Delusions of Grandeur

Don Salluste de Bazan, minister to the King of Spain, wields wealth and influence while lining his pockets with taxes he never truly collects for the common good. His hypocrisy and greed earn him the ire of officials, nobles, and commoners alike. When the Queen, a Bavarian princess, publicly accuses him of bedding one of her ladies, the monarch strips him of his duties and orders him to retire to a monastery. Reduced to a figure of public derision, Salluste clings to any chance of revenge and restoration. To outwit his rivals and reclaim his status, he engineers a plan that trades disguises, manipulation, and rapid-fire dialogue and theatrical timing for comic effect. The result satirizes power, vanity, courtly intrigue and pretensions, revealing masks.

Directed by Gérard Oury and released in 1971, this French comedy draws on Victor Hugo's world of Ruy Blas for its seed of mischief while Louis de Funès and Yves Montand spark the screen with rapid back and forth.

Box office data is not included in available information, so this section cannot quote worldwide gross or admissions. The film remains a notable example of early 1970s French comedy thanks to its stars and director, with dialogue and pacing appreciated.

Louis de Funès as Don Salluste creates a brisk, villainous energy that defines the film, while Montand brings a sly working class edge to the valet Blaze. The blend of royal satire and broad humor left a mark on French popular culture and later comedies.

Critics praised the film for its brisk pace and energetic performances, while noting its light touch with history. Core themes include corruption at court, the performative nature of fame, and the gap between public image and private ambition. The movie resonates as a sharp reminder that vanity rarely ages well.