User reviews

I've seen many comedies with Luis De Funes and have been his fan as long as I can remember. His participation in a movie promises good time, plenty of physical comedy, funny mess of grandiose proportions and up roaring laughs. He was "The man with the forty faces per minute", the little volcano or small but powerful dynamo machine whose energy could supply electricity to a town of the average size , whose hilarious hyperactivity, perfect for a comic ever-changing face, and the ego of gigantic size in such miniature frame always produced a highly comic effect. All his trademarks are in full display in the updated version of the tragedy by Victor Hugo Ruy Blas, La folie des grandeurs (1971) or Delusions of Grandeur. Ruy Blas has been adapted to the screen several times including 1948 film with Jean Mairet and 2002 version with Gerard Depardieu. Oury's film formally follows the Hugo's story but with De Funes in the cast, you would not expect it to be a serious political drama, and you will be absolutely right. The film takes place in 17th century Spain and centers around a practical joke played on the queen of Spain by Don Salluste de Bazan, the rich, greedy and backstabbing tax collector for revenge. Don Salluste disguises his servant Blaze (Ives Montand) as a nobleman and takes him to the king's court. Attractive, funny, and suave, Blaze saves the king from the bomb, becomes popular, is appointed a tax collector instead of Salluste, and conquers the queen's heart. Don Salluste returns to take his revenge by notifying the king with the anonymous letter about queen's infidelity. The final act that brings together Salluste, Blaze, Salluste's nephew Don Cesar de Bazan whom his loving uncle sold as a slave to the Sahara barbarians, the furious jealous king, the queen who is in love with Blaze and her Cerberus like dueña, old virgin Donna Juana (very funny Alice Sapritch) who is also passionately in love with Blaze is non-stopping laugh that left me in stitches. La folie des grandeurs, directed by Gérard Oury, adapted by Oury's daughter Danièle Thomson, and starring Louis de Funès (Don Salluste) and Yves Montand (Blaze) is based on the serious drama but it is so deliciously silly, dizzyingly fast, absurd, and hilarious that you would laugh even when you know how silly it is. Ives Montand replaced Bourvil who was initially meant to play Blaze, and who had a great chemistry with De Funes on the screen nicely balancing latter's super activity and aggressiveness with his gentle naiveté and kindness. But as Bourvil died in 1970, Yves Montand ultimately got the role and proved to be quite good in a comedy even though the viewers were used to see him playing the cool and cynic characters in the thrillers and dramas.

As always with De Funes, he practically owns the movie. While watching " La folie des grandeurs" for the first time last night I could not help laughing hard and loud even knowing how silly and over the top the movie was but laughing even more because of it. This morning, I began laughing again just recalling De Funes' face and him losing his voice and making some impossible quacking and squeaking noises when caught by surprise in the most hilarious scene of the film. "La folie des grandeurs hold the record as the most successful French film of 1971, the fact that does not surprise me at all.

Another one of those 4 euro VHS specials from the dusty bin, but one I was looking forward to seeing. I thought it was pleasantly passable and will watch it again. Highlights: Defunes is funny as always, squeaking and quacking like a broken duck call. To quote from one of the earlier films "Il m'epate!" he's astonishing in being able to deliver so much physical comedy. Bouncing around like a beach ball, puffed up like a banty rooster, barely able to keep his giant ego intact while being chased by peasants with pitchforks or trying to escape a bedroom peccadillo. And I love his mugging - especially the greedy glitter in his squinty eyes.

Yves Montand is surprisingly funny. The final scene where he and Defunes are stuck on the windlass as human donkeys in some nameless North African desert is hilarious. But all in all I think Bourvil did this kind of role better. Montand is suave and dumb, while Bourvil is dumb yet impossibly suave, and has a touch of human kindness. I do like Montand as Papet in the Florette films, and even more so with a cigarette hanging from his lips in Wages of Fear. I like him here, too, but he does suave and sinister best.

All in all, entertaining. But I'll watch the Corniaud several times before I watch this again.

You don't need to be a Francophone to enjoy this one...but it helps. The film, which has stood the test of time, remains one of the best satirical comedies about power and the idiots who crave it. If you pay close attention to the dialogue (or subtitles), you'll discover dozens of witty lines that are still pertinent today. The film is set in 16th century Spain, but it could have been set in any contemporary society. Do you want to make fun of government? Watch this!

