La Grande Vadrouille has been one of the most cult French comedies since its triumph when it was released in 1966. Bourvil opposite Louis de Funès, who must have trained particularly hard for this role.
Released in 1966, The big mop remains an essential comedy of French cinema. Directed by Gérard Oury, this film which takes place during the German Occupation in France follows an improbable duo played by the actors Bourvil and Louis de Funès who hide English soldiers and must help them return to the free zone. For several decades, until the release of Welcome to the Ch’tis in 2008 then Untouchables in 2011, the most viewed French film of all time in France.
Several scenes in the film are iconic, whether it is the meeting at the Turkish bath, De Funès sitting on Bourvil’s shoulders or even the mixing of rooms in the inn to name a few. One of them remains the one where the grumpy conductor played by Louis de Funès directs his musicians. The actor once again proves his range as a very physical actor (but not only that). However, this scene, which only lasts a few minutes, required a lot of preparation.
Louis de Funès actually spent three months training for the role of conductor Stanislas Lefort. Wanting to be credible, he took lessons with a professional rehearsed every day in front of his mirror for 12 weeks to learn the real movements of The damnation of Faust composed by Hector Berlioz, and in particular of the piece “La marche hongroise”. It is indeed he who directs the (real) musicians of the Palais-Garnier, where the scene was filmed, although it lasts less than five minutes. The result pays off, since the scene is as hilarious as it is credible!
Synopsis – In 1942, during the German Occupation in France, an English plane was shot down over Paris. The occupants parachuted, and three of the five British airmen on board managed to escape. The first lands in the Vincennes zoo, the second on the basket of a building painter, Augustin Bouvet (Bourvil), and the third takes refuge in the dressing room of an orchestra conductor, Stanislas Lefort (Louis de Funès) . Helped by a young woman, Juliette (Marie Dubois), Augustin and Stanislas will have to hide the English and help them return to the free zone. A journey that will be punctuated by many adventures. And thanks to which the two French people will become, somewhat in spite of themselves, heroes of the Resistance.
