screenplay

Theme

A frozen male body is found at the north pole. Upon thawing, the man awakes thinking it is 1905. It turns out businessman de Funès’ wife is the man’s granddaughter, so they refurnish the house in turn-of-the-century fashion and transfer him to France. Weak script, coauthored by de Funès himself, makes this one of his less enjoyable outings. Jean-Bernard Luc’s play, on which this is based, may have been critical of society, but as a comedy this material just isn’t funny enough. Preboist steals the film as idiotic butler. Editing is above average. Score by Georges Delerue. Olivier is Louis’ son.


screenplay
Louis de Funès, Claude Gensac, Martine Kelly
This comedy finds a family turned upside down by a new addition to the house. Hubert (Louis De Funes) and his wife (Claude-Gensac) are shocked to discover her grandfather has been found frozen in a block of ice at the South Pole. Scientists revive the man, who still appears to be 25 years old. Hubert is reluctant to take in the man until he learns he is extremely wealthy. Doctors keep the news of the ... Read moreThis comedy finds a family turned upside down by a new addition to the house. Hubert (Louis De Funes) and his wife (Claude-Gensac) are shocked to discover her grandfather has been found frozen in a block of ice at the South Pole. Scientists revive the man, who still appears to be 25 years old. Hubert is reluctant to take in the man until he learns he is extremely wealthy. Doctors keep the news of the man's fortune from him and swear Hubert to secrecy so the man won't suddenly die from the shock. Hubert is full of familial affection for his wife's grandfather, who is mistaken for Hubert's son. The grandfather ends up marrying the fiancee of Hubert's son. Although the premise for this story is amusing, it was used in the American television program "The Second Hundred Years" in 1967 and should hardly be considered original.


 

Hibernatus (1969, FRA/ITA)

C-82m. Scope

Director : Edouard MOLINARO.

Co-author : Jean BERNARD-LUC

Based on the Jean Bernard-Luc’ play : « HIBERNATUS »

Starring :

Louis de Funès, Claude Gensac, Bernard Alane, Olivier de Funès, Eliette Demay, Martine Kelly, Jacques Legras, Pascal Mazotti, Claude Piéplu, Paul Preboist, Yves Vincent, Michel Lonsdale.

 

Summary: Pleasant little comedy

This is a neat little comedy about a man who has survived in a frozen state for more than half a century. When he wakes up (not having aged at all) all his surroundings have been adapted to make him believe he is still living in his own time. Of course, this charade cannot be maintained for very long.

This is a pleasant little comedy, giving people a nice excuse to wear colourful old-fashioned clothes, without necessarily behaving the way the clothes and the decor would indicate. The film has its weaknesses, in particular it is difficult to see why the scientists go through all the trouble. Worse, Olivier de Funes (who plays it straight) lacks the required charisma to carry the film, and we don't get quite enough action from his famous father.



Hibernatus (1969, FRA/ITA) C-82m. Scope ** D: Edouard Molinaro. Starring Louis de Funès, Claude Gensac, Bernard Alane, Olivier de Funès, Eliette Demay, Martine Kelly, Jacques Legras, Pascale Lazotti, Claude Piéplu, Paul Preboist, Yves Vincent, Michel Lonsdale. A frozen male body is found at the north pole. Upon thawing, the man awakes thinking it is 1905. It turns out businessman de Funès’ wife is the man’s granddaughter, so they refurnish the house in turn-of-the-century fashion and transfer him to France. Weak script, coauthored by de Funès himself, makes this one of his less enjoyable outings. Jean-Bernard Luc’s novel, on which this is based, may have been critical of society, but as a comedy this material just isn’t funny enough. Preboist steals the film as idiotic butler. Editing is above average. Score by Georges Delerue. Olivier is Louis’ son.