Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)

Director:

Bud Yorkin

Writers:

Fred Freeman (written by) and
Lawrence J. Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

14 August 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Plot:

Two mismatched sets of identical twins - one aristocrat, one peasant - mistakenly exchange identities on the eve of the French Revolution.

Plot Keywords:

Twins | French Revolution | Sensuality | Surrealism | Nudity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Gene Wilder	...	Claude / Philippe
Donald Sutherland	...	Charles / Pierre
Hugh Griffith	...	King Louis
Jack MacGowran	...	Jacques
Billie Whitelaw	...	Queen Marie
Victor Spinetti	...	Duke d'Escargot
Ewa Aulin	...	Christina
Helen Fraser	...	Mimi
Rosalind Knight	...	Helene de Sisi
Harry Fowler	...	Marcel
Murray Melvin	...	Blind Man
Ken Parry	...	Dr. Boileau
Maxwell Shaw	...	Duke de Sisi
Jacques Maury	...	Lt. Sorel
Graham Stark	...	Andre Coupe

Also Known As:

Louis, There's a Crowd Downstairs! (USA) (working title)
Two Times Two

Runtime:

90 min | Spain:98 min (alternate version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | USA:Approved (No.22144) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:11 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Vaux-le-Vicomte, Seine-et-Marne, France

Company:

NorBud Productions

Trivia:

Gene Wilder wanted Charles Grodin to play the part of Charles/Pierre, but Grodin declined, having committed to directing the original Broadway production of Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Twentieth century buses visible on a bridge in background of swordfight.

Quotes:

Charles: She's beautiful. I like the king's plan.
Claude: What are you talking about?
Charles: She'll never marry Escargot, it'll be a pleasure killing that swine!
Claude: You've forgotten who you are? You'd be lucky to run the girl through.
Charles: Oh, yeah.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dallas: Start the Revolution with Me (#4.14)" (1981)

slapstick with a hefty dose of farce.

This film takes slapstick and douses it with farce at absurd proportions. It delivers laugh after laugh with no thought as to its higher purpose. Its Brechtian nature turns the fourth wall into a comedian's stage and pokes fun not only of the story, but of the conventions used to tell it. Fabulous performances by Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland are even more exciting when we think of the nuances they bring to each of their characters. Hugh Griffith turns in a charming performance as a King who is nothing more than a chicken with a crown.

This is a must see for anyone excited by classic slapstick-style comedy.