Young American Hank Dussard (Dean Jones) inherits a picturesque but badly neglected olive farm in southern France and is determined to make it operational again despite cautionary advice from the local priest Father Sylvain (Maurice Chevalier) and pretty villager Maria (Yvette Mimieux).
Desperate for labourers, Hank turns to the zaniest crew of olive pickers ever recruited – four mischievous female chimpanzees (technically apes not monkeys, but hey).
As former members of an Air Force space team, these intelligent chimps quickly pick up on their new responsibilities but prove to have a turbulent effect on the local townspeople.
It’s a Disney film so there’s lots of slapstick and a cliched bad-guy in the shape of estate agent Emile (Clément Harari).
This was Maurice Chevalier’s final film performance.
Father Sylvain
Maurice Chevalier
Henry ‘Hank’ Dussard
Dean Jones
Maria Riserau
Yvette Mimieux
Marcel Cartucci
Bernard Woringer
Emile Paraulis
Clément Harari
Yolande Angelli
Yvonne Constant
Mayor Gaston Lou
Marcel Hillaire
Monsieur Piastillio
Jules Munshin
Grocer
Alan Carney
Fontanino
Maurice Marsac
Sidoni Riserau
Darleen Carr
Director
Andrew V. McLaglen