Pantaloons; Don Juan

1020. PANTALOONS (DON JUAN) (1956-FRANCE). WITH FERNANDEL, CARMEN SEVILLA, FERNANDO REY, CHRISTINE CARERE. DIRECTED BY JOHN BERRY. PICTURE, FOR A MOMENT, THE FACE OF FERNANDEL: THE ELONGATED SHAPE, THE TOOTHY GRIN, THE HILARIOUS EXPRESSIONS THAT MAKE HIM AN INSTANT CARICATURE. THEN IMAGINE THAT HE’S MISTAKEN FOR ONE OF THE MOST DASHING LOVERS OF ALL TIME, DON JUAN! IMPOSSIBLE? YET THAT’S THE PREMISE OF THIS LIVELY COMEDY- AND SOMEHOW, FRANCE’S FUNNIEST FARCEUR MAKES AN AMAZINGLY CONVINCING SWASH-BUCKLING HERO. FERNANDEL PLAYS DON JUAN’S LONG-SUFFERING SERVANT, WHO DELIVERS THE LOVE NOTES, WAITS PATIENTLY WHILE HIS MASTER COMPLETES HIS TRYSTS, ENÂDURES THE WRATH OF OUTRAGED HUSBANDS, AND DREAMS OF JUST ONE NIGHT OF ROMANCE. HIS OPPORTUNITY ARRIVES: TO PROTECT DON JUAN FROM CAPTURE AND POSSIBLE EXECUTION, FERNANDEL IMPERSONATES HIM, WHILE THE REAL DON PRETENDS HE’S FERNANDEL’S VALET. THIS LEADS TO ALL SERIES OF OUTRAGEOUS COMPLICATIONS: WOMEN, DESIRING LOBE DON JUAN’S CONQUESTS (NO MATTER WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE) CHASE AFTER FERNANDEL; A DOZEN JEALOUS HUSBANDS, IMAGINING THEYÕVE BEEN CUCKOLDED, CHALLENGE TO DUEL FERNANDEL AT PRECISELY THE SAME HOUR. A VILLAINOUS NOBLEMAN (FERNANDO ROY), HOPING TO UNMASK THE IMPOSTER, SENDS FOR ONE OF DON JUAN’S FORMER AMOURS, BUT THE NEARSIGHTED WOMAN EITHER LOSES HER GLASSES OR FAINTS EACH TIME SHE’S ABOUT TO IDENTIFY THE ACTUAL LOVER. EXPECTING TO TRAP DON JUAN IN THE ACT, THE VILLAIN SETS VARIOUS TRAPS AROUND THE PALACE, RESULTING IN RIOTOUS CHASES IN AND OUT OF BOUDOIRS. DURING ALL OF THIS, OUR HAPLESS HERO DOESN’T HAVE TIME TO MAKE LOVE TO ANYONE, YET HE ENDS UP ON THE GALLOWS. CAN ANYTHING PREVENT THE HANGING? THE CLIMAX IS A BRILLIANTLY ORCHESTRATED COMBINATION OF HEART-STOPPING SUSPENSE, SPECTACULAR ACTION, AND FRANTIC FARCE. A LAVISHLY PRODUCED SHOWCASE FOR ONE OF THE SCREEN’S MOST DISTINCTIVE COMEDIANS! DUBBED IN ENGLISH. 95 MINUTES. COMEDY