One of the funniest comedies made for the French cinema was inspired by none other than Victor Hugo's "Ruy Blas". The film served its purpose to delight and amuse, as the unorthodox pairing of Yves Montand, one of the biggest stars in France, and Louis De Funes, a comic genius who is seen at his best in the film, were directed by Gerard Oury. The screenplay was written by Daniele Thompson, the director's daughter, Marcel Julian and Mr. Oury.
The result is a sort of what feels like a French Western filmed mostly in Spain, the locale where many other pictures of the genre were shot. The action involve a corrupt tax collector Don Salluste Bazan and his servant, the rascal Blaze, out to create hell for a master whose only passion is about how much is he going to chisel out from the royal coffers.
"Delusions of Grandeur" is one of the funniest films of that period. The wonderful Yves Montand shows his versatility as Blaze, a resourceful man, whose only purpose in life is to expose his deceitful employer. A sort of Robin Hood, if you will, who gave back to the exploited folks the tribute they were asked to pay the crown. Louis De Funes, a fine comic actor, shows the actor in an inspired role, who in spite of being so mean, manages to make the viewer laughs throughout the movie.
Michel Polnareff's music reminds us of some of Ennio Morricone's compositions for those notorious "Spaghetti Westerns" where he provided the music. Henri Decae takes us all over Spain to show us great scenery as well as fancy interiors as befitting the court of a Spanish painted by Diego Velazquez, perhaps.
The result is a sort of what feels like a French Western filmed mostly in Spain, the locale where many other pictures of the genre were shot. The action involve a corrupt tax collector Don Salluste Bazan and his servant, the rascal Blaze, out to create hell for a master whose only passion is about how much is he going to chisel out from the royal coffers.
"Delusions of Grandeur" is one of the funniest films of that period. The wonderful Yves Montand shows his versatility as Blaze, a resourceful man, whose only purpose in life is to expose his deceitful employer. A sort of Robin Hood, if you will, who gave back to the exploited folks the tribute they were asked to pay the crown. Louis De Funes, a fine comic actor, shows the actor in an inspired role, who in spite of being so mean, manages to make the viewer laughs throughout the movie.
Michel Polnareff's music reminds us of some of Ennio Morricone's compositions for those notorious "Spaghetti Westerns" where he provided the music. Henri Decae takes us all over Spain to show us great scenery as well as fancy interiors as befitting the court of a Spanish painted by Diego Velazquez, perhaps.