The Restaurant (1966)

Top-notch french restaurant owner Monsieur Septime is involved into crime when one of his famous guests disappears.

Director:

Jacques Besnard

Writers:

Jacques Besnard (adaptation), Jean Halain

Stars:

Louis de Funès, Bernard Blier, Maria-Rosa Rodriguez

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louis de Funès	...	Monsieur Septime
Bernard Blier	...	Le commissaire divisionnaire
Maria-Rosa Rodriguez	...	Sophia
Venantino Venantini	...	Henrique
Juan Ramírez	...	Le général
Noël Roquevert	...	Le ministre
Folco Lulli	...	Le président Novalès
Yves Arcanel	...	Henri
René Berthier
Albert Dagnant	...	Un conspirateur
Robert Dalban	...	Le conspirateur francais
Eugene Deckers	...	Le complice de Novalès (as Eugène Deckers)
Robert Destain	...	Le baron
Bernard Dumaine	...	Le client satisfait
Jacques Dynam	...	Un serveur

Storyline

M. Septime rules the renowned Paris restaurant "Chez Septime" with an iron fist. Grovelling before his rich and powerful customers, M. Septime feels free to treat his employees like children at best or like slaves at worst. M. Septime would be very happy if things just continued the way they are. But Destiny will have it otherwise. Indeed one day, Novales, a South American president, disappears while dining in his restaurant and it looks as if Septime has something to do with it.

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Plot Keywords:

restaurant owner | control freak | disguise | pianist | farce | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French German

Release Date:

9 September 1966 (France)

Also Known As:

The Restaurant

Filming Locations:

Parc de Saint-Cloud, Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont International

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film directed by Jacques Besnard.

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Goofs

Throughout the movie, it's obvious that the pianist in the restaurant isn't really playing the music that we hear.

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Connections

Referenced in Pastewka: Die Strategie der Schnecke (2006)

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Soundtracks

Hymne du Président Novales
Written and Performed by Jean Marion

User Reviews

Superb vehicle for a comedic genius

I love de Funés too, but I can't claim to have seen all of his movies; (he made like a hundred, right?) I will say that this one is absolutely hilarious though.

De Funés plays Septime, the despotic owner of a high class Paris restaurant, one which entertains the Paris glitterati as well as ministers of the French government. Once a foreign president disappears in the middle of Septime's grand number of lighting fire to a fancy dessert, Septime finds himself in an escalating drama. The police inspector suspects him, a revolutionary group from the missing president's country is after him, and the president's entourage blames him and demands he helps them find the missing head of state. Everyone is looking for the president, and they all ask of a terrified Septime to find him.

The poor Septime travels effortlessly (and lightning fast) between the sheer horror of finding himself in this situation, and the hilarious fits he throws whenever a staff member of his fails to meet perfection. The catch phrase of the movie is an angry kissing sound Septime makes whenever he wants to call an employee's attention to himself, without disturbing the guests, and it never gets tired.

I once heard a rumour that de Funés in person was exactly like the high-strung choleric characters he played, and thusly passed away too soon in a heart attack. I have no idea if this is true, but you do get the sense that he is more or less playing himself, which makes for some very convincing comedy. The man was a comedic genius, and this movie is a superb vehicle for him.