(God sends a guardian angel, in the shape of a gorgeous bl...)
God sends a guardian angel, in the shape of a gorgeous blond woman, to protect His flock. But Satan has the same idea and he has His devil sign contracts with human beings to gain their soul.
(Two men carry at night four suitcases of contraband meat ...)
Two men carry at night four suitcases of contraband meat across German-occupied Paris during WWII. Their opposite personalities and strange encounters provoke different adventures - until they are arrested by the police.
(Gendarme Ludovic Cruchot is re-assigned to the French Riv...)
Gendarme Ludovic Cruchot is re-assigned to the French Riviera seaside resort town of Saint-Tropez where petty criminals and his own daughter give him a hard time.
(Criminals have chosen an ordinary man to carry drugs and ...)
Criminals have chosen an ordinary man to carry drugs and jewels in his car across the border. The problem is that this man turned out too much ordinary.
(After being chosen to represent France in an internationa...)
After being chosen to represent France in an international congress, Cruchot and his troops must go to New York and adapt to its social and cultural aspects.
(This comedy concerns an inventor (Robert Dhéry) of a boat...)
This comedy concerns an inventor (Robert Dhéry) of a boat who is fired by his violent, irascible boss when the project is completed. The boat, christened Le Petit Baigneur, is wanted by the Boss (Louis de Funès), who pulls out all the stops to possess the coveted craft.
(Hubert de Tartas' life becomes a complete muddle when his...)
Hubert de Tartas' life becomes a complete muddle when his wife's grandfather is unearthed after having spent 65 years in frozen hibernation in the polar circle.
Louis de Funès, in full Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza, was a renowned French actor and comedian. During his remarkable career, he assumed more than 130 roles in film and over 100 on stage. Recognized as the most popular French movie star of the late 1960s, he became known for his extensive repertoire of bold facial expressions and high-energy performances.
Background
Ethnicity:
Louis's paternal grandmother was of Basque origin. His mother was of Spanish and Portuguese extraction.
Louis de Funès was born on July 31, 1914, in Courbevoie, Ile-de-France, France. He was the son of Carlos Luis de Funès de Galarza and Leonor Soto Reguera. Initially, Louis's father worked as a lawyer in Spain, but later, upon settling down in France, became a diamond cutter. Louis had an older brother, Charles, who died as an infantryman in the French army during World War II, and a sister, Marie, who married François Gir, a notable film director.
Education
As a boy, Louis was always getting into trouble, on account of his habit of fooling about, a habit, that made it hard for him to succeed at school and later hold down a job.
Initially, Louis de Funès attended the Lycée Condorcet in Paris, France. In 1932, he entered the École Technique de Photographie et du Cinéma. It was at the educational establishment, that de Funès got acquainted with future ace cinematographer Henri Decaë, but managed to get himself expelled for starting a fire. De Funès also studied acting for one year at the Simon acting school.
It's also worth noting, that it was through his mother, that de Funès became an accomplished pianist at an early age.
In his early years, after dropping out of school, Louis worked various jobs, mostly as a jazz pianist at Pigalle, making his customers laugh every time he made a grimace. When World War II was declared in September 1939, Louis was turned down by the French army on medical grounds (erroneously as it turned out). During the early 1940s, he continued playing the piano in clubs. At the time, he lacked confidence and thought, that a balding, skinny man of short stature would never become a successful actor. However, he managed to overcome his fear of rejection thanks to his then-wife, Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer, and his good acquaintance, Daniel Gélin, who always supported him.
In 1942, Louis decided to embark on a career as an actor. It was at that time, that he enrolled in a drama course and got acquainted with Daniel Gélin, who led him to make his acting debut in Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon's stage play L'Amant de Paille and then his screen debut, appearing in just one scene as a hotel doorman, in Jean Stelli's comedy-fantasy La Tentation de Barbizon (1945).
Despite the fact, that stardom eluded Louis for many many years, he had no difficulty finding work. Over the next ten years, he appeared in around fifty films, always in minor roles, often as a walk-on. Although some directors saw at once his comic potential and made good use of his comedic skills, no one was willing, yet to offer him a substantial film role. These early films included La Fugue de Monsieur Perle (1952), in which Louis shared a scene or two with established comedy star Noël-Noël, and La Reine Margot (1954), featuring a debutante Jeanne Moreau. During this time, de Funès was also cast in some films of Sacha Guitry, notably La Poison (1951). Meanwhile, the budding actor also pursued a career off-screen and lent his talent as a pianist and comic to Max Révol's comedy troupe Les Bourlesques de Paris and then Robert Dhéry's Les Branquignols.
