“I have two fan clubs, Mr. Preskovic and the sugar pancake”: the crazy story of the Splendid told by Bruno Moynot

How did you experience this return in time to design together this book dedicated to the history of the Splendid?

It made me happy, because, honestly, there were photos that we had forgotten, it brought back memories. And I discover the comments of others, we realize that there is a unity all the same, with small variations it’s normal because everyone feels things in their own way.

What do you think brought this Splendid troupe together?

It was the desire to do things that we liked and to make others laugh. Michel Blanc had a beautiful formula, he said: “The Splendid is like a puzzle. No two pieces are alike, but they all fit together.” This is well seen.

Michel Blanc was the big absentee when this book came out.

Yes, he will have participated in its design until the end, I know that he received the digital version for the proof, so he must have looked at it, leafed through it.

Were you touched by all these tributes, the emotion of the French at the time of his death?

Yes, it’s really nice, because you never imagine this kind of situation in advance. It was very touching.

Michel Blanc had a somewhat special place in the troupe, he was the first to gain independence.

Yes, he wanted to do his own things, they all did things individually afterwards, me too in my own way, while remaining united with the group.

Under what circumstances did you join the band?

I met Josiane Balasko through a mutual friend, she knew the people at the Splendid well, so I met them too, we became friends, I helped them do the work on the Théâtre des Lombards, and , little by little, I got in (laughs).

What memories do you have of these years?

At the beginning, it was complicated, because we didn’t know if it was going to work, we had taken debts up to our heads, and then, little by little, it worked.

It was great, because we did something that had fun and we managed to make a living from it! I have very good memories of that period.

The public discovers you in “Les Bronzés” and especially “Les Bronzés sont du ski”.

I always played characters who were a little off the mark, who came to disturb others, that amused me.

Santa Claus will also be the highlight of your collaboration.

Yes, honestly, in everything we have done, if I had to take an order of preference, Santa Claus is really, I think, what we have done best.

And you really made an impression in the role of the annoying neighbor…

Ah yes, Mr Preskovic, it has stuck with me for 40 years (laughs). It’s very nice, people talk to me about it and expressions like “I present to you all my confusions”, or “rolled by hand under the armpits”, we hear them in everyday life, it makes me pleasure.

I have two fan clubs, I have that and the sugar crepe in Les Bronzés sont du ski (laughs).

This character of Santa Claus, how was he born?

It was while discussing. SOS Amitié is supposed to help everyone and they don’t understand that their neighbor needs attention, that was the idea.

Afterwards, we thought of a character coming from Eastern countries, because at the time there was still the Iron Curtain.

In the play, I didn’t have an accent, but for the film, I found a Russian actor, to whom I gave all my lines, he recorded them for me in his voice, and I worked on it to have a slightly weird accent.

Then everyone left to carry out individual projects, would you have liked this to continue a little more?

No, because it happened like that and then I found myself managing the theater, which I also liked, that’s why I played less as an actor, because I occupied the Splendid, and then a little later also the Renaissance theater, so it was very absorbing, but I always continued to play here and there.

Now, I have a little more time for myself, I continue to write, I did one on stage two years ago, and I always do things that motivate me and interest me.

You have always occupied a special place in the troupe, how would you define it?

Now, people consider me the guardian of the temple, because I’m there at the Splendid, we have a lot of memories that are there and generally my fellow stars, when they don’t know what to answer, say “Ask Bruno” and so It falls on my head… (Laughs)

You say “my fellow stars”, you have been less in the spotlight than them, how do you experience it?

I don’t care, I’m very happy with the life I lead, everyone has made their career the way they wanted to do it.

Are you equally associated in this theater?

Oh yes, completely, it’s borderline communist… From the moment we don’t ask them for money at the end of the month (laughs), they’ve never asked me for anything. I talk to them about what I do, but from the moment everyone went their own way, they trusted me completely.

What we need to do is find shows that we like and that work, that’s what’s fun and interesting.

You were reunited once again in Les Bronzés 3. This film was a huge popular success, but was also the subject of criticism, what do they inspire you?

There was a huge wait, but I like this film, it’s an effective comedy that works. There are always disappointed people who say “it’s not like before”. But that’s normal, it was thirty years after the last Bronzés, we had all aged, we weren’t exactly the same. And then, we had almost 11 million entries, there were still some people who liked it…

It’s a good memory, because we were together for a month and a half, two months, all together on the set and we had a lot of laughs…

You then found yourself for the Césars…

It was funny, because comedy is generally considered very vulgar, it’s very French, that… Finally, they gave us an honorary César. It’s through seniority, perhaps, that we got it… (laughs)

Did you all get together afterwards to celebrate?

Yes, it was weird, because it was in the middle of Covid, so the Olympia room was almost empty. There were health checks everywhere, it was a bit like hell. But we met, yes, afterwards, at the hotel, all together, for a drink.

Do you have any other projects together now?

For now, no. Maybe occasionally with each other. Collective writing, I think it would be too complicated today. But if we are offered something that we like, yes, we will do it.