Delusions of Grandeur (1971)

DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR (LA FOLIE DES GRANDEURS) is an unjustly forgotten comedy classic by French director G rard Oury (THE MAD ADVENTURES OF RABBI JACOB). Intended as a parody of Victor Hugo's tragic drama RUY BLAS the story takes place in 17th-century Spain as a corrupt money-grubbing tax collector Don Salluste (Louis de Funes) hatches a plan for revenge after being fired and driven into exile by the Queen (Karin Schubert). Eager for her public humiliation Salluste recruits his inept manservant Blaze (Yves Montand) to pose as an aristocratic casanova and seduce the Queen--only to have the couple fall unexpectedly in love in a deliriously farcical turnaround. Fueled by impeccable period-piece production design and the effortless slapstick of its dual leads this timeless satire of eternally human foibles is absurdist comedy at its finest.System Requirements:Running Time: 103 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 873820000129 Manufacturer No: SKDDV474160 Product Description

Fun family film

We're Louis De Funes fans so when I got the chance to view this, I grabbed it. Louis De Funes plays a pompous, money obsessed Spanish "Grandee" (court nobleman). In one early scene, his valet wakens him with the sound of gold ducats pouring into a bowl by his bedside. De Funes' character smiles and signals for him to keep up with the beautiful music. Soon he falls from grace and, in a twist of events, his valet Blaze takes his place at court. De Funes' character plots revenge.

This is a silly comedy in which De Funes' comic genius takes center stage. The kids all loved it and I didn't find the material objectionable. There is a theme of infidelity, however, as the valet is in love with the queen and she agrees to a clandestine meeting. But none of the explicit sexual humor or scenees that are standard fare in today's comedies.

Our favorite De Funes movies still are Gendarme a San Tropez, Gendarme in Retirement and Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. But this is one is still a good evening of comedy. March 23, 2008

Very funny

This is a very funny movie, (all of Louis de Funes' movies are funny) but not my favorite of his. I say this, because I really wish more of his movies were available in English. I really wish they would release the Gendarmerie movies and the movie Jo in English. French or German would be okay too, but God help me if I have to learn Russian just to watch my favorite comedian. January 13, 2008

Comedy!

Like the rest of Louis de Funes' movies, this was another pleasant way to end a long day! No sub-titles but still fun to watch. May 24, 2007

Ok, not as great as Rabbi Jacob & Gendarme series!

Yves Montand should not have been in this movie
as I find him so maladroit - clumsy, and really
not funny. I am sure there were better French
actor choices as supporting roles.

I enjoyed the movie somewhat, I don't think it
was worse $19.95. There are better choices. May 20, 2007

great

Loved it! I've seen this movie many times when I was younger and it still makes me laugh. Does not get old. Great picture and sound quality too.
May 12, 2007

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