Les Bidasses en folie (1971)
Directed by Claude Zidi

Comedy / War
aka: The Five Crazy Boys

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Les Bidasses en folie (1971)
After their success of their first film, La Grande java(1969), the musical quintet known as The Charlots bounced back with more of the same - madcap slapstick and hippy antics revolving around a meagre plot.  Whilst some of the jokes are painfully laboured and a little predictable, many are truly inventive and very funny.  What the film lacks in pacing, narrative cohesion and credible characterisation, it makes up with its manic sense of fun and a few hilarious set piece jokes.  The film also marked the directorial debut of Claude Zidi, who would have a prolific career as a director of popular French comedies over the following two decades.
© James Travers 2005
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Claude Zidi film:
Les Fous du stade (1972)

Film Synopsis

Five inseparable buddies - Jean-Guy, Phil, Gérard, Luis and Jean - are united by their shared obsession, which is to form their own rock band, The Tourists.  To realise their dream, they first need to raise the money so that they can buy some musical instruments, and to do this they need to get themselves a job.  That's a lot easier than it sounds, because whatever the enterprising quintet turn their hands to rapidly turns into a complete disaster.

Undeterred by the numerous setbacks that come their way, the boys persevere, and with a little help from a friend, Crème, they finally get the cash they desperately need by winning a talent contest.  A promising start to their musical career is suddenly cut short when they are summoned to an army base to begin their military service.  Thus begins a harrowing and totally unforgettable ordeal - not for them, but for the poor sergeant who has to put them through their paces, Bellec...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Claude Zidi
  • Script: Claude Zidi
  • Cinematographer: Paul Bonis
  • Music: Les Charlots
  • Cast: Jean-Guy Fechner (Jean-Guy), Gérard Filipelli (Phil), Luis Rego (Luis), Gérard Rinaldi (Gérard), Jean Sarrus (Jean), Marion Game (Crème), Jacques Seiler (Sergeant Bellec), Triangle (Le groupe), Jacques Dufilho (Le colonel), Nicole Dubois (La fille du colonel), Pierre Gualdi (Le patron du restaurant), Henri Leproux, Aimable, Gérard Blanc, Michel Charrel, René Guérin, Henri Lambert, Sylvain Pauchard, Alain Pewzner
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 85 min
  • Aka: The Five Crazy Boys ; Crazy Boy's Private War ; Crazy Boys Mercenaries ; Rookies Run Amok

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