Mein Onkel Benjamin (1969)

Mein Onkel Benjamin: Directed by Édouard Molinaro. With Jacques Brel, Claude Jade, Bernard Alane, Rosy Varte. In the amorous mid 18th century under Louis XV, a country doctor risks danger and prison to pursue his seduction of the women of the bourgeoisie.

“I have fond memories of this movie, which used to be shown on French TV repeatedly in the 70u0026#39;s, and not only because of Jacques Brel. This is picaresque at its best, the story of a XVIIIe Century country doctor prone to applied libertinism (preferably in haystacks with well-endowed girls) and free-thinking. Shot in 1969, its u0026quot;paillardiseu0026quot; – bawdiness – is perhaps as faithful to the original novel as to its own time, and absolutely enjoyable. Think about a mixture of Cyrano and Tom Jones (the movie, not the singer). Brel is wonderful, though again the sympathetic proto-revolutionary hero, as are Claude Jade and the rest of a colorful cast.”