Les Bidasses en folie (1971)
Directed by Claude Zidi

Film Review

After their success of their first film, La Grande java(1969), the musical quintet known as The Charlots bounced back with more of the same - madcap slapstick and hippy antics revolving around a meagre plot.  Whilst some of the jokes are painfully laboured and a little predictable, many are truly inventive and very funny.  What the film lacks in pacing, narrative cohesion and credible characterisation, it makes up with its manic sense of fun and a few hilarious set piece jokes.  The film also marked the directorial debut of Claude Zidi, who would have a prolific career as a director of popular French comedies over the following two decades.

Film Synopsis

Five inseparable buddies - Jean-Guy, Phil, Gérard, Luis and Jean - are united by their shared obsession, which is to form their own rock band, The Tourists.  To realise their dream, they first need to raise the money so that they can buy some musical instruments, and to do this they need to get themselves a job.  That's a lot easier than it sounds, because whatever the enterprising quintet turn their hands to rapidly turns into a complete disaster.

Undeterred by the numerous setbacks that come their way, the boys persevere, and with a little help from a friend, Crème, they finally get the cash they desperately need by winning a talent contest.  A promising start to their musical career is suddenly cut short when they are summoned to an army base to begin their military service.  Thus begins a harrowing and totally unforgettable ordeal - not for them, but for the poor sergeant who has to put them through their paces, Bellec...