The death of the great actor Julien Poulin created quite a commotion on Sunday among the Quebec population.
• Also read: Julien Poulin died at 78
• Also read: “A giant”: strong reactions to the death of Julien Poulin
Everyone has been touched by at least one of his many roles that he has played on the small and big screen, but also on stage since the 1960s.
But it is undoubtedly the role of Robert “Bob” Gratton, aka Elvis Gratton, which made the biggest impression in Quebec.
Alongside his brother-in-law Méo (Yves Trudel), this racist, sexist and rude suburbanite makes a series of shocking statements and crazy situations.
The three films and the TV series featuring the famous character have given Quebec some memorable quotes and sketches.
Here are some of them:
“A French-Canadian-speaking Quebecer”
On board a plane with his wife Linda, Bob Gratton is asked by a Frenchman if he is Canadian. His response has become a classic of Quebec cinema.
“Moé, I am a Quebec Canadian! A Frenchman, French Canadian. A French North American. A French speaker, uh Quebecois Canadian. Uh, a French Canadian-speaking Quebecer! We are Canadians…Americans, French-speaking from North America. Des Franco-Québécois…”, is one of those classics that are frequently cited.
“The rest of them have it”
If many Quebecers speak of “Americans” instead of Americans, it is because of Elvis Gratton and his way of speaking about our neighbors to the South that he adored.
“Because the Americans have it,” is a quote frequently used by fans of Pierre Falardeau’s films.
“I don’t want to lose my Rocky Mountains”
In a photo session, Elvis Gratton discusses with his photographer where he broaches the subject of “separatists” and where the photographer asks him twice to pose “a little more to the right”, the famous character goes there with an ode to Canada and its Rockies.
“Canada is the most beautiful country in the world. It is the richest, the freest. Well, if they’re not happy, let them go and live in Cuba. Anyway, me, I don’t want to lose my Rocky Mountains. And there will always be poor people,” he says.
“A talking tank”
In the second film, “Elvis Gratton: Miracle in Memphis”, Bob Gratton acquires a limousine… that talks.
This accessory allows for several of the craziest scenes, including the one where he persists with it after tearing off a door while backing up.
“A door is not closed properly,” the female voice from the car told him.
“It’s pretty closed, tab*****, it’s torn off,” replied Elvis Gratton.
This hilarious scene continues with insults being thrown from the car and ends with Elvis Gratton jumping on the hood of the limousine sending the car spinning.
“I have a garage, a big garage”
In the first film, Elvis Gratton talks with a hitchhiker he has taken on board.
When she asks him what he does for a living, he replies with great pride: “I have a garage, a big garage”.
