Fifty years ago the Splendid troupe was born, made up of Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Michel Blanc, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel and Bruno Moynot. It was in Paris, in the café-theater where it all began for them, that they all met recently, for a unique interview with our colleagues from Paris Match (to be found in their anniversary edition for its 75th anniversary this Thursday April 25, 2024). They “had not seen each other since receiving their honorary César three years ago“, specifies the weekly, before revealing this long interview in which these old friends go back and forth on this great adventure.
The Splendid is a huge success, like Santa Clause is garbage in 1982. But also disillusions, like the third part of Tanned, released in theaters on February 1, 2006. If this saga marked the history of French cinema, in the comedy register, it is true that this 3rd opus was a little disappointing, despite 10 million admissions. This feature film was “slammed by critics“, remember Paris Match. But then how can we explain this “failure”? “This failure is totally my fault,” said Michel Blanc, before adding: “I didn’t want to make this film but I didn’t want them to do it without me.“
The Splendid is back?
It was therefore a little reluctantly, without much enthusiasm, that he agreed to take part in this sequel. And so he finds that this was felt on the screen: “I find myself absent.” His comrades don’t really share his opinion, insisting in particular on the very good figures for this film. “Failures worth 10 million, I want more!“, laughs Gérard Jugnot, who was able to film with his son Arthur in this feature film. For Thierry Lhermitte, “no matter the number of entries“.”It was great to see what our characters had become, to show that they were still just as cowardly in the face of social poverty. A bit like everyone else, right?“, he adds.
But as one wonders Paris Match, “should we leave the French public with this flat?“In other words, isn’t it time to try a 4th part, as their director Patrice Leconte has already suggested?”Impossiblesays Marie-Anne Chazel. We no longer know how to write together. And we’ll never find the time” On the other hand, “It would be great if someone wrote a script that suited us.” And there, Michel Blanc agrees : “Doing things together, yes, but not The Bronzed.”
Could the Splendid troupe be back? To be continued!
The Splendid is back?
It was therefore a little reluctantly, without much enthusiasm, that he agreed to take part in this sequel. And so he finds that this was felt on the screen: “I find myself absent.” His comrades don’t really share his opinion, insisting in particular on the very good figures for this film. “Failures worth 10 million, I want more!“, laughs Gérard Jugnot, who was able to film with his son Arthur in this feature film. For Thierry Lhermitte, “no matter the number of entries“.”It was great to see what our characters had become, to show that they were still just as cowardly in the face of social poverty. A bit like everyone else, right?“, he adds.
But as one wonders Paris Match, “should we leave the French public with this flat?“In other words, isn’t it time to try a 4th part, as their director Patrice Leconte has already suggested?”Impossiblesays Marie-Anne Chazel. We no longer know how to write together. And we’ll never find the time” On the other hand, “It would be great if someone wrote a script that suited us.” And there, Michel Blanc agrees : “Doing things together, yes, but not The Bronzed.”
Could the Splendid troupe be back? To be continued!
