Fernandel Movies

Fernandel is the somewhat over-aged Ali Baba in this astonishingly expensive Arabian Nights escapade. In this filmization of the old "Arabian Knights" tale, Ali Baba is a slave who is sent to fetch his master's latest wife (Samia Gamal). The horse-faced family retainer falls in love with the girl himself, and spends the rest of the film trying to be worthy of her. The last shot shows Ali Baba and a "few intimate friends" converging on the cave of the 40 thieves. In an incredible long shot, we discover that Ali's friends number in the tens of thousands! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Razzle-dazzle showman Michael Todd hocked everything he had to make this spectacular presentation of Jules Verne's 1872 novel Around the World in 80 Days, the second film to be lensed in the wide-screen Todd-AO production. Nearly as fascinating as the finished product are the many in-production anecdotes concerning Todd's efforts to pull the wool over the eyes of local authorities in order to cadge the film's round-the-world location shots--not to mention the wheeling and dealing to convince over forty top celebrities to appear in cameo roles. David Niven heads the huge cast as ultra-precise, supremely punctual Phileas Fogg, who places a 20,000-pound wager with several fellow members of London Reform Club, insisting that he can go around the world in eighty days (this, remember, is 1872). Together with his resourceful valet Passepartout (Cantinflas), Fogg sets out on his world-girdling journey from Paris via balloon. Meanwhile, suspicion grows that Fogg has stolen his 20,000 pounds from Bank of England. Diligent Inspector Fix (Robert Newton) is sent out by the bank's president (Robert Morley) to bring Fogg to justice. Hopscotching around the globe, Fogg pauses in Spain, where Passepartout engages in a comic bullfight (a specialty of Cantinflas). In India, Fogg and Passepartout rescue young widow Princess Aouda (Shirley MacLaine, in her third film) from being forced into committing suicide so that she may join her late husband. The threesome visit Hong Kong, Japan, San Francisco, and the Wild West. Only hours short of winning his wager, Fogg is arrested by the diligent Inspector Fixx. Though exonerated of the bank robbery charges, he has lost everything--except the love of the winsome Aouda. But salvation is at hand when Passepartout discovers that, by crossing the International Date Line, there's still time to reach the Reform Club. Will they make it? See for yourself. Among the film's 46 guest stars, the most memorable include Marlene Dietrich, Charles Boyer, Jose Greco, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, Red Skelton, Buster Keaton, John Mills, and Beatrice Lillie. All were paid in barter--Ronald Colman did his brief bit for a new car. Newscaster Edward R. Murrow provides opening narration, and there's a tantalizing clip from Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon (1902). Offering a little something for everyone, Around the World in 80 Days is nothing less than an extravaganza, and it won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The inimitable Fernandel stars as Barnabe in this French musical farce. Most of the action takes place at a huge chateau, where Barnabe, the assistant to a big-time theatrical producer, has been assigned to stage a big show in honor of an upcoming society wedding. Thanks to series of bizarre misunderstandings, Barnabe is mistaken for the bridegroom, a Gallic nobleman whom no one -- not even the bride -- has ever seen. Confusion reigns supreme when the bride's true love shows up, also claiming to be the missing nobleman. Even after the final fadeout, the audience will have quite a time determining who ends up married to whom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The winning combination of star Fernandel and director Henri Verneuil scored another success with 1953's Carnaval. Fernandel plays Dardamelle, an architect who is only mildly put out when he discovers that his wife Francine (Jacqueline Pagnol) has been unfaithful. In fact, he takes great pride that Francine is so attractive to another man, bragging about her indiscretion to all his friends. He even founds an organization for cuckolded husbands, culminating in a carnival parade float celebrating his friends' "betrayal." The satiric mood is broken at the finale, giving way to unexpected sentimentality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Famed French actor and singer Fernandel headlines this comedy centered on a case of mistaken identity involving a hapless vacuum salesman. Door-to-door vacuum salesman Casimir has a strange knack for getting himself into complicated situations. One day, after knocking on the door of local artist Paul-André, Casimir finds himself in his biggest jam to date. After exchanging a series of romantic letters with wealthy South American Angelita, Paul-André has agreed to tie the knot. But now that Angelita is actually coming to town, Paul-André has gotten a paralyzing case of cold feet. By the time Angelita arrives in town Paul-André is already long gone, leaving the love-struck hotel owner to surmise that Casimir is the man who won her heart through correspondence. At first Casamir isn't quite sure how to get out of the predicament, but upon discovering that Angelita owns 1000 hotel rooms he surmises that could mean she needs just as many vacuum cleaners, and continues the ruse in order to make the big sale. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Monsieur Fernandel plays the sheep-shearer, who makes a decision to say goodbye to the little lambs and to concentrate on the beautiful mademoiselles. Sacre bleu! It is tres funny (almost like the Jerry Lewis film, yes?) when Fernandel becomes the hairdresser, and begins clipping the ladies much in the manner of the sheep. And Fernandel's wife, she is not so happy over the many ladies that Fernandel is shearing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide