. Come spiegato, egli aveva fatto ciò perché voleva smettere di scrivere altri libri sul Nostro commissario, ma i fan non era per nulla d'accordo e così, dopo cinque anni di silenzio, eccolo uscire con questa nuova indagine: ritorna dunque Maigret, più in forma che mai! Non a caso Simenon ambienta questo giallo nello stesso albergo del primo romanzo con Maigret (Pietr il Lettone), come una sorta di omaggio e di ripartenza.

Stavolta viene ritrovata morta una donna facoltosa nei sotterranei di un hotel francese e, il giorno dopo, anche il portiere dello stesso. I sospetti ricadono subito sul barista Prosper Donge, colui che aveva ritrovato il cadavere della donna e per questo viene arrestato. Maigret però non è molto convinto che sia stato il barista a commettere quel duplice omicidio e inizia a scavare sul passato della donna.

Che dire, sono felice che Simenon abbia avuto la voglia di ritornare a scrivere delle inchieste di Maigret, e da 19 scopriremo arriverà a scriverne ben oltre 70! Questa indagine non mi ha colpito più di tanto, ma le atmosfere che solo lui riesce a pennellarci sono a dir poco eccezionali, soprattutto colpisce quel mondo dei servi che si muovono, come tante formiche ordinate, nei sotterranei dell'hotel lussuoso per accontentare e ben servire i ricchi viziati che vi abitano di sopra. Una piccola curiosità: avevamo lasciato Maigret, come avevo già scritto, in pensione, quindi come è possibile che qui è normalmente tornato in servizio? Secondo me, e credo di non sbagliare, il romanzo precedente è ambientato nel futuro, non ci vedo altra spiegazione plausibile. Ipotesi che si rafforza perché ho letto che nei prossimi romanzi Maigret sarà alcune volte in pensione, quindi il nostro autore ha scelto di alternare indagini del presente con altre future, tutto qua.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although The Cellars of the Majestic is the 20th novel in Georges Simenon’s series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Maigret, The Cellars of the Majestic is set before Pietr the Latvian, the first-ever Maigret novel. Sergeant Torrence, killed in that first novel, is alive and well in this novel.

Maigret investigates the death of Mimi Clark, the beautiful French-born wife of a Detroit industrialist. Although quite wealthy since her marriage six years ago to the American Oswald Clark, Mimi turns up strangled in the cellar of the Hotel Majestic, a ritzy hotel off the Champs-Élysées — a place frequented by the hotel’s staff, not the well-to-do guests, and especially not at 6 o’clock in the morning, when she was killed.

Despite some stumbling on the part of a naïve examining magistrate, in the end, Maigret ensures that justice is done. Another most satisfying novel for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Simenon is like eating a bar of dark chocolate...not much thought required but intellectually admirable, everything tidy at the end, and always a pleasure.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georges Simenon was one of the most popular detective writers of the twentieth century. Born in Belguim, died in Switzerland, he wrote in French an his 400 novels sold over 500 million copies. Of his 400 novels (a number equaled by Australia’s Carter Brown), Simenon wrote some 192 under his own name and the rest under various pseudonyms. His most well-known novels are his Inspector Maigret series, short punchy detective novels that focus on concise episodes and do not try to deal with global themes. His Maigret novels began in 1930 through 1972, some 42 years. Often, the French publication was followed quickly (or within a few years) with an English translation. Most modern English readers are familiar with the Penguin Classics translations which came out beginning in 2013 through 2020.

The Cellars of the Majestic is set in Paris, but as we learn later in the book the roots of the crisis can be found in the Riviera. The Hotel Majestic is among the grandest of the Parisian hotels and Prosper Donge is merely the head coffee-maker. That is, until he opens an employee locker and finds a body in locker 67. “It was the body of a woman of about thirty, very blonde – artificially blonde, in fact -wearing a black woollen dress.”

Maigret is called in to investigate and finds that it is Mrs. Clark. Mr. Clark is in Europe on business for an American factory that makes ball bearings. Clark left for Rome the previous morning and it is the maid’s day off. He finds that Mrs. Clark’s handbag in the locker contained an automatic revolver and that her husband spent the night with the governess Ellen Darroman in a hotel in another part of Paris before heading to Rome.

Maigret wonders what a wealthy American woman was doing in the hotel basement’s locker room at six in the morning, strangled. Who could have lured her down there? Some of the most important clues are mused at early on by Maigret, but they mean little to all but the keenest readers until later as he uncovers Mrs. Clark’s past and her connections.

[Constantinos Capetanakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ένα από τα μέτρια βιβλία του Σιμενόν με τον Μαιγκρέ. Δεν κατανοώ τις πολύ καλές κριτικές εδώ, παρόλο που έχω διαβάσει πάνω από 40-50 βιβλία του Σιμενόν και είναι από τους πολύ αγαπημένους μου. Η ευκολία και ευστοχία των παρατηρήσεών του, κοινωνικών και μη, είναι γνωστή, το κάνει όπως εμείς οι υπόλοιποι αναπνέουμε. Εδώ όμως, μιλάμε για κάτι γραμμένο στο πόδι, με πολλά κενά και άλματα λογικής και φασόν τρόπους περιγραφής και σκιαγράφησης χαρακτήρων. Διαβάζεται σε ένα απόγευμα, ή σε μία όχι ιδιαίτερα μεγάλη πτήση.

Μην παρεξηγηθώ, ευχάριστο είναι, Σιμενόν είναι, κάτι που σημαίνει ότι υπερτερεί σχεδόν όλων στο είδος του, απλά υπάρχουν τόσα πολλά απείρως καλύτερα με αυτόν τον καταπληκτικό τύπο Μαιγκρέ, για να μην αναφερθώ στα "σκληρά" βιβλία του Σιμενόν τα περισσότερα εκ των οποίων είναι top level.

Όσο για την υποτιθέμενη "προδρομική συγγένεια", αναφορά στο οπισθόφυλλο αλλά και εδώ νομίζω, με το Gosford Park / Downtown Abby, έχω δεί μόνο το πρώτο και μπορώ να πω ότι είναι όντως υποτιθέμενη. Ο Σιμενόν ήταν μεν πρόδρομος άπειρων κοινωνικών παρατηρήσεων, και με ελάχιστες πινελιές έφτιαχνε ένα ολόκληρο κοινωνικό πλαίσιο, αλλά δεν χρειάζονται υπερβολές προκειμενου να διαβαστεί ένα από τα αδιάφορα βιβλία του.

[Manolis V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πρώτη φορά διάβαζα Σιμενόν. Το βρήκα πολύ ενδιαφέρον. Δομημένη ιστορία, στιβαροί χαρακτήρες, σε βάζει στο κλίμα της εποχής. Απολαυστικό αστυνομικό με ήρωα τον Επιθεωρητή Μαιγκρέ. Ιδανικό για χαλάρωση του μυαλού από άλλα διαβάσματα.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery of Jules Maigret of the Paris Police Judiciaire. In this particular outing, two murders are committed in the basement of the Hotel Majestic: one a guest and the other an employee. Naturally, one of the magistrates orders the arrest of the wrong man; and it is Maigret's quest to find out how the hotel "works," to the extent that at one point he mentions that someone watching his own movements would not understand what the Detective Superintendent was doing. But it is this re-processing of the world of the crime and its extensions from the hotel to the dwellings of the suspects that eventually leads to the solution.

Georges Simenon's The Hotel Majestic was published in 1942 while France was occupied by the Nazis -- and, curiously, one would never know it as the novel is clearly set in a Paris wihout reference to the Swastika.

[Dató · Rating 1 out of 5]

Գրադարանում դետեկտիվ նոր գործի փնտրտուքներով էի, աշխատակիցներն առաջարկեցին Ժորժ Սիմենոնի ««Մաժեստիկ» հյուրանոցի նկուղներում»-ը։ Ասացին՝ շատ լավն է, կհավանես։ Բայց չհավանեցի, ավելին՝ մինչև վերջ չկարողացա գնալ, շատ ձանձրալի էր։

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above average Maigret mystery. Simenon clearly knew the behind-the-scene world of the hotel business!

[Amaranta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maigret dimostra di trovarsi perfettamente a proprio agio anche nel gran mondo. E di riuscire a cogliere le sfumature di quello che è il substrato che lo accompagna.
Piacevole lettura.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A crime fiction novel where Chief Inspector Maigret is required to solve the murder of Mimi Clark. Mimi was married to a wealthy American, Oswald Clark. She was strangled and her body left in a basement locker at the Majestic Hotel in Paris. Oswald and Mimi Clark were guests at the hotel. The plot is quite complicated with a number of linked characters.

This book is the 21st in the Maigret series. First published in France in 1942.

[Mosco]

"riletto" in audiolibro. Camminando non si può ascoltare roba troppo impegnativa :-)

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Georges Simenon Maigret novel I've read. Nor will it be the last. In so few words, Simenon creates a rich, multi-textured world with a colorful assortment of characters which is dazzling. There is a murder in a Parisian hotel of a woman who had been staying there with her American husband (and child, governess, and maid), who apparently is estranged from her, enraptured as he is with the governess and apparently set on going off to Rome with her.

But everything isn't as it seems. It's far from an open and shut case. Immerse yourself and be dazzled as Maigret goes to work to find the real culprit.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

My edition - Maigret and the Hotel Majestic

Another brilliant example of the genius of Simenon. Maigret doesn't solve his cases like Holmes or Poirot with intellect, he immerses himself in the characters and locations and soaks up the knowledge of what makes them tick. Simenon also writes with the most wonderful economy. There is no padding in his stories, no wasted words. His books are nearly always quite short, around 130 pages but he can say more in those pages than many other writers in much longer books.

Brilliant stuff! Highly recommended.

[Tempo de Ler · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Maigret e o Cadáver no Armário' proporciona-nos umas boas horas de entretenimento.

Divertido, rápido e interessante, o enredo é conduzido com proficiência e simplicidade. Tendo em conta a frugalidade de Simenon com as palavras, é notável como o escritor consegue criar um carismático lote de personagens e uma atmosfera tão vívida e atraente para o leitor.

