MartinHafer This film appears to be set in late 17th century Spain, but it is NOT just another costume drama. That's because it has a bizarre and often cartoony style about it--and as I knew nothing about the film, I was taken by surprise. In some ways, the cartoony ways reminded me of the dumb but very funny "The Villain".The film is about the inept and evil Don Salluste (Louis de Funès) and his valet, Blaze (Yves Montand). It's obvious that Salluste is an idiot and Blaze is the brains of the operation--much like Jeeves & Wooster. However, after Salluste robs the poor and behaves like a boorish jerk for the first half hour, he is caught in an indiscretion and all his many titles and riches are stripped from him. In a very funny twist of fate, these are all then rewarded to Blaze--who now becomes the trusted adviser to the King! Ultimately, this creates problems, as although Salluste was thoroughly hated by the other nobles, at least he knew the rules--mistreat and over-tax the poor. A group, almost like the 'anti-Three Musketeers' decide that they should stop trying to kill the King and concentrate on Blaze, as now, Blaze is encouraging the King to do insane things like curtail the abuse of the poor (such as the rule that when a nobleman kills one of their servants they now have to at least report it...how unfair!).This film achieved something difficult--very difficult. While a film can be extremely silly and cartoony, making it ALSO funny is a tough order. It could have just been a stupid film--but was in fact quite clever. If you like this sort of silliness, other than "The VIllain", you might also want to try watching "Start The Revolution Without Me"--an even sillier costume drama that is set in France during the time of the impending French Revolution.Finally a few observations. It really is Montand doing the singing, as he had a marvelous voice and was actually a very popular pop singer as well as an actor. Also, while some might take offense at or think the many midgets in the king's court was dumb, this actually WAS accurate. During this time, courts often were littered with such small people, as they were a popular fad at the time! Truly a case of the truth being stranger than fiction. And, finally, why did this movie have a spaghetti western style score? Weird.

tomquick 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.

writers_reign 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.

guy gatebois "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"...