Louis's first big break came in 1956, when he was cast as a black-market pork butcher Jambier in Claude Autant-Lara's popular World War II comedy, La Traversée de Paris. This film starred two other icons of French cinema, Jean Gabin and Bourvil, with whom de Funès would work again once he had been elevated to stardom in the mid-1960s. This led director Maurice Regamey to give the actor his first lead role in the enjoyably daft comedy Comme un Cheveu sur la Soupe (1957), which earned de Funès the Grand Prix du Rire in 1957. The popularity of Yves Robert's Ni Vu, ni Connu (1958), in which de Funès played Alphonse Allais's famous poacher Blaireau, raised his profile further.
Despite such early successes, stardom still remained elusive and, for the next five years, the actor was relegated to minor roles in big films (Le Capitaine Fracasse) or biggish roles in minor films (Dans I'Eau Qui Fait des Bulles). Just as his film career appeared to be stalling, Louis's stage career suddenly took off, and it was through his performance in Claude Magnier's stage play Oscar that he had first major success, in 1959. He later reprised the role in the play's film adaptation, directed by Édouard Molinaro in 1967. It was for this play that de Funès perfected his now-familiar screen persona - the likeably tetchy, small-minded authority figure that French audiences loved to hate.
It was in the early 1960s, that stardom came suddenly de Funès' way. It was via Jean Girault's film, Pouic-Pouic, a boisterous comedy that was such a success it guaranteed top billing for the actor on all of his subsequent films. Some time later, Louis was offered the comically irascible lead in Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez (1964). It was this role, that made Louis one of the most popular actors in France. Besides, it was followed by five sequels.
Then, de Funès was offered the role of inept Inspecteur Juve alongside Jean Marais's green-skinned criminal mastermind in André Hunebelle's Fantômas (1964). Despite the fact, that Louis and Marais reputedly hated each other, they agreed to appear in two sequels, the best being Fantômas contre Scotland Yard (1967).
During the following years, Louis became a favorite of French cinema audiences. Together with Bourvil, he appeared in Gérard Oury's madcap comedy-thriller Le Corniaud (1965). The film attracted almost 12 million spectators but was dwarfed by his next screen triumph. Collaborating again with Bourvil, de Funès, with support from British comedy hero Terry-Thomas, drew an audience of 17.3 million with Oury's next film, La Grande Vadrouille (1966). The film got worldwide distribution and became known outside France under its English title Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!. An action-oriented comedy set at the time of the Occupation, this held the record for the most successful film made in France for twenty-two years, finally overtaken by Dany Boon's Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis in 2008. Oury planned a further rematch for his two comic legends in his film La Folie des Grandeurs, but Bourvil's death in 1970 put paid to this and de Funès ended up being paired with Yves Montand in this film.
Throughout the 1970s, Louis de Funès remained one of French cinema's most bankable stars, although he seldom appeared in films that were worthy of his talents, perhaps because of his preference for working with actors and directors he knew he could get on with. He was particularly loyal to Jean Girault, who directed most of his later comedies, the best being Jo (1971), a rare excursion into black comedy.
In the mid-1970s, Louis's health began to deteriorate and he was forced to take a break from acting. Once he was back on his feet, he was keen to resume his career, but had to be less energetic in his performances. His next film appearance was in Claude Zidi's L'Aile ou la Cuisse, in which he was the perfect comedy foil to another cultural icon in the making, Coluche. De Funès starred in five films after this, the best being L'Avare (1980), which was released just a few weeks after the actor received an honorary César in recognition of his contribution to French cinema.
The strain of making Le Gendarme et les Gendarmettes took its toll on de Funès and just a few months after completing work on this film the actor suffered a fatal heart attack, on January 27, 1983. His passing came amid a media frenzy and over three thousand people attended his funeral service at the church of Saint-Martin in Le Cellier in the northwest of France.
Louis de Funès was one of the greatest French actors and comedians. Through his film work, he remains as alive today as ever he was, entertaining millions around the world through his extraordinary gift for making people laugh.
