La Folie des grandeurs (1971)
Directed by Gérard Oury

Film Review

After the staggering success of Le Corniaud (1964) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966), director Gérard Oury was eager to make a third film featuring the surprisingly popular pairing of Bourvil and Louis de Funès.  Starting with a Victor Hugo play entitled Ruy Blas, he and his co-screenwriter Danièle Thompson developed a comic-historical film set in sixteenth century Spain, initially entitled Les Sombres héros.   Before the film went into production it came close to being abandoned owing to the tragic death of its lead actor, Bourvil.  After some soul-searching Oury decided to persevere with the film, now re-written and entitled La Folie des grandeurs , with popular singer-actor Yves Montand cast to replace Bourvil.

Louis de Funès and Yves Montand seem a somewhat unlikely partnership (particularly as Montand was not known as a comedian) yet they work perfectly well together in this film, often complementing each other perfectly.  Their on screen rapport is occasionally reminiscent of other great comic double acts, such as Laurel and Hardy (note the scene where Montand is bathing de Funès, a scene which looks more like a ritual torture).   In addition, Montand's physique and agility enable him to convincingly take on role of the traditional romantic hero, giving his co-star space to indulge in his familiar (and side-splittingly funny) comic routines.

With a budget of 20 million francs, this was to be Oury's most expensive film at that time, and it certainly shows.  With lavish sets, ornate period costumes, exotic locations and innumerable action stunts, Oury set new standards for the French comic film which few of his contemporaries could match.  Visually, it is probably one of the director's most colourful and beautifully made films, thanks largely to Henri Decae's masterful photography and also the calibre of the set designs.  Much of the film was shot in the Almeria region of Spain, the location of countless spaghetti westerns  - a fact which evidently inspired the film's racy theme music.  (Originally, Montand refused to work in Spain, owing to his objection to Franco's politics.)

Whilst the plot is somewhat less coherent than Oury's other great comedies, La Folie des grandeurs is every bit as entertaining, with the added bonus of some energetic and well-choreographed action scenes.  The film's strongest selling point is, inevitably, Louis de Funès' outrageous comic turn.   The iconic comedian is at the height of his powers and, well-served by his script, he gives one of his finest film performances.  For de Funès, the film was practically a rehearsal for his later film, L'Avare (1979), an adaptation of Molière's play.

Whilst La Folie des grandeurs fell far short of topping the success of La Grande vadrouille, it was still a notable success in France, attracting six million spectators.  It also fared well abroad, particularly in the USSR and China.  Today it is widely regarded as a classic of French film comedy.

Film Synopsis

Don Salluste is the all-power minister and tax collector of the King of Spain.  He delights in tyrannising the peasants with his band of loyal Black Knights.  But he is scorned by the Queen who, appalled by his wickedness, has him expelled from the court.  An outcast and penniless, Salluste plots his terrible revenge.  His valet, Blaze, will impersonate Salluste's noble cousin and seduce the Queen.  When he exposes the Queen's infidelity, the King will be so grateful that Salluste will be instantly reunited with his wealth and privileged office of state.  At least, that is what is supposed to happen...