Le retour du grand blond

I wasn't the biggest fan of the original "The Tall Blonde Man With One Black Shoe" (1972). I thought it didn't really go anywhere after setting up its premise - and, more importantly, it didn't provide enough laughs. This inevitable sequel is more slapsticky than its predecessor, resembling more a French (or, rather, French French) Inspector Clouseau. It has more and better gags than the first film, and the change of scenery to Rio is refreshing; even when it returns back to France in the 2nd half, it retains a Brazilian music beat. Mireille Darc wears another jaw-dropping backless dress, only white this time. A perfectly OK time-passer. **1/2 out of 4.

I strongly recommend viewing this sequel before the original. Indeed, Le Retour will probably leave you intrigued to watch "Le Grand Blonde", but I can easily imagine a viewer seeing 'Le Grand Blond' and not bothering to look for a sequel.

"Le Retour" is worth watching even if you've recently seen the American remake, "The Man with One Red Shoe". In fact, give it a chance even if you didn't particularly like the Hanks film -- the gulf is akin to (but not quite as large as) the one between Jean Luc Beson's Le Femme Nikita and the Hollywood remake -- a huge difference in tone, richness and sheer cleverness (This film may be where Quentin Tarantino got his by-now-familiar Mexican standoffs.)

If you worry about seeing films out of order, have no fear! There's charming introduction, where the characters and events of the original 'Grand blond' are dealt out and explained as cards in a magic act (rather clever ...and apropos) It may leave you feeling as if you're missing a lot of background, but you aren't. It's a fine demonstration of the show biz maxim "leave them wanting more"

I first saw this film over 20 years ago at a college-sponsored "Midnight Movies" and enjoyed it so much that I never forgot it and kept an active eye open for an opportunity to see it again (and show it to my friends)

About a year ago, I happened across both movies at a small local video. By now, I'd long since forgotten if I had seen the 'le Grand Blond' or 'Le Retour' (the sequel), so I started with the original.

It was such a total disappointment that I couldn't bring myself to put the sequel in the VCR. Where was the charm I remembered? I wrote the whole thing off as one of those college experiences you can never re- create. Could I really have been that different at 16?

Fortunately, I did end up playing 'Le retour' a few days later. It still held a large measure of the appeal I recall from 1978, and remains firmly among the films I recommend

Instances in here I find a little interesting and some parts are dope and the finale a little confusing in the orchestra but funny and good and the Bond parts are awesome. Good followup with turnabouts also known as twists.

Just like in the first part (Le grand blond avec une chaussure noir) I had a lot of fun. The soundtrack, keeps the same theme, with Romanian folklore performed by Gheorghe Zamfir, sometimes accompanied by samba rhythms, delights you. Besides playing Pierre Richard, I really liked Jean Rochefort's acting. He was portrayed in the perfect role, the smile under his mustache made him look like a real intriguer. The film is very suitable for watching it in the evening, you go at bedtime with a smile on your face, even the next morning you remember the funny scenes with which the film is sprinkled. It is a festival of good mood.

"The Return Of The Tall Blond Man" (1974) directed by Yves Robert is one of the most incredible things that could happen in the world of movies - it is a sequel that works, that is as funny (and sometimes funnier) as the original and is almost as clever and bright as the first movie. The soundtrack is simply unbelievable. Pierre Richard, who once again is expected to be a naive pawn, fights back with his own plan which involves so many hilarious acts of physical comedy that they may fill the movie twice as long as this brilliant Return of one of the best comedies ever made. This is the movie to rewatch and enjoy over and over again.