The goat, The toy, The Distracted… We can no longer count Pierre Richard’s successes in the cinema. But before becoming one of the most popular French actors, the actor had his very first role in this cult comedy, which also allowed a huge French actor to break through.
Before becoming one of the most brilliant actors of his generation, Peter Richard began his career in 1968 in the film Alexander the Blessed. This comedy by Yves Robert, to see or rewatch on the platform Paramount+, follows the story of Alexandre Gartempe, a good-natured and nonchalant man, who works from morning to evening on his farm in Beauce. Exhausted by his work, this sweet dreamer is not happy. Following the death of his wife, who ruled him out, the farmer tries to resume a rhythm of life much more in accordance with his nature. He decides to give himself a rest that he considers deserved and from now on never leaves his bed. His behavior quickly sows disorder in his small village, and some of the inhabitants try to force him to return to work, in vain…
Pierre Richard: his first steps in the cinema in this cult comedy from the 1960s
Only two years after performing together in the play At sea, the filmmaker Yves Robert wrote the role of Colibert for his friend Pierre Richard, the first of his long career, in his comedy Alexander the Blessed. Impressed by the actor’s performance, the director then suggested “to stop acting in other people’s cinemas“.”You have no place in French cinema. You are not an actor, you are a character. You are not a young first like Alain Delon, you are not round like Bernard Blier, you are none of that. It’s your asset. You have a special place, which is not yet written. It’s up to you to write it and make your place. Everything is permitted to you. Invent yourself. Do your cinema“. Strong words which had a certain influence on his career since Pierre Richard quickly became a star of French cinema in the early 1970s with films like The Distracted, The Tall Blond with a black shoe or Mustard up my nose with Jane Birkin.
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Alexander the Blessed : the film that revealed Philippe Noiret
Facing Pierre Richard, we find Philippe Noiretwhose career was launched after the release of Yves Robert’s comedywhich attracted more than 2 million spectators in 1968. The following year, the actor filmed for the illustrious Alfred Hitchcock before confirming his success in the Franco-Italian comedy The Old Maid with Annie Girardot. In his 55-year career, Philippe Noiret has appeared in around a hundred feature films and won numerous awards, including two Césars for best actor.
Article written in collaboration with 6Médias
