Le magnifique (1973)

Director:

Philippe de Broca

Writers:

Philippe de Broca (writer)
Vittorio Caprioli (writer)

Release Date:

23 November 1973 (France)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

Francois Merlin is an espionnage-book writer. He likes to mix every-day character he can met in his book...

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Action Heroine | Bad Guy | Shark | Blood

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Bob Saint-Clair / François Merlin
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Tatiana / Christine
Vittorio Caprioli	...	Karpof / Charron
Hans Meyer	...	Colonel Collins
Monique Tarbès	...	Mrs. Berger
Mario David
Bruno Garcin	...	Pilu
Raymond Gérôme	...	General Pontaubert
Jean Lefebvre	...	The electrician
Fabrizio Moresco
André Weber	...	The plumber
Hubert Deschamps	...	Le vendeur
Bernard Musson	...	Interpreter
Thalie Frugès	...	Publishing House Hostess
René Barrera	...	The Chinese / The Bride

Also Known As:

Come si distrugge la reputazione del più grande agente segreto del mondo (Italy)
How to Destroy the Reputation of the Greatest Secret Agent... (UK)
The Magnificient Secret Agent (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

95 min | France:93 min | Germany:94 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

Albanian | French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

17 Rue des Tournelles, Paris 4, Paris, France

Company:

Les Films Ariane

Trivia:

No screenwriter is listed in the credits of the movie whose original script was in fact written by Francis Veber. In the DVD commentary, director Philippe de Broca explains that he thought that the character of Christine needed to be fleshed out. Veber disagreed and eventually director Jean-Paul Rappeneau was called to settle the question. Rappeneau agreed with de Broca and both of them rewrote part of Veber's script. Veber made strong reservations about the rewrite, and after seeing the finished movie, asked that his name be removed from the credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the black typewriter breaks down, we briefly see Merlin typing on the new white typewriter that he will buy later in the movie.

Quotes:

Bob Saint-Clair: Ah, betrayed!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Munich (2005)

Soundtrack:

Cucurrucucu Paloma

First Half Genius

The first half of "Le Magnifique" is postmodern tongue-in-cheek genius, a wild, ludicrous and in every department excellent mixture of James Bond spoof, splatter effects, slapstick, intertextual verve and romantic comedy clearly exceeding the ten stars limit, plus a downright irresistible Jacqueline Bisset (and I'm not even into brunettes). The second half, hmm, doesn't really come as a letdown, but sticks more to conventional vaudeville formulas and simply can't live up to the absurd roller-coaster folly already established, a few bitter tones possibly due to Francis Veber, a prolific and superb, but sometimes uneven writer who also worked on the script. The Canal Plus DVD features the French original as well as the English and German dub. As for comic dramas of the 70s, unorthodox and essential viewing.