Delusions of Grandeur

Original title: La folie des grandeurs

1971
PG
1h 25m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

Louis de Funès and Yves Montand in Delusions of Grandeur (1971)

Play trailer3:18

1 Video

99+ Photos

Parody Adventure Comedy History

In 17th-century Spain, the Minister of Finance tries to dishonor the queen with an overly complex plan.In 17th-century Spain, the Minister of Finance tries to dishonor the queen with an overly complex plan.In 17th-century Spain, the Minister of Finance tries to dishonor the queen with an overly complex plan.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The role of Blaze was written with Bourvil in mind, which would have marked Gérard Oury's fourth collaboration with the actor, and his third time pairing him alongside Louis de Funès, after The Sucker (1965) and Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966). After Bourvil passed away from cancer in September 1970, Oury and co-writer Danièle Thompson were at a party talking to actress Simone Signoret, who suggested her husband Yves Montand take on the role, which was completely rewritten. Oury compared the two takes on the character to valets made famous in plays by Molière, with Bourvil's being a "Sganarelle" and Montand's a "Scapin".

Connections
Featured in Montand à la rencontre de Pagnol (1986)

Soundtracks
Générique
Written and Performed by Michel Polnareff

User reviews26

Review

Featured review

9/10

Funniest film I've seen!

This movie is something my mother and her brothers have talked about since I can remember myself. It was showed on TV here in Iceland some 30 years ago and after few minutes when they realized how funny it was, they threw a videotape in to own it. Couple of years later the Adventures of Jacob the Rabbin was also showed and of course they made sure to own that one too. Since then they've been on the lookout for French comedies. I finally saw this movie 2 weeks ago.

I don't speak French (besides "oui", "mademoiselle" and "monsieur") but just looking at Louis de Funès and Yves Montand talking and acting is hilarious! The plot is more than in many comedies today, it's timeless in a way, you only need to have eyes or ears to enjoy this film! The second time I saw this film I was laughing before the scenes had happened.

Truly a masterpiece. I'm beginning to adore French movies, I think.