Delusions of Grandeur, starring the beloved Louis de Funès, earns a 6/10. As a significant fan of de Funès, I found this film to be entertaining yet somewhat lacking compared to his other works. It's a film that showcases de Funès' comedic talent but falls short in keeping the story engaging throughout.

The film's humor, true to de Funès' style, is the highlight. His unique comedic timing and expressive mannerisms provide several laugh-out-loud moments. For fans of his work, these elements alone make the movie worth watching. De Funès brings his characteristic energy and humor to his role, demonstrating why he remains a cherished figure in comedy.

However, the plot of Delusions of Grandeur tends to drag. Despite a promising start, the storyline becomes somewhat repetitive and predictable as the film progresses. This lack of narrative variety and depth makes the movie less captivating than it could have been, especially considering de Funès' potential to carry a more dynamic story.

In conclusion, while Delusions of Grandeur has its moments of classic Louis de Funès humor and charm, the overall pacing and story development leave room for improvement. It's an enjoyable watch for de Funès' fans but doesn't quite measure up to some of his more acclaimed works, hence the moderate rating.

French comedy has a fine tradition of frantic physical performance, and Louis de Funes represents the epitome of this art. Backed up by a strong supporting cast, this film contains some delightfully absurd and inventive physical humour, with timing that shames many contemporary comedy actors. The gags are natural and spontaneous, the musketeer-era sets and costumes are fine, and the final resolution is both satisfying and unpredictable.

This is such an effortless film to watch, it would be easy to dismiss it as lightweight. This film is pure gold however, and the skill of Funes and Montand is undeniable. If the more recent 'Les Visiteurs' appealed to you, this film will be well worth seeking out.

In La folie des grandeurs (1971) Louis de Funes boasts his extraordinary comical skills , pairing him alongside the great Ives Montand . This big budgeted production of court intrigue is set in 17th-century Spain, Don Salluste (Louis de Funès) , an egoistic , bigot aristocrat falls from grace . Wanting vengeance , the disgraced Minister of Finance of the Spanish kingdom attempts to compromize the Queen (Karin Schubert) with his servant Blaze (Ives Montand) , introduced as his cousin , while the king (Alberto De Mendoza) is snooping here and there to discover the alleged adultery . But poor Blaze gets stuck with a rather domineering governess (Alice Saprtich) , who is madly in love with him and very keen on getting her way .

A Louis de Funes recital giving his ordinary likeable acting as a miser Ministry of Finance and Ives Montand as his womanizer valet , both of them impersonating two roguish and ambitious people . This "sympathetic villain" Sallustre is the persona that defined the most iconic French comedian of all-time: Louis de Funès. ¨La folie des grandeurs (1971) "' is certainly one of the most successful of all the movies adapted from Victor Hugo novel . Including lavish and nice production design as well as colorful cinematography and evocative musical score . Being based loosely on Victor Hugo's novel , Ruy Blas . In fact , it is a very free rendition about the legendary personage immortalized by Victor Hugo . Funny and entertaining Louis de Funes vehicle in which he shows his classic hilarious vein . Being a good occasion for discover the art of Louis de Funes . Wonderfully played by the great Louis de Funes playing a petty tyrant in his own home and minister of the King of Spain , who attempts to dishonor the queen with an overly twisted scheme . Funes had a long and interesesting career , from his first roles as "Devil and 10 Commandments" , "Captain Fracassa" , "La Vendetta" until his biggest hits as "Don't look we are being shot" along with Bourvil , ¨Fantomas trilogy¨performed along with Jean Marais , Mylene Demengeot : "Fantomas" , "Fantomas Strikes Again", "Fantomas vs Scotland Yard" , to "The Cadillac Man" , "The Restaurant" , "Wing and the thigh" and his last film feature : "The mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob" . Although Funes really excelled in Ludovico Cruchot series as "Le Gendarme of Saint Tropez" , "Gendarme in Balade", "Le Gendarme in N. Y." , "Le Gendarme and creatures of outer space" and "Le Gendarme and Gendarmettes". While De Funès' last three movies, at a time , he had to moderate his frenetic style of comedy following his cardiac episode . This wild comedy takes off at a dashing pace set by the De Funes , Montand great duo . Co-stars Ives Montand who stands out as his attractive and astute servant , Montand displays comedian attitude too , while being usually a dramatic actor as proved in ¨Wages of fear¨ , ¨Z¨, ¨Grand Prix¨ , ¨Jean De Florette¨, ¨Manon of the Spring¨, ¨State of siege¨ , ¨Napoleon¨ , ¨ On a clear day¨ , ¨You can see forever¨ , among others . Support cast is nice with plenty of ordinary secondaries from different countries , such as : Spanish people as Alberto de Mendoza , Don Jaime de Mora y Aragón , Eduardo Fajardo , Antonio Pica , La Polaca , Fernando Hilbeck , Antonio Iranzo, Jesus Tordesillas, Angel Alvarez , Ricardo palacios, Fernando Bilbao , Frank Braña , Xan Das Bolas ; Italian actors : Venantino Venantini , Gabriele Tinti , Leopoldo Trieste and French players : Paul Preboist , Roger Carel and special mention for Alice Sapritch as the repulsive duenna .

