Die dummen Streiche der Reichen

The overwhelming majority of films relentlessly age, some faster, others slower, and I get the feeling that the comedies of the beloved Gérard Oury belong more to the former, and I usually give them three completely average stars when watching them again. While Delusions of Grandeur has also been affected by the ravages of time, I dare say that it is the only film that easily deserves four stars. It's not intellectual humor, but rather typical Louis de Funès-esque gags, faces, and furious gestures, straightforward jokes about the rich and powerful, and French folk humor. I would rather see Bourvil in the place of Yves Montand because Montand is more suited for dramatic roles, and this needed more clowning. Nevertheless, I genuinely laughed a few times and never felt any of the awkwardness that accompanies me when watching many comedies. Overall impression: 75%. (19.09.2012)

Mein Lieblingsfilm von de Funés. Mir gefallen einfach diese Schurkenfiguren und ein Intrigant von der Prägung eines Salluste wollte ich immer sein. Louis ist in diesem Film auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Schaffenskraft, und das ist deutlich zu erkennen. In Montand hat er zudem einen perfekten Partner gefunden, weshalb man sich auf jede Menge verrückten Humor gefasst machen sollte, der mit 170 Schlägen pro Minute auf einen einstürzt. Zudem kann sich Die dummen Streiche der Reichen auch mit einer tollen Kulisse und zeitweise fast westernartiger Musik brüsten. (13.04.2009)

Somehow the whole plot didn't work for me, just like it seems to me that I have seen too many movies in a short period of time, which leads to me seeing de Funès as a person who played mostly too similarly. It is part of his personality, but here it came across as quite annoying at times. There are good parts here, but I probably also have a problem with the historical concept. (29.01.2015)