French Comedy Greats: Louis de Funès (1952)

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     Louis de Funès was one of France’s most enduring comic personalities. He worked with many of the French greats including Jean Gabin, Fernandel, Bourvil, Coluche, Annie Girardot and Yves Montand. Louis de Funès’ typical comic personality was that of a frustrated diminutive middle aged man, prone to outbursts of anger, always out of place, hyperactive and always had the last laugh. Louis de Funès’ most popular feature films are those which were produced from the mid to late 60s, particularly Le gendarme de Saint-Tropez which led to the Gendarmes' series of films, also Le Corniaud and La Grande Vadrouille, which both starred Bourvil.

     Louis de Funès continued to have great success in theatre, film and was a regarded pianist until his death in 1983, aged 68.

     Louis de Funès’ on-screen persona (he was actually shy in real life) was the inspiration for the design and body language of ‘Skinner’ in Ratatouille .

     This Madman collection includes two of Louis de Funès’ early performances in supporting roles, Mr. Leguignon Lampiste and Peek-A-Boo, and two mid 60’s films in lead roles, The Bouncing Beauty and The Big Vacation, which are both presented in a dubbed English soundtrack. As a collection, the selection of films provides an introduction to the films of Louis de Funès’ but is not necessarily his greatest works.

     In France, Universal Studio Canal has released many of Louis de Funès’ films as single DVD titles, but there is also a 8 DVD box set titled ‘Louis de Funès - l'essentiel’ which includes:
La Grande Vadrouille, Le Corniaud, L'aile ou la cuisse, La Zizanie, La Soupe aux choux, L'Avare, Le Tatoué and Le Petit baigneur.

    This DVD collection has no English subtitle option, but includes the original French soundtracks. It is priced at 40 Euros ($60 AU).

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

The Big Vacation (Les grandes vacances) (1967)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	None
Rating
Year Of Production	1967
Running Time	84:55
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jean Girault
Studio Distributor	Canal+ Madman Entertainment	Starring	Louis de Funès Ferdy Mayne Martine Kelly François Leccia Olivier De Funès Claude Gensac Maurice Risch Jacques Dynam Dominique Davray Mario David Jean St. Clair Christiane Muller Denise Provence
Case	?
RPI	Box	Music	Raymond Lefevre

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Full Frame	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

Les Grandes vacances is one of Louis de Funès most popular films. The 1967 film directed by Jean Girault who had directed many films starring Funès including the successful 'Gendarme' films, was made at the height of Funès’ popularity. In 1966 he had broken box office records with La Grande Vadrouille which co-starred Bourvil and was one of France’s highest grossing films of all time (behind Titanic (1997)) until Dany Boon’s Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis in 2008.

In Les Grandes vacances Funès plays irate Monsieur Charles Bosquier, a director of a private school, whose eldest son Philippe (François Leccia), has just failed his end of year exams. Displeased with his teenage son’s performance, Charles decides to send Philippe to England for one month so he can improve his English and re-sit the exam.

Philippe is to stay with MacFarrell (Ferdy Mayne), who is a wealthy whiskey distiller in England, while MacFarrell’s teenage daughter Shirley (Martine Kelly) in exchange will stay with the Bosquier family.

However, as expected, Bosquier’s plans fall apart as Philippe intends to go sailing with his friends and tries to send fellow student Stephane (Maurice Risch) in his place. Meanwhile Shirley begins to distract Bosquier’s younger son Gerald (played by Funès' real life son Olivier De Funès) and the two decide to meet with Philippe.

Eventually the truth of the teenagers’ whereabouts is revealed sending Bosquier and MacFarrell to Scotland to search for Philippe and Shirley, who have since fallen for one another, and Gerald.

Video

Presented in 2:35:1 16x9 enhanced widescreen, the transfer is satisfactory considering the age of the film. The overall colour scheme remains natural and the picture is sharp and defined.

Shadow detail is equally adequate; mild film grain appears throughout the feature film. Telecine Wobble is visible on a few occasions but is not distracting.

There are no subtitles available on this DVD title.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The single audio track is a 2.0 English mono soundtrack. It remains crisp and clear throughout the feature.

This DVD is released for an English speaking market, so I understand Madman’s decision for offering the (French accented) English dubbed soundtrack, although including the original French soundtrack would have be a welcomed addition to this disc.

The film includes an infectious playful score by Raymond Lefevre.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu

The Main Menu is composed of a still of a promotional image of the film. There are 12 scene selections.

This title is available in France as a ‘Studio Canal’ release. The transfer of the film is identical.

The R2 DVD includes the original French language mono soundtrack. Please note there are no English subtitles available on this DVD.

There is a 13 minute ‘Making-Of’ composed of recent interviews of cast and crew. Also included is the trailer, bibliographies and a quiz.

Classic French Comedy, presented with an excellent transfer and a dubbed English soundtrack.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

The Bouncing Beauty (Le petit baigneur) (1968)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio
Rating
Year Of Production	1968
Running Time	89:26
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Robert Dhéry
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Louis de Funès Andréa Parisy Franco Fabrizi Michèle Alexandre Nicole Vervil Robert Rollis Georges Adet Philippe Dumat Gérard Calvi Roger Caccia Hélène Dieudonné Pierre Tornade Pierre Dac
Case	?
RPI	Box	Music	Gérard Calvi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

A homage to the films of Buster Keaton Le Petit baigneur, directed and co-starring Robert Dhéry, stars Louis de Funès as Louis-Philippe Fourchaume who fires inventor André Castagnier (Dhéry) when a boat he worked on is damaged on its maiden voyage.

