L'Homme des Folies-Bergère (1936)
Directed by Marcel Achard, Roy Del Ruth

Film Review

By the mid-1930s, Maurice Chevalier had become one of the most popular of French chansonniers, and one of a handful to have a large international following.  He was therefore a highly attractive proposition to the Hollywood film studios, who were quick to capitalise on his talent and charisma.  Having made Folies Bergère de Paris, an English language musical comedy with Chevalier in the leading role, Twentieth Century Pictures immediately followed this up with a similar film, made specifically for a French audience.  That film, L'Homme des Folies-Bergere, employed the same sets and production team, and most of the cast of the first film.  The main difference was the replacement of the female lead Merle Oberon by Natalie Paley.

The plot is what you would expect for a 1930s farce, a muddled imbroglio revolving around a case of mistaken identity.  It isn't original, nor is it particularly funny, but Chevalier's sympathetic performance and uplifting songs keep us amused and entertained.  What sells the film are the extravagant musical numbers at the top and tail of the film, which are clearly inspired by Busby Berkeley's legendary work on such films as Gold Diggers of 1933.

Film Synopsis

One of the leading lights of the Folies-Bergère in Paris is Eugène Charlier, an immensely talented singer and mimic who, to the delight of his audience, has perfected his impression of the country's leading banker, Baron Cassini.  So convincing is Charlier's impersonation of the banker that he might almost pass for the man himself - which gives Cassini's associates an idea when the banker goes missing in the midst of a potentially devastating financial crisis.  With Cassini away in London desperately trying to secure a loan to cover his massive losses, his associates engage the services of Charlier to impersonate him at an important reception and thereby reassure the bank's jittery creditors that all is well.  What first appears to be a brilliant ruse soon starts to go badly wrong, and Charlier gets far more than he bargained for when the banker's wife falls madly in love with him...