Les grands ducs (1996)

Three aging and failed comedians, Georges Cox, Victor Vialat and Eddie Carpentier, hit the road again with a lousy production of a lousy play, of course under the worst possible conditions.

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Serge Frydman, Patrice Leconte

Stars:

Jean-Pierre Marielle, Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Pierre Marielle	...	Georges Cox
Philippe Noiret	...	Victor Vialat
Jean Rochefort	...	Eddie Carpentier
Catherine Jacob	...	Carla Milo
Michel Blanc	...	Shapiron
Clotilde Courau	...	Juliette
Pierre-Arnaud Juin	...	Pat
Jacques Mathou	...	Janvier
Marie Pillet	...	Clémence
Jacques Nolot	...	Francis Marceau
Jean-Marie Galey	...	Markus
Olivier Pajot	...	Le metteur
Claude Derepp	...	L'acteur en smoking blanc
Nathalie Krebs	...	Irène
Laurence Ragon	...	L'actrice en nuisette

Storyline

Three aging and failed comedians, Georges Cox, Victor Vialat and Eddie Carpentier, hit the road again with a lousy production of a lousy play, of course under the worst possible conditions.

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Plot Keywords:

aging | times square manhattan new york city | bankruptcy | actor playing female role | cross dressing | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Alternate Versions

Shown in 1.66:1 aspect ratio for some television broadcasts. Including the Spanish Castilian DVD edition.

User Reviews

a disappointment in Patrice Leconte's work

After a series of movies all excellent since "Tandem" (1987), "les grands ducs" is the first real disappointment from Patrice Leconte. Critics and public slagged it off when the movie was released in the beginning of 1996.

What to say about this film? It isn't a really bad movie. What surprises is the rapidity with which Leconte shot his movie. It gives the impression of a quickly made and somewhat botched movie. That's why it appears as disappointing. All right, Patrice Leconte adopted a lively and brisk making, full of liberty and movements and it is obvious that he gave Jean Rochefort, Philippe Noiret and Jean-Pierre Marielle a free hand. These three strapping fellows have a tremendous time in their respective roles and I am obliged to recognize that it is nearly a treat to see them going over the top. Furthermore, the comical situations are well organized even if a little predictable.

In short, the mayonnaise isn't thickening because the rhythm of the movie is too fast to be really interested by the story. Leconte should have shown more rigor and too much liberty, too many gestures end up exhausting the attention. "Les grand ducs" remains a bombastic and excessive film which has its funny sequences but it isn't to be ranked among Leconte's major works.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

5 April 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Grand Dukes

Filming Locations:

Vienne, Isère, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre Européen Cinématographique Rhône-Alpes, Cofimage 7, Lambart Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1