MovieChat Forums > Le roi de coeur (1967) Discussion > Why was it a failure in France?

Why was it a failure in France?

posted 18 years ago by Niffiwan
5 replies | jump to latest

I simply cannot figure this out at all... I first saw this film when our French teacher showed it to our class 5 years ago, and I've since bought a VHS copy and watched it again. It seems perfect - this is such a charming, funny and poignant film and it rates a "10" in my book. It doesn't have anything in common with "cult films" at all - it seems to me that it could appeal to a very large audience.

I simply can't understand why the French critics reportedly hated it and the public ignored it. Can anyone clue me in? Was it judged to be not "avant-garde" enough or something?

___ __ _
"I am very pleased with the proposals that I have put forward," said Thorwaldsson.

[–] speedfreak127 17 years ago

The only reason I can think of is that the protagonist was a British soldier.

[–] glasspopcorn 15 years ago

I'm confused too...maybe it just wasn't seen as that much of a "classic" "arty" film at the time. Think about it: now people see it as an amazing film, which it is, but a lot of that comes from the fact that it's old and it's French. The great ideas in the movie only make up about 1/3 of most peoples' interest. So think about it: at the time it was made, it obviously wasn't old, and it was made in France so the fact that it was French wasn't odd at all. Maybe without the modern art house appeal it seemed more average than it really was.

We all deserve to die. Even you, Mrs. Lovett, even I.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

Actually it bombed everwhere but WAS a big hit the US after its initial release. It was ignored but started catching on with the college crowd when the Vietnam war became a bog political battle. The film is anti-war and most college students were against it too. This played at Central Square Cinema in Cambridge MA for over five YEARS with Harvard University students seeing it again and again and again.

[–] gary-78-767034 13 years ago

Some of us sneaked over from Boston too...
There was a cartoon short before the film: Bambi Meets Godzilla. A real attention getter. It is on utube and only 1 1/2 minutes.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

LOL Oh yes--"Bambi Meets Godzilla"! I saw it a few times. VERY funny (the first time):)