''Mon oncle Benjamin'' (''My Uncle Benjamin'') is a 1969 French film directed by

Édouard Molinaro Édouard Molinaro (13 May 1928 – 7 December 2013) was a French film director and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Bordeaux, Gironde. He is best known for his comedies with Louis de Funès (''Oscar (1967 film), Oscar'', ''Hibernatus''), ...

, starring

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world ...

and

Claude Jade Claude Marcelle Jorré, better known as Claude Jade (; 8 October 1948 – 1 December 2006), was a French actress. She starred as Antoine Doinel#Christine Darbon, Christine in François Truffaut's three films ''Stolen Kisses'' (1968), ''Bed and B ...

. The film is based on a once-popular French comic novel ' by Claude Tillier (1842). The 1969 film '' Don't Grieve'', directed by the Georgian Georgi Daneliya, is also based on Tillier's novel as was

Francis Bousquet Francis Bousquet (9 September 1890 – 21 December 1942) was a French composer. Educated at the Conservatoire de Paris, he won the Prix de Rome in 1923. His compositions included three operas, a ballet, and several symphonic and chamber music wo ...

's 1942 comic opera ''Mon oncle Benjamin''.Yoken, Melvin B. (1978)
"Claude Tillier"
''The Old Century and the New: Essays in Honor of Charles Angoff'', pp. 228–229. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. The film was released on 28 November 1969.

Plot

The story is set in 1750 during the time of

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...

. Benjamin (Jacques Brel) is a country doctor in love with the beautiful innkeeper's daughter, Manette (Claude Jade), but she refuses his advances until he produces a marriage contract. After suffering a humiliating practical joke and condemned to prison, Benjamin escapes with Manette, who realizes she prefers happiness to a marriage contract after all.

Cast

– Benjamin Rathery *

– Manette *

Bernard Alane Bernard Alane (born Bernard Noël Vetel; 25 December 1948) is a French actor and singer. He is the son of actress Annick Alane. He is best known in France for his roles in two films directed by Edouard Molinaro, '' Hibernatus'' and '' Mon oncl ...

– Pont-Cassé *

Robert Dalban Robert Dalban (born Gaston Barré; 19 July 1903 – 3 April 1987) was a French actor. His work included stage acting, roles in TV shows and dubbing American stars. Moreover, he was a fixture in French cinema for many decades. Selected filmogra ...

– Innkeeper *

Bernard Blier Bernard Blier (; 11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor. Life and career Blier was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time. His rotund featu ...

– Marquis *

Rosy Varte Rosy Varte (22 November 1923 – 14 January 2012) was a French actress of Armenian descent. She made more than 100 film and television appearances during her career. She starred in the 1972 film '' The Bar at the Crossing'', which was ente ...

– Bettine *

Paul Frankeur Paul Frankeur (29 June 1905 – 27 October 1974) was a French actor who had a successful Hollywood career and appeared in films by Jacques Tati'','' such as ''Jour de fête'' and Luis Buñuel, including ''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' ...

– Minxit * Lyne Chardonnet – Arabelle *

Armand Mestral Armand Mestral (born ''Armand Serge Zelikson''; 25 November 1917 - 17 September 2000) was a French actor and singer. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1945 to 1992. Filmography References External links * 1917 births 2000 d ...

– Machecourt *

Paul Préboist Paul Préboist (21 February 1927 – 4 March 1997) was a French actor. He appeared in more than hundred films, mostly in supporting roles, and is best known as a comic actor. Filmography Theater References External links *Paul Préboista ...

– Parlenta * Daniela Surina – Marquise of Cambyse

References

External links

*
Picture Jacques Brel and Claude Jade
1969 films 1969 romantic comedy films Films based on French novels French romantic comedy films Films directed by Édouard Molinaro Films set in 1750 Films set in France 1960s French films Films about physicians {{1960s-France-film-stub