''L'homme orchestre'' () is a

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

film from 1970 directed by

Serge Korber Serge Korber (1 February 1936 – 23 January 2022) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 40 films between 1962 and 2007. Successful as the director of comedies starring Louis de Funès in ''L'homme orchestre'' and '' ...

, written by Jean Halain, and starring by

Louis de Funès Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fi ...

. It tells the story of Evan Evans, who owns and manages a ballet company in the

Principality of Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a semi-enclave borde ...

with an iron fist.

Summary

The film opens in the contemporary dance company of Evan Evans (

). To him, weight gain and personal lives are forbidden; the dancers must dedicate themselves body and soul to the dance. One of the dancers decides to leave the troupe to get married, so Evans enlists the help of his nephew Philippe, ( Olivier de Funès), and his assistant Françoise (

Noëlle Adam Noelle or Noëlle is the feminine form of the unisex name Noel. It derives from the old French Noël, "Christmas," a variant (and later a replacement) of nael, which itself derives from the Latin natalis, "birthday". Other nicknames and varia ...

) to conduct auditions and to find a new star. He falls under the spell of newcomer Endrika's ( Puck Adams) talent, and enthusiastically welcomes her into the troupe. Like the other members, Endrika is asked to end all romantic engagements, even as Françoise is enjoying a secret affair. Upon learning of her relationship, Evans ends the romance by taking a recording of a conversation between Philippe and Françoise wherein Philippe is rebuked. Evans is able to break up Françoise and her lover Franco Buzzini (

Franco Fabrizi Franco Fabrizi (; 15 February 1916 – 18 October 1995) was an Italian actor. Life and career Son of a barber and a cinema cashier, Franco Fabrizi started his career as a model and an actor in fotoromanzi. Fabrizi also starred on several re ...

) by playing the tapes over a phone call to him. During a tour in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, Endrika is forced to pick up her secret son from his foster family, which she has concealed from the rest of the troupe. Unable to find a nanny quickly, she decides, on Françoise's advice, to make Evans believe, by means of a letter, that the child was his nephew's from one of his previous tours in Italy. Evan Evans then asks Philippe for an account, in order to confirm the story and to find out the mother. Philippe believes that the story is true, and tells Evans that the child must be his and that the mother must be a young Sicilian woman (

Paola Tedesco Paola Tedesco (born 28 March 1952) is an Italian actress, voice actress and singer. Biography Born in Rome, the daughter of actor and tenor Sergio Tedesco and the younger sister of film producer Maurizio Tedesco, Paola Tedesco made her film deb ...

) with whom he had an affair. Evans decides to go and meet the girl's parents, in order to clarify matters. When he arrived in Italy, he discovers with horror that the baby boy is not hers, but that she had indeed had a little girl with Philippe, whom he inherits and is obliged to take back to the hotel. Evan Evans asks his nephew again to find out who else the little boy's mother might be. Philippe decides the mother must be must be the maid of a Roman marquis ( Franco Volpi). Evans goes to visit the Marquis, and learns that he has married his maid himself, and that the maid has never had a child. Confused, he returns to the hotel. Philippe has no idea who else the little boy's mother might be. Evans and Philippe find a nanny to take care of the two children, they hide the children in huge drums to take them out of the hotel. Endrika, Françoise and the other dancers discover the children's disappearance, believe that they have been kidnapped, and inform the Italian police, who quickly find Evan Evans and Philippe and question them. Evans and Philippe unsuccessfully try to explain to the commissioner (

Marco Tulli Marco Tulli (20 November 1920 – 20 March 1982) was an Italian character actor, probably best known in the role of "Smilzo" in the Don Camillo film series. Born in Rome, Tulli debuted as actor while he was still a university student, at the en ...

) why they are transporting two babies in drums, but, fortunately, the arrival of the dancers and the mother of the little girl help to clarify things. Philippe announces his marriage with the Sicilian woman.

Cast

: Monsieur Édouard, Evan Evans *

: Françoise * Olivier de Funès : Philippe, Evan Evans's nephew * Daniel Bellus : Young motorist *

Paul Préboist Paul Préboist (21 February 1927 – 4 March 1997) was a French actor. He appeared in more than hundred films, mostly in supporting roles, and is best known as a comic actor. Filmography Theater References External links *Paul Préboista ...

: Manager of the Roman hotel *

: Franco Buzzini *

Max Desrau Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...

: A motorist *

Micheline Luccioni Micheline Luccioni (1930–1992) was a French stage, film and television actress.Cowie & Elley p.127 Her son, José Luccioni, is also an actor. Partial filmography * '' Gervaise'' (1956) - Clémence - une blanchisseuse, ouvrière chez Gervaise ...

: The passenger who dredges on the yacht * Martine Kelly : dancer who gets married * Daniel Bellus : The young motorist in the red light *

Jacqueline Doyen Jacqueline Doyen (14 February 1930 – 3 September 2006) was a French actress. She appeared in 80 films and television shows between 1956 and 1995. Filmography * ''Le salaire du péché'' (1956) – (uncredited) * ''L'étrange Monsieur Steve'' ...

: A motorist in the red light * Christor Georgiadis : Chris, taker of sound and cook of the troops * Vittoria Di Silverio: Rome's woman *

: The Sicilian girl *

Tiberio Murgia Tiberio Murgia (5 February 1929 – 20 August 2010) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1958 and 2009. Biography Born into a humble family, Murgia began working as a laborer from an early age. At the age of ...

: The Sicilian father *

: The commissioner

References

External links

*
L'homme orchestre
at the AlloCiné {{DEFAULTSORT:Homme Orchestre 1970 films French musical comedy films Italian musical comedy films 1970s French-language films 1970 comedy films Films directed by Serge Korber Films scored by François de Roubaix Gaumont (company) films 1970s Italian films 1970s French films