Le Grand bidule (1967)
Directed by Raoul André

Film Review

Le Grand bidule is a boisterous comedy thriller very much in the mould of earlier hits Les Tontons flingueurs (1963) and Les Barbouzes (1964), but lacking anything resembling a coherent plot it ends up being just a lazily cobbled together compendium of (mostly) unfunny gags and dire comic situations.  Given the pedigree of its cast - which includes comedy giants Francis Blanche and Darry Cowl alongside popular comic double act Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault - it is surprising how lame the film is.  Apart from Blanche's persistent ear-waggling (which happens whenever a pretty thing in a skimpy outfit comes into sight), there isn't much to laugh at and the film manages to run out of steam even before it gets underway.  The one consolation is an amusingly frantic turn from Micheline Dax, who, as Blanche's forgotten 'signficant other' becomes the most significant thing in the film.

Film Synopsis

In a happy country on the Greek-Danish border, an eccentric scientist named Copec has synthesised a revolutionary new fuel that could make conventional fuels redundant.  Realising the importance of his discovery, the French government extends an invitation to this genius to continue his research in France, offering him a laboratory with all the latest facilities.  To protect Copec during his stay in France, he is given two bodyguards, Verdier and Pounet - a sensible precaution as the world's two leading petrol companies have resolved to kidnap the scientist...