During his career, de Funès assumed more than 130 roles in film and over 100 on stage. He is best remembered for his acting style, which is characterized by its high-energy performance and his wide range of facial expressions and tics. The most iconic films he appeared in include Le Corniaud (or The Sucker) (1965), La Grande Vadrouille (or Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!) (1968), The Little Bather (or Le Petit Baigneur) (1968), Le Gendarme series, Delusions of Grandeur (or La Folie des Grandeurs) (1971), Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (or The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob) (1973), among others.
Apart from de Funès's extreme popularity in the French-speaking world, he is also a household name in places like Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Iran, Greece, Israel, Albania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, among others. However, he is still almost unknown in the English-speaking world. The only time when he was exposed to a wider audience in the United States was in 1974, with the release of The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
In 1973, Louis was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. In 1980, he attained the Honorary César Award.
It's also worth noting, that the actor was nominated for such awards, as the Bravo Otto in 1975 and the Jupiter Award in 1978.
According to a number of polls, which have been conducted since 1968, Louis is France's favorite actor.
(In St. Tropez, French gendarme Cruchot and his men battle...)
1979
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Louis de Funès considered his mother, Leonor Soto Reguera, as well as Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy to be his biggest comedic inspiration.
Quotations:
"It does not matter if you have style, reputation, or money, if you do not have a good heart, you are worthless."
Personality
De Funès was a very shy person in real life. He was not that well appreciated by the producers, actors and the whole profession, as actor Jean Marais, because he did not talk to anyone off screen and preferred to stay away from them. Also, he was often described as a stingy man.
The actor loved walking in silence, watching people and writing everything down in a notebook. Then he used these notes while performing a role. He especially loved walking in cemeteries, since people there, in his opinion, were silent and not annoying.
Louis de Funès had a good command of French, Spanish and English.
Louis was a favorite actor of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Physical Characteristics:
Louis de Funès was 1.64 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) tall.
According to some sources, Louis suffered from persecutory delusions and that's why he always carried a loaded pistol with him.
In March 1975, whilst performing La Valse des Toréadors on stage, Louis began to experience pain, which was the first symptom of a heart defect. He suffered a heart attack a short while afterwards and was admitted to hospital. The actor suffered a fatal heart attack on January 27, 1983.
Interests
drawing, playing the piano, fishing, caring for roses, gardening
Artists
Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy duo
Connections
On April 27, 1936, Louis married Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer. Their marriage produced one child. The couple divorced on November 13, 1942.
On April 20, 1943, de Funès married Jeanne Barthelémy de Maupassant. The couple gave birth to two kids. Louis and Jeanne remained together until de Funès's death.
Father:
Carlos Luis de Funès de Galarza
(1871 - May 19, 1934)
Carlos Luis de Funès de Galarza had served as a lawyer before becoming a diamond cutter.
Mother:
Leonor Soto Reguera
(January 21, 1878 - October 25, 1957)
Brother:
Carlos Téolindo Javier de Funès de Galarza
(September 12, 1908 - May 20, 1940)
Sister:
Maria Teolinda Leonor Margarita Gir
(July 20, 1907 - October 28, 1993)
ex-wife:
Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer
(March 7, 1915 - September 28, 2011)
Wife:
Jeanne Barthelémy de Maupassant
(February 1, 1914 - March 7, 2015)
Son:
Olivier de Funès
Olivier de Funès (born August 11, 1949) is a French former film actor and Air France pilot.
Son:
Daniel de Funès
(July 12, 1937 - January 23, 2017)
Son:
Patrick de Funès
(born January 27, 1944)
colleague:
Jean Girault
Jean Girault (May 9, 1924 - July 24, 1982) was a French film director and screenwriter.
colleague:
Michel Galabru
Michel Galabru, in full Michel Louis Edmond Galabru (October 27, 1922 - January 4, 2016), was a French actor.
Friend:
Bourvil
André Bourvil (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), often known as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer. He gained prominence for his roles in comedy films, especially for those, in which he appeared with Louis de Funès, such as Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966).
colleague:
Gérard Oury
Gérard Oury (April 29, 1919 - July 20, 2006) was a French film director, actor and writer.
colleague:
Claude Gensac
Claude Gensac (March 1, 1927 - December 27, 2016) was a French actress. She played de Funès's on-scren wife in several films, notably Le Gendarme se Marie (1968), and he especially enjoyed working with her.
De Funès considered Claude to be a kind of a "lucky charm," imposing the production team to cast her in any bit role in his later films, if not as his on-screen wife.
