Mr. Freedom
| Mr. Freedom | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | William Klein |
| Produced by |
Guy Belfond Christian Thivat Michel Zemer |
| Written by | William Klein |
| Starring |
John Abbey Delphine Seyrig Donald Pleasence Philippe Noiret |
| Music by |
Michel Colombier Serge Gainsbourg |
| Cinematography | Pierre Lhomme |
| Edited by | Anne-Marie Cotret |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language |
English French |
Mr. Freedom is a 1969 film by the expatriate American photographer and filmmaker William Klein. Starring the popular French actress Delphine Seyrig, this anti-imperialist satirical farce has cameos by the well-known actors Donald Pleasence and Philippe Noiret, as well as the musician Serge Gainsbourg.[1]
Plot summary
Under the command of Dr. Freedom, the crass superhero Mr. Freedom (John Abbey) goes to France to stave off the advances of the mysterious French Anti-Freedom (FAF) organization. He joins forces with the femme fatale Marie-Madeleine to lead his own anti-communist Freedom organization. The Freedom mission is complicated by the machinations of communist foes — the Stalinist Muzhik Man and the ferocious Maoist Red China Man (portrayed as a giant inflatable dragon). France, refusing to see the FAF as a threat, rebuffs Freedom, leading to an escalation of Cold War tactics. In the end, betrayed, Mr. Freedom destroys himself trying to save the "unappreciative" nation.
Cast
- Delphine Seyrig as Marie-Madeleine
- John Abbey as Mr. Freedom
- Donald Pleasence as Dr. Freedom
- Jean-Claude Drouot as Dick Sensass
- Serge Gainsbourg as M. Drugstore
- Rufus as Freddie Fric
- Yves Lefebvre
- Sabine Sun
- Rita Maiden as Herself
- Colin Drake
- Pierre Baillot
- Raoul Billerey
- Philippe Noiret as Muzhik Man
- Sami Frey as Christ
- Catherine Rouvel as Marie-Rouge
- Monique Chaumette as Marie
- Odile Astie as Odile Astier
- Albert Augier
- Jean-Luc Bideau as Un combatant (as J.L. Bideau)
- Jean-Claude Bouillaud as J.C. Bouillaud
- Michel Creton
- Guy D'Avout
- Albert Dray
- Marcel Gassouk
- Michèle Loubet
- Henry Pillsbury
- Hugues Quester
- Eric Wasberg
- Daniel Cohn-Bendit as Himself (uncredited)
- Yves Montand as Capt. Formidable (uncredited)
- Simone Signoret as Cameo appearance (uncredited)
Reception
Fearing it may never be seen otherwise, Klein showed the film at the 1968 Avignon Festival. Marxist-Leninist groups criticized the political caricatures of Red China Man and other characters.[2]
References
- ↑ Mr. Freedom at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Smith, Alison. French Cinema in the 1970s: Echoes of May. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005