The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973)

Finally a comedy that deals with issues related to the Jewish religion without a hint of disrespect. Hilarious from beginning to end, this movie is a model of its genre.

Fmovies: Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this movie? I saw it in 1973 and can only remember that I was glad it was in subtitles because the laughter drowned out the dialogue. The juxtaposition of rabbis that weren't, with other Jews was hilarious. This movie was heavy with slapstick type humor as well. Loved it !

Give Louis de Funes a good role and the freedom to go nuts, and you will have a good movie. In Rabbi Jacob, Funes is the owner of an industrial plant who "knows that the people like to be lied to" ("mais il AIME qu'on lui mente, le peuple!"). His character is intolerant of Arabs, Jews, Blacks, etc. At one point during the story, however, he must take on the identity of a Rabbi and try to pass himself off as Jewish in order to save his hide. With him is an Arab, who must do the same. If you've seen de Funes before, I'm sure you can imagine the hilarious scenes that arise out of this predicament.

The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob fmovies. I've just watched this again as the DVD is now available in France, I had no idea it had been subtitled in English as the version I've seen just has the original French - if you can watch it without subtitles to appreciate the original French humour it's worth it. I think one of the funniest scenes is when the loud over-the-top older Jewish lady meets LDF in his disguise as Rabbi Jacob at the airport & they talk about different types of fur coats in crazy accents & with the maddest wordplay ever I can't imagine how this was translated into English (especially as I'm a translator myself!). The film is totally ridiculous and combines wit with lots of visual humour, wordplay, the whole lot. As for the dance my 8 year old daughter does an excellent version of it! Louis de Funès - RIP. The world is definitely darker without him. I'm British and to my knowledge this film, and none of LDF's films are known in Britain which is a great pity, if anyone knows otherwise please put me right!

A really funny movie, in my opinion the best of Louis de Funès' movies. For everyone who hasn't seen him yet: You're really missing out on a treat. But watch it in french (with subtitles if necessary) because it is so much better in the original!!!!!

Louis de Funès was the comedian of the french television and is still extremely popular there as in many other countries like Belgium or Germany (in Germany at least a bit) I can recommend every movie he has made, but this one is still my favourite!!

Gerard Oury, the husband of Michelle Morgan, was an actor who turned director. His movies as an actor where mostly unimportant, but his movies as a director are superb. Adventures of Rabbi Jacob with the great comedian Louis de Funs is probably his greatest achievement to date. In the plot, De Funs, and antisemite, is obliged to pose as a Jew, in order to save his life!! This concept alone is enough to trigger an avalanche of comedic situations unsurpassed in any previous de Fun's movie, and fitting his cinema persona as a glove. The supporting cast is also superb, and includes Suzy Delair as his dentist wife, and other well known French actors. Unfortunately this movie is unavailable even in France, but I am sure that it will soon appear on DVD as have some other de Funs movies at this time, two by Gerard Oury.