Les Bons vivants
1965 Comedy
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Credits
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Summary
It is with a heavy heart that Monsieur Charles has to close his Parisian brothel in 1946,
following new legislation outlawing such establishments. As a parting gift, he offers
the brothel’s red lantern to one of his star employees, Lucette. Several years later,
and after some spectacular social climbing, Lucette has become a wealthy baroness.
One night, her opulent house is broken into and her greatest treasure, the red lantern,
is stolen. The thief is caught and a farcical trial ensues. It is many years
before the red lantern rediscovers the use for which it was intended. Léon
Haudepin is a successful businessman, a bachelor and model of respectability. One
evening, he shelters a prostitute, Eloise, who, in return, takes over his housekeeping,
with the help of her entourage of equally attractive female friends. Léon’s
male work colleagues approve of this new arrangement and use any pretext they can to visit
Leon’s house…
Review
With its cheeky melange of satire and farce, Les Bons vivants (a.k.a. Un grand
seigneur) makes an entertaining French comedy which is all the more enjoyable for
the presence of so many talented comedians. As was quite commonplace in the 1960s,
the film has an episodic structure, with the three parts titled “La fermeture”,
“Le procès” and “Les bons vivants”. The first two parts make
up the first half of the film, which has some pleasing moments but looks pretty bland
when set aside the much funnier final segment. The main reason why the third part
is so much better is that it stars Louis de Funès, a great comic actor who, after
several decades playing bit parts, finally discovered stardom in the mid-1960s.
De Funès obviously relishes every second he has in this film and watching him perform
is never a dull experience. That this comic giant appears alongside such stars
as the enchanting Mireille Darc and Bernadette Lafont can only heighten the spectactor’s
pleasure at least five-fold. The film’s first half is by no means starved of talent,
and characters such as Bernard Blier, Andréa Parisy and Darry Cowl give great value.
What the film lacks in cohesion and sophistication, it more that makes up for in wit,
charm and unbridled eccentricity.
© James Travers 2003 Write a review for this film... |
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