Vive Henri IV... vive l'amour! (1961)
Directed by Claude Autant-Lara

Film Review

In April 1961, shortly after filming his big budget version of Alexandre Dumas's Le Comte de Monte Cristo, leading French filmmaker Claude Autant-Lara released a lavish Franco-Italian historical comedy titled Vive Henri IV... vive l'amour (also known as Si Henri IV m'était conté...).  This Eastmancolor film belongs to Autant-Lara's weak period between Les Régates de San Francisco (1960) and Le Franciscain de Bourges (1968).  Rumor has it that the director was compelled to take any work that came his way so that he could make Tu ne tueras point (1963), the only film of the time dealing with conscientious objection.

In its ample two hour runtime, the film concerns itself mainly with the amorous designs of the lecherous King Henri IV, principally his desire for the buxom Mademoiselle de Montmorency, who is young enough to be his granddaughter.  To cut to the chase, Vive Henri IV... vive l'amour is far from being Autant-Lara's best work and, lacking the dark humour and ferocious anti-establishment swipes of his previous great films, it is a pretty anodyne beast. What we get is a bog standard period comedy, which is a little too faithful to historical fact for its own good, the pretext for a series of bawdy and rather chatty tableaux.  Even if Henri Jeanson's dialogue does throw up an amusing retort now and again, the script quality is not what it might be for a director of Autant-Lara's pedigree.  On the plus side, René Cloerec's score adds to the mood of the piece beautifully and the production values are (predictably) excellent.

The film is at least partly redeemed by its remarkable international cast, although few of the talented actors get to appear in more than a few scenes.  Francis Claude puts in a lively performance as the king with the Béarn accent, with the stunning Danièle Gaubert well-chosen to portray the object of his lustful desire.  The colourful ensemble includes such familiar names as Jean Sorel, Bernard Blier, Pierre Brasseur, Danielle Darrieux and Nicole Courcel, all entering into the spirit of things with their customary elan.  Thanks to the miracle of dubbing, the Greek actress Melina Mercouri is permitted to play Queen Marie de Medicis, whilst the ubiquitous Italian actor Vittorio de Sica shows up as the Spanish ambassador (as only he can).  Francis Blanche, Julien Carette, Lise Delamare, Robert Dalban and Jean Tissier complete a cast of exceptional calibre.  Vive Henri IV... vive l'amour may not be classic Autant-Lara but it is a fairly enjoyable romp and drew a respectable audience of 0.96 million in France on its first release.

Film Synopsis

In his 56th year, King Henri IV, Count of Navarre, is having problems with his wife, Marie de Medicis.  Marie has many reasons to be jealous of the king's two mistresses, Jacqueline de Bueil and Henriette d'Entrague, particularly as the latter has borne him children.  One day, Henri makes a big decision.  He will put a definitive end to his amorous liaisons and instead live a more quiet life.  Alas, the king's resolutions never last long.  At a dance organised by the queen, Henri cannot help noticing the ravishing Charlotte de Montmorency.  Although Charlotte is officially engaged to a man named Bassompierre, the king is determined to take her as his mistress and contrives a plan.  He will invite Bassompierre to marry another lady, which he surely cannot refuse to do if he is to remain faithful to the king.  He will then marry Charlotte to the Prince de Condé, a young man who prefers horses to women.  Henri is sure that Condé will have no objection to him making overtures to his wife.  Even a king can make mistakes...