Broadcast this Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 9:10 p.m. on France 2, Megalomania stages Louis de Funès and Yves Montand in a joyous historical delirium. But the latter almost refused to play in the film, for a very specific reason.
It’s gold… For the spectator, what pleasure, constantly renewed, to rediscover one or the other classic of French comedy. There is of course the series of tannedwith the cult Les Bronzés go skiing (1979). If the Splendid troupe had a complicated start, the sequel was crowned with success. In 2021, its members were awarded an honorary Cesar. The opportunity for Thierry Lhermitte to release his best suit, which had been a hit on social networks. Among the favorites of the French public, there is also Dany Boon, with his card of Welcome to the Ch’tis (2008), taken by surprise by the success. Or the Tuches, whose third adventure shares an astonishing link with… the saga Hunger Games !
Louis de Funès, master of laughter, Rabbi Jacob To Megalomania
But before all these stars of laughter, there is an actor who ensured a good dose of fun every time: Louis de Funès. It’s very simple, almost all of the actor’s films have become great classics, acclaimed by the general public each time they are broadcast. As The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, whose shots of the infamous chewing-gum vat sequence caused a lot of trouble. For The Gendarme of Saint Tropez, the cast was very close to being very different from the one that everyone knows. And what about The big mop, in which Louis de Funès really conducts the orchestra of the Paris Opera? All these classics have remained in the collective memory. This is also the case of Megalomaniabroadcast this Sunday, April 9, 2023 on France 2.
The continuation under this advertisement
Yves Montand refuses to shoot Megalomania for political reasons
Directed in 1971 by the famous Gérard Oury, this eccentric and incredible adaptation of Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo follows Don Sallust (Louis de Funès), corrupt minister of the King of Spain in the 17th century. Fallen in disgrace, he decides to compromise the queen by using his valet, Blaze (Yves Montand). But the latter becomes the favorite of the sovereign. In addition to its irresistible male tandem, the film also relies on the energy of Alice Sapritch, doubled by a dancer from Crazy Horse Paris for her famous stripping scene. A great classic therefore, in which Yves Montand almost did not participate. The film is indeed shot in Spain, in Andalusia in particular. In 1970, the entire country was ruled by Franco. And Montand, who has never hidden his sympathies at the other end of the political spectrum, does not intend to set foot on the other side of the Pyrenees. Especially since nine ETA activists have been sentenced to death. Finally, Franco pardons the separatists and the French actor agrees to cross the border. He was gold…
The continuation under this advertisement
