Summary
The orderly world of Hubert de Tartas, manager of a packaging company, is turned upside-down
when his wife’s grandfather, Paul Fournier, makes an unexpected return. 65
years after his ship hit an iceberg, Fournier’s body is discovered preserved in
a block of ice and he is miraculously brought back to life, still aged 25. Aware
the shock of finding himself in another age might kill him, Hubert and his wife agree
to take care of Fournier in their home and to convince hims that the year is 1905…
Review
Athough Edouard Molinaro’s first collaboration with Louis de Funès (Oscar
, 1967) had not been entirely amiable, the film director allowed himself to be
pursued by Gaumont to make a second film featuring the temperamental comic genius.
Like Oscar, Hibernatus was an adaptation of a successful comic stage play
and proved to be a great commercial success, furthering de Funès standing as the
most popular French comic actor of his time.
Louis de Funès gives a fine comic
performance which makes this otherwise rudimentary comedy unimaginably hilarious in places.
The actor is noticeably more restrained than his other films of this period – something
which serves the film well, allowing the plot and other characters to escape being eclipsed
by his larger-than-life persona.
The film features Claude Gensac who appeared
in several of de Funès’ films (including Oscar and the Gendarme
films) in the role of his on-screen wife – a part for which she appears perfectly
suited). De Funès was able to persuade the production team to cast his son
Olivier in the role of his son in the film – although it is clear from his appearance
in this film that Olivier de Funès has no real enthusiasm for the career he was
pushed into by his father.
© James Travers 2002
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