Xavier Saint-Macary Movies

In this routine sex comedy, Jean Chabert (Philippe Khorsand) is the newspaper editor called on to revive the fortunes of a magazine featuring nude women. He is continually distracted by sex-starved secretaries, erotically excited readers, and marital trouble. Jean's dream job soon turns onto a nightmare, as he seriously considers life in a monastery to escape his crazy world. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this semi-autobiographical comedy by Francis Perrin, he plays a character partially based on himself in the guise of Francois Veber, a lowly electrician from the provinces who finds success as an actor in the Comedie-Francaise. Veber/Perrin goes to study acting at the Paris Conservatoire and has some fine teachers who help to hone his latent comic abilities. After coming to the attention of his superiors as an excellent student (he won a Conservatoire competition with a monologue from "The Marriage of Figaro"), Veber/Perrin is accepted into the prestigious Comedie-Francaise. Defying the judgment of its administrator, he pulls off a rousing interpretation of Moliere's Scapin. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

In this routine romantic comedy, a veterinarian who mingles with humans of a higher pedigree gets an unwelcome visit from a female tax inspector -- and tries to seduce her as a way out of his dilemma. His screwball accountant's version of keeping books is no help, and so in desperation, the veterinarian performs a mock operation on the tax inspector's beloved pet dog in the hope of "saving the day" for himself in her eyes. Their continued interaction through thick and thin have changed the way the tax inspector and veterinarian regard each other, and disparate as they may be, an undeniable attraction starts to grow between them. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Molière's play about a "bourgeois gentleman" was the basis for this cinematic interpretation of the same story, which illustrates the differences between theater performances and the silver screen. The play has interludes of music, it is performed as a ballet, and stage sets tend to remain right where they are for the duration of a long scene or an act, or more. In contrast, this film is not a ballet, though music is interwoven with the scenes, the action is emphasized more than on a static stage set, and the "gentleman" of the title, Monsieur Jourdain, is played by Michel Galabru with facial expressions necessary for the stage, though a bit much for the close-up shots of a camera. Monsieur Jourdain is a wealthy man who wants to rise up the social ladder but only succeeds in giving away his lack of sensibility at every turn, and soon he has some of the impoverished nobility wanting to use his lucre as a springboard back into the good life. He is easily fooled, as when the marriage of his daughter is arranged behind his back -- if only he would listen to his wife (Rosy Varte), who has so much more common sense. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Two single, quiet, and physically plain neighbors in an apartment building meet each other and strike up a friendship - something they both had needed for a long time. As their relationship begins to convert into a romantic pairing, the two go ahead and become lovers. Although that seemed to be the ultimate expression of their feelings, the couple start to question whether or not they were happier sharing their original, unfettered friendship -- and reconsider their options. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Maurice Pialat's character study eschews traditional plot development in its examination of the power of sex and passion to overturn class restrictions and social conventions. Isabelle Huppert is Nelly, a middle-class Parisian housewife, married to possessive husband Andre (Guy Marchand). When she meets street thug Loulou (Gerard Depardieu), her middle-class respectability is thrown out the window and she leaves Andre for Loulou. Loulou, who has no job and resorts to robbery to survive, is more than willing to live off Nelly's money. But Andre won't give her up and, in the mind-set of a middle-class bourgeois, tries to convince her to return. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

It's love at first spark plug for Herbie, the spunky Disney Volkswagen, in Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo. Herbie reunites with Jim Douglas (Dean Jones), his driver from the original The Love Bug, as they participate in the annual Monte Carlo road rally. Herbie holds his own in the qualifying races, but he blows a gasket over a lovely powder-blue Lancia named Giselle. Jim also catches the eye of the attractive driver of Giselle, the fresh-faced Diane Darcy (Julie Sommars). With the love bug biting again, the romantic infatuations of man and metal end up interfering with the auto race. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

When a young auto salesman is forced to give up a vacation with his wife in order to drive an American car to its new owner who lives on the Riviera, he makes the best of things. First, he gets and old friend to ride along with him. Then, the two of them are joined by another pair of men who want to ride south. The four of them have a great time, talking about women and fatherhood, among other things. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide