The Mad Adventures of 'Rabbi' Jacob

Directed by Gerard Oury
Film Movement Classics
1973
100 Minutes
France, Italy
French, English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic
Comedy, Jewish, Classics
G
DVD $34.95
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PPR $200.00
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DRL $499.00
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PPR+DRL $599.00
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Blu-ray $39.95
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PPR $200.00
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DRL $499.00
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PPR+DRL $599.00
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In this riot of frantic disguises and mistaken identities, Victor Pivert, a blustering, bigoted French factory owner, finds himself taken hostage by Slimane, an Arab rebel leader. The two dress up as rabbis as they try to elude not only assassins from Slimane's country, but also the police, who think Pivert is a murderer. Pivert ends up posing as Rabbi Jacob, a beloved figure who's returned to France for his first visit after 30 years in the United States. Adding to the confusion are Pivert's dentist-wife, who thinks her husband is leaving her for another woman, their daughter, who's about to get married, and a Parisian neighborhood filled with people eager to celebrate the return of Rabbi Jacob.

This film is presented as originally created. It is a product of its time and contains cultural or racial depictions that viewers may find offensive.

Cast

  • Louis de Funes
  • Suzy Delair
  • Marcel Dalio
  • Claude Giraud
  • Miou-Miou
  • Popeck
DVD Features

Interview with co-screenwriter Danièle Thompson
New essay by author Phoebe Maltz Bovy

Sound: Mono

Discs: 1

Blu-ray Features

Interview with co-screenwriter Danièle Thompson
New essay by author Phoebe Maltz Bovy

Sound: Mono

Discs: 1

  • Highest Rating
    "A slapstick masterpiece. One of the all-time funniest flicks."
    Phil Hall, Film Threat
  • Highest Rating
    "A slapstick farce co-written by Oury's daughter Danièle Thompson, it manages to quite literally candy-coat its bigoted hero, in one of the funniest scenes in one of the funniest movies to turn up this year."
    Michael Walsh, Province
  • Highest Rating
    "Supporting the star who works tirelessly — and mostly with success — for laughs, are a number of fine sight gags and some very good supporting actors, including Suzy Delair, who plays Mr. De Funes's wife, a bossy woman with a passion for dentistry."
    Vincent Canby, The New York Times
  • Highest Rating
    "When you need a good laugh, watch The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. This French comedy is absolutely ridiculous, so you can't help but be entertained. "
    Valerie Mitchell, Mama Likes This

Gallery

Awards & Recognition

Nominated
Best Foreign Film
Golden Globes

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