Fantomas contro Scotland Yard

Well, I recall this one as sort of a Faydeau farce. The first two ('Fantomas' in 1964 and 'Fantomas Returns' the following year) were authentic French action adventure dramas created in direct competition to the 007 craze then sweeping France. They had James Bondish plots with a great deal of humour by Louis de Fumes. The final, Scotland Yard installment of this 1964-1966 trilogy was light on plot and heavy on comedy.

Still, the cinemascope color photography was stunning in all three films. And where else can one see a Scottish castle's tower suddenly turned into a rocket launch pad?

This third and final Fantômas movie is probably the weakest one, and that's mostly due to the script that contains some dumb illogical scenes. I found this one lesser entertaining than the first two movies. It's still a delight to watch Louis de Funès though. As usual he's the one that makes it worth watching, but from all his movies the Fantômas ones are the least funny. That's only my opinion but after having watched all his movies, and that for several times, I always come to this conclusion. But it's Louis de Funès, the greatest French comedian, so everything is forgiven. He is, was, and always will be the greatest.

This is undoubtedly the least of the series (and is saved from a ** rating by a hair): Fantomas is back to his old tricks, deciding that the time has come to tax the higher echelon of society of a good chunk of their wealth (no doubt the common people would applaud his efforts) - but, by now, the formula had grown pretty tired and the comic relief, regrettably, had practically obscured the romantic couple's purposefulness!

Still, why the setting has been changed to Scotland (of all places) is unclear, especially since Scotland Yard only really comes into play at the very end! What we get, in fact, is a lot of old jokes about ostensibly haunted castles, disappearing corpses and frightened manservants - with Louis De Funes' Commissioner Juve in the thick of it! - which are better suited to a Bob Hope or Abbott & Costello vehicle rather than one concerning the exploits of an iconic criminal mastermind!!; there's even the traditional fox-hunt which Fantomas disrupts by throwing in his own dog (barely disguised in fox furs) as a decoy!

Finally, the master criminal exits by way of a shuttle fired through the castle tower: how he managed to get it inside unobserved (and keep it from being discovered by the owners and their numerous guests, including our intrepid heroes) is anybody's guess! Unfortunately, then, the series ends on a bit of a whimper but it's sheer fun nonetheless and, ultimately, that's what really matters...

This is a really good episode of this franchise: it used to be a classic french comedy for family but i see now that my nephews find it lame. Honestly they lack taste because here the production is top notch to build the mythic Scottish land of ghosts! In addition, the story is really funny and mischievous especially with Fufu being afraid of ghosts that don't exist! At last, Fantomas is the type of villain as good as Darth Vader: evil, scary look, 100% serious and very pompous. So you are really into this strange land and you are gripped by its mystery and fun!!

Fontamas contra scotland yard is the final installment in a delightful trilogy, and it truly delivers on all fronts. This 1967 film stars the incredible Louis de Funès and Jean Marais, and it's a masterclass in comedy, excitement, and suspense.

The chemistry between Louis and Jean is simply perfect; their performances are filled with energy, wit, and humor. The story is cleverly crafted, keeping you engaged and entertained from start to finish. Every scene is well-executed, balancing moments of laughter with genuine tension and intrigue. It's the kind of film that leaves you wanting more, wishing that the adventures of Fontamas would continue.

For fans of classic French cinema, this is an absolute must-watch. I give it a 10/10 for its flawless execution and for being a truly enjoyable experience that showcases the best of Louis de Funès' work.