La Folie des grandeurs

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.

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 !

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!

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!

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.