Adding a colorful cinematography in brilliant Eastmancolor shot on several Spanish locations in Palace of Charles V, The Alhambra, Granada, Andalucía, Court of the Lions, The Alhambra, Granada, Palacio de Generalife, La Alhambra , Isla Minima del Guadalquivir, La Puebla del Río, Sevilla, Andalucía, La Calahorra, Granada, Andalucía, Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Pedraza, Segovia, Castilla y León La Pedriza, Manzanares el Real, Madrid, El Escorial ,Hospital de Tavera, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha . As well as evocative score and opulent settings by expert production designers . The motion picture was lavish and professionally written/directed by Gérard Oury who acted in that play at the Comédie-Française , being a classic stage actor : Racine's "Brittanicus" . Oury was a star and supporting actor in European and American film adventures, he turned to comedy as a director and helmed a string of successful comedies . His country's top actors as Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Jean-Paul Belmondo, etc worked with him . He collaborated with daughter Danièle Thompson on several of his screenplays , including "Don't Look Now" (1969) , Levi and Goliath (1987) , La Grande Vadrouille (1966)) that retains the record for attendance by a French movie, and was only dethroned as the top ticket-seller ever in France by Titanic (1997). In turn, Danièle collaborated with her son and Gérard's grandson, Christopher Thompson, on several screenplays, including La bûche (1999) and "Jet Lag" (2002). Rating : 6.5/10 . Essential and indispensable watching for Louis de Funes and Ives Montand fans . Well worth seeing.

This movie is something my mother and her brothers have talked about since I can remember myself. It was showed on TV here in Iceland some 30 years ago and after few minutes when they realized how funny it was, they threw a videotape in to own it. Couple of years later the Adventures of Jacob the Rabbin was also showed and of course they made sure to own that one too. Since then they've been on the lookout for French comedies. I finally saw this movie 2 weeks ago.

I don't speak French (besides "oui", "mademoiselle" and "monsieur") but just looking at Louis de Funès and Yves Montand talking and acting is hilarious! The plot is more than in many comedies today, it's timeless in a way, you only need to have eyes or ears to enjoy this film! The second time I saw this film I was laughing before the scenes had happened.

Truly a masterpiece. I'm beginning to adore French movies, I think.

A great performance from France's Charlie Chaplin - Luis de Funes. This movie is about a money-loving ruthless tax collector in the renaissance Spain, who loses his job and is determined to get it back. One of de Funes' best acts, and a very good job by Yves Montand as his servant. If you don't die laughing while watching this film you may safely assume that you don't have a sense of humor.

This movie is a delightful parody of Victor Hugo's masterpiece 'Ruy Blas'. Alice Sapritch (the duegna to the Queen) is, as usual, magnificent. Louis de Funes and Yves Montand make a hilarious and exhilarating pair. Highly recommended.

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.

As all other comments have pointed out, this is a real delight, thanks to top acting and directing talent, great dialogs, clever parody of Morricone and spaghetti westerns... I know the film by heart, as it has been on french TV at least once a year since it was made: 30 years ago! I'd really be interested in knowing what kind of entertainment value people from the USA, people who are neither living near France nor in a french speaking environment, find in this movie. Because it seems so very specifically french to me...

