"Vive Henri IV ,vive l'amour" is part of Autant-Lara's weak era (roughly from 1958 to 1961) an era when he was filming rubbish.They say he had to accept the dirty work to be able to make his "Tu ne Tueras Point" (1961-1963) ,the only French film dealing with conscientious objection.
"Vive Henri IV ,vive l'Amour" looks like a poor man's Guitry in spite of Jeanson who occasionally comes up with one good line or two.It's cardboard characters history ;they are as much alive as in a wax museum .Some actors have only one scene or two (Blier as Sully,Danielle Darrieux,Nicole Courcel).The plot revolves around the king's desire for Mademoiselle de Montmorency who could be his granddaughter (she's 17,he's 57).He marries her to Prince de Condé,provided that His Majesty will replace him for the wedding night.But young handsome Condé is not prepared to accept it and he runs away with his wife to the monarch's great displeasure.
Overall,it is entertaining stuff ;if you forget history, Melina Mercouri who overplays as queen Marie de Medicis,and an unpleasant scene in a monastery where Condé is mistaken for a homosexual,the rest is bawdy moderately enjoyable stuff.If you do not ask too much,you can watch...
