This film originated as a play in Paris. The story focuses on the one-day adventures of Bertrand Barnier played with a genius of French cinema, Louis de Funes. In the same morning he learns that his daughter is pregnant, an employee stole a large amount of money from his company, his maid is about to resign in order to marry a wealthy neighbor and his body builder is interested in marrying his daughter. The seemingly complicated story-line is full of comedy or errors and some of the most hilarious mime scenes of the French cinema.
Acting
Louis de Funès: face gymnastics at Olympic level.
Writing
Door-slamming precision engineering.
Editing
Comedic timing tighter than Barnier's ulcer.
Director
Édouard Molinaro
Louis de Funès
Bertrand Barnier
Claude Rich
Christian Martin, prétendant de la fille Barnier
Agathe Natanson
Colette Barnier, fille de Bertrand et Germaine
Claude Gensac
Mme Germaine Barnier, épouse de Bertrand
Sylvia Saurel
Jacqueline Bouillotte, fille naturelle de Bertrand et Germaine
Paul Préboist
Charles, domestique des Barnier
Mario David
Philippe Dubois, le masseur de M. Barnier
Germaine Delbat
Charlotte, ex-goouvernante des Barnier et mère de Jacqueline
Roger Van Hool
Oscar
Philippe Vallauris
Le chauffeur du M. le baron Honoré de la Butinière
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Louis de Funès was 53 playing frantic middle-aged collapse; he'd dominate French box offices for another decade until his 1983 death.
The 'comédie de boulevard' tradition here directly influenced 1990s Hollywood farces — this is where your favorite mistaken-identity comedy learned to sprint.
FR
