L’Homme des Folies-Bergère (1936)

L’Homme des Folies-Bergère is an American film comedy first released in 1936, directed by Marcel Achard and Roy Del Ruth.  The film stars Maurice Chevalier, Natalie Paley, Sim Viva, Fernand Ledoux and Ferdinand Gottschalk.  It has also been released under the title: Folies-Bergère.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Eugène Charlier is a popular musical hall singer whose main act involves him impersonating Baron Cassini, one of France’s most important bankers.  When the real Cassini learns that he is facing financial ruin, he hurries off to London to try to secure a loan.  In his absence, his associates hire Charlier to impersonate him, in a desperate attempt to keep the baron’s present misfortunes from his creditors.  Unfortunately, the identity swap has a number of unintended consequences, one being that Cassini’s wife falls head-over-heels in love with Charlier...

By the mid-1930s, Maurice Chevalier had become one of the most popular of French chansonniers, and one of a handful to have a large international following.  He was therefore a highly attractive proposition to the Hollywood film studios, who were quick to capitalise on his talent and charisma.  Having made Folies Bergère de Paris, an English language musical comedy with Chevalier in the leading role, Twentieth Century Pictures immediately followed this up with a similar film, made specifically for a French audience.  That film, L’Homme des Folies-Bergere, employed the same sets and production team, and most of the cast of the first film.  The main difference was the replacement of the female lead Merle Oberon by Natalie Paley.

The plot is what you would expect for a 1930s farce, a muddled imbroglio revolving around a case of mistaken identity.  It isn’t original, nor is it particularly funny, but Chevalier’s sympathetic performance and uplifting songs keep us amused and entertained.  What sells the film are the extravagant musical numbers at the top and tail of the film, which are clearly inspired by Busby Berkeley’s legendary work on such films as Gold Diggers of 1933.

© James Travers 2009

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