Before this event Castagnier had won the first prize at the San Remo regatta and was on the verge of commercial success.

But when Italian Marcello Cacciaperotti (Franco Fabrizi) tries to employ Castagnier, Fourchaume realises his mistake and attempts win over Castagnier. The plot is very loose and is simply a series of outrageous physical comedy sketches.

Video

Presented in 2:35:1 16x9 enhanced widescreen, the transfer is satisfactory considering the age of the film. The overall colour scheme remains natural and the picture is sharp and defined.

Shadow detail is equally adequate; mild film grain appears throughout the feature film. Telecine Wobble is visible on a few occasions but is not distracting.

There are no subtitles available on this DVD title.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The single audio soundtrack is a 2.0 English mono soundtrack. It remains crisp and clear throughout the feature.

This DVD is released for an English speaking market, so I understand Madman’s decision for offering only the French accented English dubbed soundtrack, but including the original French soundtrack would have been a welcome addition to this disc.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu Audio

Main Menu

The Main Menu is composed of a still of a promotional image of the film. There are 12 scene selections.

In R4 please note this DVD is only available as part of the French Comedy Greats: Louis de Funès box-set.

This title is available in France as a ‘Studio Canal’ release. The transfer of the film is identical. The original French soundtrack is available on that release, but with no subtitle options.

Classic French comedy, presented with an excellent transfer and a dubbed English mono soundtrack.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Mr. Leguignon Lampiste (Monsieur Leguignon, lampiste) (1952)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio
Rating
Year Of Production	1952
Running Time	101:44
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Maurice Labro
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Yves Deniaud Jane Marken Bernard La Jarrige Christiane Barry Jacques Emmanuel Pierre Magnier Albert Duvaleix Marcel Josz Robert Lussac Claude Boissol Jean Brunel Georges Tourreil Jean Carmet
Case	?
RPI	Box	Music	None Given

    Mr Leguignon is played by Yves Deniaud, who is the lamp maker (lampiste) of the title.

     Leguignon is currently in trouble with the law. He and his family have been evicted from their home but they refuse to leave. As a result, Leguignon is forced to leave and to settle in a forgotten part of town in a dilapidated home.

     But not all is lost, as the town’s children stumble upon a treasure. Leguignon, despite his initial attempt to claim the loot as his own, quickly sees that the treasure could in fact benefit the whole town, as he would attempt to build a new housing estate from money gained from selling the treasure. But will the townspeople unite with Leguignon?

    The film features Louis de Funès briefly, as a townsperson.

Video

    The restored transfer of Mr. Leguignon Lampiste had an original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The DVD transfer is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame.

    The black and white film overall looks quite good for its age. Camera movement remains smooth and the image remains clear and crisp, with good shadow detail.

    Telecine wobble is mildly evident, as well as film grain and film artefacts throughout the course of the feature film.

    The English subtitles are a decent translation of the French dialogue and appear in a yellow font.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The DVD features a French mono soundtrack, which is very good quality. Dialogue remains clear and audible.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu

     A still image from the marketing campaign with 12 scene selection options and subtitle options.

In R4 please note this DVD is only available as part of the French Comedy Greats: Louis de Funès box-set.

    The Studio Canal release in France appears to be identical, except it does not include English subtitles.

    A heart-warming French classic film about the struggles of the working class. The DVD is nicely presented with a remastered transfer and the original French soundtrack.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Peek-a-boo (Ah! Les belles bacchantes) (1954)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio
Rating
Year Of Production	1954
Running Time	92:19
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jean Loubignac
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Robert Dhéry Colette Brosset Raymond Bussières Roger Caccia Jacqueline Maillan Francis Blanche Jacques Beauvais Jacques Jouanneau Jacques Legras Roger Saget Simone Claris Robert Destain Guy Piérauld
Case	?
RPI	Box	Music	Gérard Calvi

    Based on Robert Dhéry’s successful musical, Peek-A-Boo (Ah! Les belles bacchantes) also stars Dhéry as himself and is directed by Jean Loubignac.

    The film opens with Commissioner Michel Leboeuf (Louis de Funès) alerted by the poster of the musical – which he finds offensive.

    Leboeuf goes to investigate what exactly the musical entails. However at the rehearsal he is mistaken for a comedian and offered a part in the musical.

    The set-up allows for a collection of comic sketches and music numbers by Louis de Funès, Colette Brosset, Michel Serrault and many others.

Video

    Presented in 1:66:1 16x9 enhanced widescreen, the transfer is satisfactory considering the age of the film. However the print is somewhat damaged.

    The colour scheme is natural but mild chroma noise is visible throughout the feature film.

    The transfer remains at most times sharp and defined.

    Shadow detail is equally adequate.

     Mild film grain and assorted artefacts appear throughout the feature film.

    Subtitles for the French dialogue appear in a yellow font.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There is a French mono track available on this DVD.

    This soundtrack is clear and does not exhibit any problems.

    The original musical hall score is by Gérard Calvi.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu

    A single still image with 12 scene selections and subtitle options.

In R4 please note this DVD is only available as part of the French Comedy Greats: Louis de Funès box-set

     The Studio Canal (R2-FR) release appears to be identical, except it does not include a English subtitle option.

    A French Musical Hall spoof, which stars Louis de Funès, Colette Brosset, Michel Serrault and many others. The transfer is satisfactory, considering the age of the film.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall