L’Homme orchestre (1970) - film review

Evan Evans, the director of a ballet troupe, is rehearsing his next show in Monaco, in preparation for a worldwide tour.  When one member of his troupe leaves to get married, Evans imposes a regime of strict discipline on his remaining dancers.  The latter get their revenge by presenting Evans’ nephew Philippe, the only male member of the group, with a baby and a note claiming he is the father…

Iconic comic actor Louis de Funès stars in this spirited but flawed attempt to make a French musical comedy in the American style.  The great comedian appears alongside his son, Olivier, and a host of beautiful dancers, but their combined talents are wasted thanks to some uninspired direction and a script that is unimaginably weak.  The film has a few rare pleasing moments (the Tati-esque car sequence at the start of the film and Louis de Funès’ musical number near the end), but the unimaginative plot, with its repetitive, dull dance routines, effectively diminishes the film’s charm.

© James Travers 2004

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