THE MAGNIFICENT
France, 1973, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jean-Paul? Belmondo, Jacqueline Bisset, Vittorio Caprioli.
Directed by Philippe de Broca.
Le Magnifique is one of several films that Philippe de Broca made with Jean- Paul Belmondo. These include Chinese Adventures in China and That Man From Rio during the 1960s. Jean- Paul Belmondo excelled at this kind of athletic charming hero. This time he is a writer of espionage stories. The difference is, that in his books he includes himself, his neighbour (played by Jacqueline Bisset) and his editor (played by Vittorio Caprioli who co-wrote the film with de Broca). This provides a spoof of the spy films of the 1960s and 70s, a sly sense of humour with some dark touches, a French interpretation of a very popular American and British film style.
1. Was this an enjoyable film? Why? In its reality? or in its fantasy? the juxtaposition of both? Of ambitions and of real life?
2. Comment on the success of the styles of the film: the realistic style in Paris? the humdrum life of the writer, the maid, plumbers and the glamorous Bond style?
3. What did the film have to say about fantasy and reality? How real was Francois’ real life? His being cooped-up writing? Living in fantasy world, his relationship to wife and son, maid, publisher, tradesmen, to Christine? Was the fantasy too much of an escape or was it necessary for him?
4. How much parody was there in Christine’s thesis about his books? About the appeal of the basic dreams and drives of people being illustrated in pop culture? How much reality is there in this thesis?
5. How much of a hero was Rob St Cloud? How exaggerated was his heroism? Why was it funny? In which particular instances?
6. What did Christine contribute to Francois’s life? What kind of heroine was she in his adventures? Which sequences illustrated this best?
7. Francois incorporating victims into his story: plumbers, typewriter, the publisher? Why was the publisher a villain in real life and in the story?
8. What did the film have to say about sex and violence and audiences wanting them? How was this best illustrated? Where? eroticism and blood?
9. Why did the adventures have so much panache? Colour and verve?
10. Comment on the satire, parody, human comedy of the film.
