Do you have those films that you end up loving so much you wish you could see it for the first time again, just for the laughs? "Le Grand Restaurant" (1966), starring the gem of classic French comedy that is Louis de Funès, is one of those for me. I find de Funès to be the most beautiful example of embodied character comedy; his beloved characters are Arthur Lowe-like in their tetchy quiet arrogance and impatience, but he possesses an additional mercurial energy of little rage, and a delightfully charming self-image, alternately (ridiculously, laughably, endearingly) charming and (tremblingly, anxiously, shyly) overwhelmed - physically, verbally, visually a delight. In this film, de Funès is M. Septime, owner of a storied gourmet restaurant frequented by celebrities and the aristocracy alike, including President Novales (of a fictional South American nation) who insists on dining there when he comes to Paris. After an unfortunate accident involving an explosive tropical dessert, the president appears to have disappeared, and M. Septime is initially implicated by the police, before finding himself regrettably embroiled in suspenseful chases and a deliciously layered plot to find and rescue le président.
The ending, you will find, is quite unique for something in the line of a 'spy thriller' storyline, and is refreshingly sweet. But for me, the bigger highlights take place we get into the main plot (I have spent many a highly pleasant hour rewatching or listening to these while making a late dinner or cup of tea in the kitchen). The viewer is treated to a long line of great restaurant jokes and scenes as Septime fawningly attends to his patrons, suspiciously picks on and watches his staff, trains them on the ideal waiterly comportment, disguises himself to find out what they really think of him, and makes inexplicably hilarious kissing noises to get people's attention. A scene especially loved by French viewers is when the staff suddenly break into a wild dance in the middle of their 'rehearsal,' seemingly by accident, haha. This time last year the French Embassy in the US showed the film out in the park, just imagine? A true joy Xo
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