The Exchange Student

Charles Bosquier runs a private school and is annoyed when his eldest son Philippe flunks his exams. He schemes to send Philippe to England to polish his English, while the rich whisky maker Mac Farrell will host Philippe's exchange student in France. To keep the swap, Philippe secretly sends a stand-in, Michonnet, to England. The deception is soon uncovered, setting off a comedy of errors between two families divided by class and language. Neighbors and staff multiply the schemes, turning the Bosquiers' home into a playground for mistaken identities. As the ruse escalates, cultural clashes and romantic sparks complicate things, leading to a summer of misunderstandings, schemes, and farcical near-misses that threaten to derail the arrangement and sticky situations.

Directed by Jean Girault and Jacques Vilfrid, The Exchange Student premiered in 1967. Louis de Funès stars as Charles Bosquier, with Ferdy Mayne and Martine Kelly. An original screenplay rather than an adaptation, it relies on brisk pacing and banter.

Box office details for this 1967 comedy are not widely published, but the film helped popularize Louis de Funès style in European cinema and performed solidly in French markets, with repeat showings in art house theaters and drew regular audiences.

Louis de Funès delivers his brisk energy, giving Bosquier a patient but pompous edge. The film fits mid 60s cultural swap comedies, influencing later light hearted exchanges on screen and standing as a notable example of crowd pleasing farce. Its humor rests on timing and character dynamics rather than explosions.

Critics noted the brisk pacing and farcical set pieces, with the humor arising from mismatched expectations between English and French manners. The story explores class differences and the lure of romance across borders, delivered with playful satire rather than sting.