Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard

Well, I recall this one as sort of a Faydeau farce. The first two ('Fantomas' in 1964 and 'Fantomas Returns' the following year) were authentic French action adventure dramas created in direct competition to the 007 craze then sweeping France. They had James Bondish plots with a great deal of humour by Louis de Fumes. The final, Scotland Yard installment of this 1964-1966 trilogy was light on plot and heavy on comedy.

Still, the cinemascope color photography was stunning in all three films. And where else can one see a Scottish castle's tower suddenly turned into a rocket launch pad?

I´ve seen this movie about three times and I´m convinced that it is better than the two others.

But a very good film about "Fantomas" is still missing.

Unfortunately there won´t be another one with great Louis De Funès and Jean Marais.

No pun intended - especially when it comes to the catching the bad guy business. There is a twist towards the end - although I am not sure, if movie savvy audiences today would really be caught being surprised. The one thing you have to get over with, is how incredible ... let's call them gullible the people are who are after Fantomas! I would not really say he is that clever - maybe he is though, but they make it easy for him too.

But that is where the comedy comes from I guess. You have to suspend your disbelief and let Luis and the others work their magic. In the previous entry Luis even had a gadget. Almost Bond like .. even if that makes no sense, but it was fun to see. As impractical as his hands up thing was ... although: if he only was as clever as he was good at shooting ... I assume if someone would break down scenes of him holding the gun and shooting ... I'm certain they would not be too fond of his ... let's call it technique. Still this is the last entry ... for some reason. And maybe the conclusion works for you or it doesn't ... but it is what it is. And you can always go back and revisit the movie. Just suspend your disbelief before you do that.

The third of the series spends too much time and energy on Inspector Juve's more hysterical than usual performance being scared by fake ghosts in the style of the Three Stooges or Laurel & Hardy. The great Jean Marais has little to do as does Mylene Demongeot who has a funny bit when she kicks Marais in the butt for flirting with a sexy older woman, wife of the Scottish castle's owner and Fantomas' target for blackmail. de Fumes crazed performances as Juve can be an energy-draining experience, more in this film than in the previous two films. Over 50 during the Fantomas cycle, Marais was in great condition and did his own stunts. Demongeot is gorgeous and comedic yet sultry. A better script, more spectacular, was needed to end the trilogy worthy of Marais.

Fontamas contra scotland yard is the final installment in a delightful trilogy, and it truly delivers on all fronts. This 1967 film stars the incredible Louis de Funès and Jean Marais, and it's a masterclass in comedy, excitement, and suspense.

The chemistry between Louis and Jean is simply perfect; their performances are filled with energy, wit, and humor. The story is cleverly crafted, keeping you engaged and entertained from start to finish. Every scene is well-executed, balancing moments of laughter with genuine tension and intrigue. It's the kind of film that leaves you wanting more, wishing that the adventures of Fontamas would continue.

For fans of classic French cinema, this is an absolute must-watch. I give it a 10/10 for its flawless execution and for being a truly enjoyable experience that showcases the best of Louis de Funès' work.