Delusions of Grandeur (1975)

For the fine mix of humor, costumes and performances. and for the seductive manner to give to musketeer era a special charm. a film about power and sins and remembering the flavor of popular tales. the key of succes - the admirable meet between de Funes and Montand. love and trahison and revenge plans and a smart end . an easy comedy, off course. but a remarkable one. for its force of dialogues and gags and the sweet chain of adventures who, not being a moral lesson , represents a subtle pledge for the beauty of French classic comedy.

I like a lot of the movies made by Louis DE Funès. The Gendarmes movies and quite a lot of his 60's en 70's repertoire. But I was very disappointed with this silly farce. Not in the least after reading all those positive reviews here. A comedy of errors. But it is an error to call it a comedy. A dull affair. And very hard to keep your eyes open while watching. Luckily it was part of a 25 film set with De Funès films. And all of them are better than this one. With Yves Montand who could not be more out of place than in the Spanish court. What does not help (although you cannot blame the makers for this) is that in 1971 it was considered funny to be sent to an Arab country and have locals with swords deal with you. Hmm.

Writing yet another screenplay for her father, Gerard Oury, Daniele Thompson went to Victor Hugo's Ruy Blas, used it for a door-stop and fashioned a glorious romp out of it (incidentally her own third film as writer-director, Fauteuils d'orchestre, opens in Paris next month and I for one can hardly wait). There's one sad note surrounding the production; the great comedian Bourvil had signed to play opposite Louis de Funes but shortly after completing a straight role (as Andre Bourvil) in Le Cercle Rouge he died and was replaced by his co-star in Cercle, Yves Montand, switching from drama to slapstick comedy without missing a beat. This movie has all the elements of that Dreadful word we mustn't mention in the groves of Academe or among that small, rapidly dwindling band of Godard buffs, Entertainment. Only see it if you want a good time and a laugh a minute.

"Delusion of grandeur" is a brilliant parody, full of amazing inventions, inspirated by "Ruy Blas", the part written by Victor Hugo. Louis de Funes, Alice Sapritch and Yves Montand create an everending movement, a splendid dynamic of humour : they are dign of the best artists of burlesque.Moreover, the music composed by Michel Polnareff is one of the most expressive illustration composed for a sophisticated and spectacular bubble of happyness. In fact, Gerard Oury, the laughing emperor of french comedies and his daughter, Daniele Thompson, had created a splendid miracle : they had permitted, that spanish frenzy and classical elegance had been associated, to offer a fascinating panorama of slapstick country. Yes, "Grandeur" stays the best word to describe this strange alchimy, which catchs the ludicrous vanities of human being, to transform them into jewels of non-sense. "Il est l'or, Monsignor"...