And I noticed that more or less every comment here comes from someone who's got either a language or some other European strings attached helping them getting the movie's humor.

Louis de Funès is a cult figure in France, he is an artist apart from everyone else. I love him, and I would be so curious to know what effect he, as well as that french comedy style, have on someone who doesn't have my cultural background...

Anyway, to anyone who has the opportunity to see this film, it's quite a curiosity, unique in its own way!

"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"...

Yves Montand at his best, even for those, who deny intellectual appearances with him. De Funes tries to overtake him with his abilities, and the spectator is the winner. Unfortunately this movie had been squeezed in the mills of cold war time, but don't exaggerate. Turn your color-button up and enjoy.

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.

This movie happens during the XVII century in Spain. As I have never been much attracted by Spanish culture, I wasn't very motivated to see this movie.

But as a big fan of Mr. De Funes, it's also hard to take it away. De Funes is simply the best comic actor and I don't know another one to be at the same level (Mr. Bean maybe?): he is talented in depicting little, miserly, hypocritical boss and we will never sufficiently underline his mastery in rhythm and music. He has thus a lot of class.

Here, his partner is another french cinema "monster", Yves Montand. With his consciousness and political commitment, he is unfortunately too big to be a lackey but is imposing and brave as an aristocrat.

So, we got here a strange mix, when the bad guy (De Funes) is cool while the good guy (Montand) is irritating! But, music mellows everything and here, Polnareff's love theme is a very touching one. With a lot of colors coming from live locations and wardrobe, the movie is enjoyable but not a recommendation for De Funes fans!

I have just seen this hilarious comedy for the first time in its French original version... it is definitely a great comedy. The costumes, the characters and the puns are so excellent, I would advise any francophile to watch that movie as soon as possible.

Quite a good movie done by Gerard Oury (who would direct De Funès later in "Rabbi Jacob"). The greedy and wicked Don Salluste (De Funes) gets dishonored by the Queen and King of Spain. By some inadvertance, Sallustre's valet Blaze, in love with the Queen is used by his master by passing as a noble man, only to get revenge and get his position back. However, it backfires somewhat, as the witty Blaze (as Don Cesar) also makes enemies from taxpayers, though at the beginning of the movie, he acts as a Robin Hood. And accidentally woos the Queen's matron instead.

A must see, especially when at a time poor people are exploited by the rich, and the rich makes everything not to pay a single penny of taxes to the Royals.

Louis de Funes and Yves Montand make a good duo here !

Let's not forget that this movie is a wonderful retelling of Victor Hugo's social drama "Ruy Blas", featuring social themes he used in other fictions - Montand uses the beginning of Ruy Blas' long speech, "Bon appétit, messieurs" at one time. But this retelling is madxe for laughs and succeeds without forgetting the social comments and, if crude at times, it actually works. A classic of its times - but try Hugo's writings, you IMDB folks, you might be surprised by his power and before-his-time awareness and c

Lots goes around here it's a classic Hugo tale warm and full of intrigue and lavish costumes and lavish costumes and locations.

In 1970, director Gérard Oury was the king of French popular comedy, having conquered the highest box-office summits with "The Sucker" and "The Great Stroll", both starring Louis de Funès and Bourvil. "Third time's a charm" Oury probably figured when he was planning to feature the memorable duo in a comical adaptation of Victor Hugo's "Ruy Blas", a tale of ambitions, convoluted plots, schemes and masquerades set in the flamboyant world-ruling Spain of the 17th century. Oury had the reputation, the capability and more than anything, the dough.

But it was fate that took a stand against him, for the great Bourvil failed the whole world of cinema and died in the most untimely fashion in 1970 at the age of 52, leaving French cinema orphan of his likability. But De Funès was at the peak of his career and he needed a partner, not a sidekick, a real co-star. Gérard Oury was at loss until Simone Signoret suggested her husband, Yves Montand. Montand was a singer and dancer but his romantic aura earned him many memorable leading man roles; it was time for him to display the natural comedic talent he owed to his music-hall days. And Montand pulls a superb performance as De Funès valet.

