Oscar

This boulevard comedy is to Louis de Funès and to French comedies of error what Arsenic et vieilles dentelles (1944) is to Cary Grant and to American black comedies. You would expect each to be just another entry in a long list of theater adaptations, but each is perfectly executed by a brilliant ensemble led by one of the most famous actors of all time.

In terms of plot, this is a standard but well written comedy of errors concerning daughters, prospective sons-in-law and suitcases. But the execution, with great pacing and comedic timing, takes it to another level.

It appears that Louis de Funès is internationally best known for Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (1973). In France he has continuously been the most popular actor since the decade this film came out, and even in my native Germany he comes close. Here, as I believe in most of Europe, he may not be the most popular actor, but he is still immensely popular and the most popular French actor. Unfortunately, this may be changing due to German TV's recent propensity to endlessly repeat the weaker sequels of Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez (1964) while being stingy with gems such as the present film.

Louis de Funès plays the standard type that he is known for: the hyperactive, choleric, bad-faith but ultimately likeable, businessman thrown into hilariously chaotic circumstances. Clearly the star of the film, he nevertheless doesn't try to run away with the show. Everyone gets their moments in which they are featured. Claude Gensac is perhaps best known for playing the wives of de Funès' characters, and in this film we can see why. Her role is relatively minor, but with her deadpan delivery she makes the perfect comedic foil (straight man) for de Funès' eccentricity.

The script is stuffed with manipulations, lies, surprises and dumb characters so it's nearly one laugh guaranteed with every lines! To keep your pleasure, i wouldn't tell more, above all it is very complicated to resume!

I had the pleasure to see 3 versions of this story: one with "Sly" Stallone, another with Bernard Tapie (ex-president of the biggest football club in France, ex-Minister, ex-prisoner and now actor) and this one with De Funès.This latter, even being the oldest stays the best and for a long time, I think!

When people say De Funès knows only to make faces, I would recommend watching "Oscar" wide eyes open! Louis excels with his tone, his energy and his reactions. If he plays again and always a Machiavellian bad guy, for me, he shows a lot of humanity and a big heart!

That's the only problem with De Funes: as his movies built my childhood, I confused his real kindness with his characters: in other words, he makes me happy so he inspired me. But as his embodies bad guys, vile boss and hypocritical, I copy that and never have his success. Everybody was taken my words for real!

De Funès should have won an Oscar for this "Oscar"!

For those who master french perfectly, it's the greatest comedy ever, full of typically french humour, wordplay, double messages and misunderstandings. For those who understand french sufficiently, it's still a riot. For the others, it will be the ultimate proof that french belongs amongst the most non-verbal languages on the face of this earth. MUST SEE! By the way: it was never released on video, but this is going to change rapidly as Gaumont - owner of the rights - has announced its release (VHS & DVD) before the end of 1999!!! So stay tuned and keep in touch with your local video shop...

This movie can't be translated, because De Funès is acting perfectly. It's the type of comedy we don't see anymore in films, probably because it takes a very good actor to create almost continuous comic effects. This is achieved because it's a play-like movie, with just one act. It amazed me to realize that I had just watched a long, hilarious play, with few breaks without getting bored for a second.

The many clichés would have ruined it if everything wasn't gravitating around the main character. It is a sort of getting De Funès from 'The Restaurant' and putting him on continuous play. The sweat on his face makes you admire his devotion to his job. He should be thanked with a bow for being almost perfect.

A swarm of characters flying around you, making you laugh with tears.Without doubt a classic.

This is one of my favorites since I've watched it for the first time as a kid. It's a typical french comedy from the 60's era. You can watch the movie several times and it is still funny; it makes you dizzy trying to find out in which of the several black suit cases the money, the jewelry or the lingerie is...and it's a treat to watch Louis de Funes trying to make sense of all the confusion. And his nervous breakdown in the middle of the film wrote movie history. The supporting cast is equally funny, just watch out for the masseur! Don't waste your time with the remake by John Landis with Sylvester Stallone in the leading role, go for the original one.