50 years ago he was the king of comedy in France: his films are finally being released in restored versions.

The name Philip Clair may mean nothing to you, but he has drawn more than 15 million viewers to theaters in just 16 films. Philippe Clair was the king of popular comedy in the 70s and 80s, thanks to his collaborations with established figures of the genre such as Michel Galabru, Jacques Dufilio, Francis Blanche and Aldo Macione.

Some of his movies were broadcast on cable channels in restored versions, others still had to be content to watch them on very poor quality VHS and were never seen in good condition for years, even if they were released!

Today, publishers Cinéfeel and Arcadès are joining forces to release a box set that brings together 10 of the filmmaker’s 16 feature films in their finest. Available now for €60:

• Click and Slaps, his first feature film, directed by Annie Girardot.
• La Grande java, or meeting Frances Blanche – Les Charlots in 4K!
• Le Grand fanfaron (sometimes infamously sold as Les Bidasses en cavale) with Michel Galabru in the middle of a Hindu journey trying to escape the Michelin Dax.
• How to achieve reform, a film about bad people.
• Reformers work well, it is a kind of continuation of the previous one.
• These weird cops somewhere else where they become reformed cops.
• Rodríguez in the Land of Merges, a parody adaptation of Corneille’s Le Cid.
• SHUT UP WHEN YOU TALK, a parody of the spy movie with Aldo McKeon.
• where did you come in We haven’t seen you release, perhaps Claire’s most famous title, with Jerry Lewis and… Connie Nielsen from Gladiator!
• You’ll Die Prettier Than Me, The Twins co-starred with Aldo McKeon.

In the show: absurd humor, a few knots in the brain and iconic lines. Enough to rediscover the world of Philippe Clair, especially since a new documentary signed by the French comedy specialist Gilles Bottineau is included, with interviews with Clair, who sadly passed away in 2020, and his son, singer and actor Esteban.

We can regret the absence of the iconic Führer en fou and five other titles that were perfectly composed: La Brigade en fou, La Grande maffia, Si t’ase you need anything, let me know, Situ go Rio…You will die and The extraordinary adventure of an extraordinary father .

AlloCiné-affiliated Philippe Clair’s entourage explains this absence as concerns about both film rights and production costs (which would then affect the final sale price).

We want to publish lost movies in whatever form we can see.They whisper in your ear. These films may end up in a future box if it finds its audience.

Often panned by critics at the time of their release for their poor cinematography, these films are somewhat the forefathers of La Bande à Fifi or Tuche and were able to attract millions of viewers to the cinema, despite the occasional murder. the press.

Alongside the box set, La Grande java and Plus beau que moi tu mort are being released on Blu-ray, and La Grande java will be screened in 4K on December 20th at the Cinémathèque française in Paris. Esteban. So shut up when you’re talking and go to all the good shops!