O final é satisfatório e algo inesperado (…o que poderá dever-se à sua ligeira orientação para o rebuscado…). Este é o meu primeiro contacto com Maigret e posso dizer que fiquei satisfeita com o resultado.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Maigret books are just perfect. Perfect little slices of Parisian life, and Maigret's mind. Nothing is sugar-coated, but nothing is too challenging, either. And really, Paris in the late '40s/50's - what more is there to say?

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book opens with a narrative of a man going to work. His bicycle has a flat tire on the way and he clocks in 10 minutes late. Later in the day this man finds a dead body in the one of the unused lockers in the employee locker room. The opening chapter ends with "and this is what he told the police". I could assume this man was not the murderer. Or was he ...

Of course, Maigret is immediately on the scene. The most enjoyable thing about this series is seeing Maigret's intuition at work. Although he may seemingly ignore some facts, as soon as he hears others, he dispatches investigators to collect additional evidence. In a hurry! Speed when possible, but thoroughness above all.

Each installment of this series feels fresh. Yes, I know Maigret, of course, and also some of his investigators. I never feel as if I've read a similar murder or motive or situation. I think this is one of the better installments and I'll happily color in a 4th star, maybe suggest these stars might glow a little too.

[PuPilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Majestic pincéi, milyen rejtelmes cím, milyen Maigret-mentes cím! De persze Maigret történet ez is, méghozzá igen szövevényes, régi és új bűntényeket ötvöző,és felszínre hozó sztori.
Kedvenc felügyelőnk főleg konyakot és sört iszik a nyomozás közben, biciklizik is - bár közel nem annyit, mint a Dél Keresztjében -, sőt, el is bóbiskol (nem, nem a biciklin).

A Majestic Hotel pincehelyiségei olyanok, akár egy akvárium, üvegfalakkal, sok "kalickával" de mégis labirintus-szerű a sok lépcsővel, szekrényekkel, ételfelvonókkal. Meghatározott, szigorú rendben történik minden, érkeznek a cédulák, mennek a rendelések, mindenki óramű pontossággal teszi a dolgát. A gépezet monotonitását mégis meg tudja törni valami... Prosper Donge késve érkezik egy defektes bicikligumi miatt... Mi lesz ennek a jelentősége? Az egyik alagsori szekrényben a szálló egyik előkelő vendége van, holtan. Aztán képbe kerül néhány ledér táncosnő is, Gigi, Mimi, Charlotte... És bár Maigret látszólag nem sok mindent csinál, azért ahogy az lenni szokott, szép lassan felsejlik a ködből, szivarfüstből - és a múltból - a megoldás.

Tetszett. :)

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maigret investigates the murder of a woman whose body is found stuffed into a locker in the Hotel Majestic. She is a guest there, wife of a wealthy American, but Maigret’s investigation identifies unexpected links with the hotel and its staff.

The plot here was rather convoluted and far fetched which left me slightly disappointed at the end. However, the towering presence of Maigret and the brilliantly described setting make it worth reading. As always, there is one dramatic scene that could have been plucked straight from a film and remains in the memory - this one involves Maigret eating a substantial meal in a nightclub!

3.5* overall.

[chhaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kellemesen nyugodt és lassú nyomozás a kettős gyilkos után. Bár néha úgy tűnik, mintha Maigret nem is csinálna semmit, csak fel-alá sétálva figyelné a körülötte zajló eseményeket… A fogaskerekek mégis járnak, és az apró-cseprő elejtett információkból végül összeáll az igazság. Kicsit hiányoltam, hogy mi is belássunk nyomozónk gondolatmenetébe és ne csak a végeredményt kapjuk szinte tálcán… De így is tetszett, hozta a megszokott szintet.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a bit more complicated than previous books. This mainly takes place in the cellars of The Majestic Hotel , where the refreshments are served to the hotel residents. An american woman is found dead in one of the cupboards, and it seems that she was known by the chief coffee maker, who found the body. Naturally, Maigret does not find this believable, and does a thorough investigation into this man's past, despite the local judiciary, raking up some secrets from the past.

[Bruna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo Maigret mi è piaciuto più di altri, sebbene avessi indovinato fin troppo presto l'identità dell'assassino, anche perché la rosa dei sospetti era veramente ristretta. Mi ha colpito favorevolmente la descrizione del funzionamento del grande albergo, dell'attività da alveare che ferve dietro la facciata di lusso e ricercatezza, soprattutto del modo in cui si teneva conto di ogni passaggio quando non esistevano ancora i computer. Ne sono stata affascinata credo quanto lo stesso Maigret. I personaggi tendono un po' ad assomigliarsi tutti nei vari romanzi, nel senso che incontriamo sempre la stessa tipologia di persone - gli onesti lavoratori, le popolane generose, i miserabili avventurieri, i militari in pensione eccetera - condita in salse sempre diverse, ma questo direi che è inevitabile. Divertenti le incomprensioni linguistiche dovute alla mancanza di conoscenza dell'inglese del commissario e della mancanza di conoscenza del francese dei ricchi americani, col ripetersi un po' farsesco di scene in cui qualcuno chiede continuamente "Che dice?".