The One Man Band (1970)

Those were the seventies, alright. (especially for those like me who only remember them vaguely) Saturated primary colors everywhere, telephones shaped like pyramids or like molten wax, easy chairs that were all but easy to sit on, catchy music, silly lyrics. This movie is as stylized as it can be (short of a Greenaway movie) and provides silly, but stylish entertainment.Louis de Funès, at 56, shows that he is not only still the explosive comedian we all love, but that he is able to sing (in his way) and that he can even play a convincing chef-de-ballet, able to hold a candle to his female co-stars when it comes to dancing...And, as another reviewer pointed out, we come to see his softer side as well, in his relationship with his nephew (actually real-life son), "his" girls, "his" babies.The film benefits much from an excellent all-female dance chorus, and the dance numbers are catchy, and top-notch in their 1970 silliness.A very uncommon movie if you expect standard LdF fare. Plot is, of course, nonexistent as any de Funès movie, but here we have abundant song and dance numbers, a Babylonian confusion of at least five languages (shadows of Tati's "Play Time", perhaps?), a dancing (!) Louis de Funès, and, as I said, plenty of 1970 design (atrocities, if you want) in brilliant colors, including the girls' costumes, which magically change between scenes.9/10 all in all. Too many plot holes for a perfect 10, and sadly Olivier de Funès's acting talents, despite his good looks, cannot hold their ground for a lead role against his father. (He wisely chose to pursue a different career after one more movie) Yet, the movie is highly entertaining, stylish and Louis de Funès's acting makes this one his finest.

This is a rather obscure movie of De Funes even in France in spite of it is one of his best.What makes the difference is not the comedy because he is as funny as ever but his compassionate side that we don't see very often. This wasn't a surprise because in interviews, you can see that he was a formidable gentleman even having tremendous success. But, there are only a few movies in which he shows his kindness.Here, it begins with the relation that he shares with his real son in life, Olivier. They are nearly the only men in the movie and they are great together. As a father, De Funes is very attentive and caring. And for sure, the scenes he had with the babies are moving: he is totally sweet! In addition, the movie is an explosion of colors and it is an amazing collection of how the 70's, the flower power had impacted on France. Except maybe in "Dick Tracy", I haven't seen so much orange, yellow, red, black, blue… At last, the movie offers a great trip in romantic place: Montecarlo, Roma… For a movie which is a musical comedy, with dance, songs, music, ballets, I am totally appreciative! Bidibidi-BA!

i saw this movie about a hundred times, under the title Piti Piti Pa as used in Czech or Slovak Republic. This movie is great for people who have a good sense of humour. Louis De Funes stars in this movie with his son Olivier De Funes who is also a great actor. This movie is about a group of girl dancers led by a man who doesn't support the girls having men around or getting into any relationship. But on a tour, one of the girls finds out she has a son and out of desperation and fear of the boss telling her off, she uses him and his nephew to get out of it...

I saw this film in India in the mid-70s an a dubbed English version called "One Man Band". Louis des Funes was already popular thanks to his "Fantomas" movies and this one is a very inventive comedy. Worth watching and to keep when available. I have been looking for a video of this film for years.