There's a natural complementarity different from the one with Bourvil, but with comedic potential as well. Bourvil was the 'lovable' average guy and De Funès the bossy one with a hair-trigger temper, but Montand is everything De Funès is not, whether in looks or personality. De Funès can manipulate him but the novelty is that he can envy him secretly. The two opposite attract as they say, Saluste is the King Minsitry's of Finance, Louis de Funès at his cruelest, meanest and scroogiest, he's like a live-action version of French famous comic-book caliph Iznogoud or Disney's Prince John, spotting a ridiculous hat with two green bobbles. When he comes to take the taxes, and a poor official laments that the people are poor Saluste turns his head and the bobbles hit the guy's face "That's normal, poor are meant to be very poor and rich very rich".

Now, this was the plain-villainous role De Funès' needed, but never vileness at the expenses of sympathy, even something as ridicule as his bobbles makes him look more grotesque than villainous. And Montand is the handsome, resourceful and clever valet who only plays the fool to fool his master, but he's not to be overshadowed by De Funès, he can be romantic, hell he can even be funny. The scene where he starts dancing the flamenco much to his master's displeasure is simply Montand establishing his presence, and the scene where Saluste orders him to walk on his knees because he doesn't want to look smaller is De Funès feeling literally towered.

"Delusions of Grandeurs" starts with the perfect casting choice and then all it takes is a sweeping and swashbuckling story that would have made Cecil B. De Mille jealous. This is a summit of French comedy as one of the first high-budgeted movies made for the sake of laughs, the opening sets the tone, it's fast-paced, exhilarating and served by a score made by Michel Polnareff and that supposedly spoofs Western Spaghetti's themes, spoof or no spoof, in its own right, it's one of the most memorable scores of French cinema. And thanks to the budget, to the setting in the magnificent palaces of Alhambra or in the desert of Almeria (to represent the Barbarians region), Oury gives a tremendous believability to his story, enhancing the two comical and romantic effects, but ultimately even the romances are vehicles to the comedy.

The plot involves the ambition of Saluste to take vengeance from the Queen (a German young girl) who just deprived him from his rank and fortune, by using Blaze as a foil, but Blaze falls in love with the beautiful girl and just when you think the material will turn into sappiness, there's a wonderful quiproquo involving the duenna, a severe no-nonsense killjoy played by Alice Sapritch, Dona Juana. One of the best twists of the film is to see the heart of this old hag melt and falling in love with Blaze, and culminating in an expected strip-tease moment, one of the funniest scenes of French cinema. This is De Funès' film, no doubt about it, but you also remember it from the performances of Montand and Sapritch, who even steal from him the final laugh.

Of course, the film has aged a little at times, but this also features Louis de Funès at the top of his game as an irredeemable greedy man, representative on the corners one's ambition might drive him, it's the culmination of a certain vision of French cinema with comedy being the most important genre. The film didn't reach the six-million breach which was disappointing by Oury's standards but it was a huge popular success, full of immortal quotes, one of them being the 'Gold' scene playing on the rhyming effect of "Or" with common French words and some slapstick moments borrowed from Looney Tunes or spoof movies, like the bath scene, Saluste checking how a one-eyed man can see and his gasping at the film's climax, not to mention a few camel laughing and an Arab proud of having the most mundane desert jail.

And when criticized for making a popular cinema (yes, this was the New Wave days said) Oury came back with the best answer, refusing the use of this word "From Euripides to Anouilh ou Pinter, who ever dreamed to play in front of empty chairs? Making message movies is fashion, my message is to make people laugh." When people laugh, they're not mean. How true is that, and how great it is to laugh at mean people, especially when they're played by De Funès.

"Delusion of grandeur" is a brilliant parody, full of amazing inventions, inspired by "Ruy Blas", the play written by Victor Hugo.

Louis de Funes, Alice Sapritch and Yves Montand create a perpetual movement, an exalting dynamics of derision : they are worthy of the best artists of burlesque.Moreover, the music composed by Michel Polnareff is one of the most expressive illustration devised for a sophisticated and spectacular bubble of happiness. 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" says the best word to describe this strange alchemy, which catches the ludicrous vanities of human being, to transform them into jewels of non-sense.