A funny and amusing satire about secret agents and James Bond especially , packing noisy action , entertainment, and lots of humor with tongue in cheek. In fact , it was one of the best spoofs of the James Bond and Euro-spy films in the Seventies . Here Jean Paul Belmondo is an out-of luck writer called Francois in his 43rd novella as well as a máster spy called Bob Saint Clair , while mixing fantasy and reality when he chases women and solves cases. While Jacqueline Bisset is a cute student and damsel in distress who is saved by Belmondo in Acapulco from the claws nasty Vittorio Caprioli. Philippe de Broca , the director of King of hearts ..the Man from Río...Cartouche , now returns with Belmondo and Bisset in this great action comedy !
A hectic , extravagant and sophisticated action movie with plenty of farce , adventure and hilarious situations . An adventure action movie heavily influenced by the comic books including fantasy , imagination, thrills and a lot of fun . A successful French film that was the highest grossing movie of the year 1973 . The picture benefis itself from the two main actors , the always sympathetic Jean Paul Belmondo and the gorgeous Jacqueline Bisset as the cute neighbour in her total total splendor , along with the attractive villain played by Vittorio Caprioli who appears as his editor and as Colonel Karpoff . And other secondaries giving brief but likeable interpretations as Hans Meyer and Jean Lefebre , the famous Gendarme of Saint Tropez along with Louis De Funes .
The motion picture was lavishly produced by Alexander Mnouchkine and amusingly directed by Philippe De Broca and made in similar style to The Man from Río 1964 starred by Belmondo and Ursula Andress . De Broca directed some nice movies , most of them comedies , action and adventures , such as Cartouche , The King of Hearts , Oldest profession, Le Cavaleur , Jupiter's thigh, The Green House , Louisiana, among others . And his fetish actor was the recently deceased Jean Paul Belmondo , being his best movie this Le Magnifique . Rating :7/10. Better than average . Well worth watching . The picture will appeal to Belmondo and Bisset fans .
