Hibernatus (1969)

Director:

Edouard Molinaro

Writers:

Jean Bernard-Luc (play)
Jacques Vilfrid (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

10 September 1969 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The frozen body of Paul Fournier is discovered in Greenland where he had disappeared during a scientific expedition in 1905...

Plot Keywords:

Greenland | Abbey | France | 1900s | Alternative Reality

Cast

Louis de Funès	...	Hubert de Tartas
Michael Lonsdale	...	Le professeur Édouard Loriebat (as Michel Lonsdale)
Claude Gensac	...	Edmée de Tartas
Bernard Alane	...	Paul Fournier
Annick Alane	...	Mme Crépin-Jaujard, la mère d'Evelyne
Olivier De Funès	...	Didier de Tartas
Eliette Demay	...	Evelyne Crépin-Jaujard
Martine Kelly	...	Sophie
Jacques Legras	...	L'avocat
Pascal Mazzotti	...	Le professeur Bibolini
Claude Piéplu	...	Le secrétaire général
Paul Préboist	...	Charles
Yves Vincent	...	Crepin-Jaujard
Evelyne Dassas	...	L'assistante de Bibolini
Monita Derrieux	...	Une infirmière

Also Known As:

Louis de Funes e il nonno surgelato (Italy)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | English | Danish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Aéroport de Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle - BP 20102, Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise, France

Company:

Gaumont International

Trivia:

First feature film of Bernard Alane.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Louis de Funès ou Le pouvoir de faire rire (2003) (TV)

Louis as an additional bonus

I love Louis de Funès. His unique, very funny character makes me forget that he actually always played the same roles, or: whatever role he played, the role became like him. Many French films of the 1960s would have been boring and unsuccessful without him.

The story of this movie was surely not tailor-made for Louis. It wouldn't need him, Louis is only an additional bonus here. „Hibernatus` is an absurd little comedy based on a completely crazy idea. A man is found alive in the ice after sixty-five years and in order to spare him the shock of waking up in a completely different world, the whole town is „dressed` like in 1905. Louis de Funès' family takes over responsibility for the man and of course, Louis is the one who suffers because of that.

The film is very short and I suppose, it shouldn't be longer. It has many funny moments apart from the basically great idea. Playful, creative, sweet.