Let Joy Reign Supreme (1975)
"Que la fête commence..." (original title)

France, 1719. Louis 14th died four years ago, Philippe d'Orleans is the regent. He is a liberal and a libertine. His right-hand man, Dubois, an atheistic and cupid priest, as libertine as ... See full summary »

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Jean Aurenche, Bertrand Tavernier

Stars:

Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Jean-Pierre Marielle

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philippe Noiret	...	Philippe d'Orléans, le Régent
Jean Rochefort	...	L'abbé Dubois
Jean-Pierre Marielle	...	Le marquis de Pontcallec
Christine Pascal	...	Emilie
Alfred Adam	...	Le maréchal de Villeroy
Jean-Roger Caussimon	...	Le cardinal
Gérard Desarthe	...	Le duc de Bourbon / Duke of Bourbon
Michel Beaune	...	Le capitaine La Griollais
Monique Chaumette	...	La gouvernante de Pontcallec
François Dyrek	...	Montlouis
Jean-Paul Farré	...	Le père Burdo
Nicole Garcia	...	La Fillon
Raymond Girard	...	Chirac
Jacques Hilling	...	L'abbé Gratellard
Bernard La Jarrige	...	Amaury de Lambilly

Storyline

France, 1719. Louis 14th died four years ago, Philippe d'Orleans is the regent. He is a liberal and a libertine. His right-hand man, Dubois, an atheistic and cupid priest, as libertine as Philippe, tries to take advantage of a little rebellion lead by a Breton squire (Pontallec) and of the famine to become archbishop... Description of the life of the court in this period of transition where the French Revolution smoulders.

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Plot Keywords:

libertine | court | priest | breton | regent | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

23 March 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

Let Joy Reign Supreme

Filming Locations:

Ardenay-sur-Mérize, Sarthe, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fildebroc, Les Productions de la Guéville, Universal Pictures France (UPF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

amazing historical and psychological drama

This is a film that has haunted me for thirty years. I just re-viewed it on DVD and it was every bit as good as I remembered. I don't know why it doesn't show up in festivals and best-of-all-times list; it is on mine. It is satisfyingly densely textured and the acting is flawless. It is rich in every way-- historically fascinating as it shows the tugging at the fibers of France that would eventually (but not quite yet) culminate in revolution, the many nuances of class resentment from the top down -- tension between royalty and nobility, generals and (would-be) clergy, and provincial gentry and their peasantry.

Luxurious scenes and costumes and cinematography. Psychologically rich, terrific dialog, in the closely twined relationship between jaded nobility and ambitious bourgeois that plays out in a tug-of-war over the fate of Bretons. Philippe Noiret as the jaded regent is the ambiguous moral center, stoic yet decadent, embodying la patrie yet carving a private erotic niche apart from a world where his decision can tip the balance of European powers.