The third of the series spends too much time and energy on Inspector Juve's more hysterical than usual performance being scared by fake ghosts in the style of the Three Stooges or Laurel & Hardy. The great Jean Marais has little to do as does Mylene Demongeot who has a funny bit when she kicks Marais in the butt for flirting with a sexy older woman, wife of the Scottish castle's owner and Fantomas' target for blackmail. de Fumes crazed performances as Juve can be an energy-draining experience, more in this film than in the previous two films. Over 50 during the Fantomas cycle, Marais was in great condition and did his own stunts. Demongeot is gorgeous and comedic yet sultry. A better script, more spectacular, was needed to end the trilogy worthy of Marais.
Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard
1967 [FRENCH]
Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Fantasy
Plot summary
In the third and final episode of the trilogy, Fantômas imposes a head tax on the rich, threatening to kill those who do not comply.
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September 27, 2020 at 03:45 AM
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Any Fantomas is better than no Fantomas
FANTOMAS VERSUS Scotland YARD (Andre' Hunebelle, 1967) **1/2
This is undoubtedly the least of the series (and is saved from a ** rating by a hair): Fantomas is back to his old tricks, deciding that the time has come to tax the higher echelon of society of a good chunk of their wealth (no doubt the common people would applaud his efforts) - but, by now, the formula had grown pretty tired and the comic relief, regrettably, had practically obscured the romantic couple's purposefulness!
Still, why the setting has been changed to Scotland (of all places) is unclear, especially since Scotland Yard only really comes into play at the very end! What we get, in fact, is a lot of old jokes about ostensibly haunted castles, disappearing corpses and frightened manservants - with Louis De Funes' Commissioner Juve in the thick of it! - which are better suited to a Bob Hope or Abbott & Costello vehicle rather than one concerning the exploits of an iconic criminal mastermind!!; there's even the traditional fox-hunt which Fantomas disrupts by throwing in his own dog (barely disguised in fox furs) as a decoy!
Finally, the master criminal exits by way of a shuttle fired through the castle tower: how he managed to get it inside unobserved (and keep it from being discovered by the owners and their numerous guests, including our intrepid heroes) is anybody's guess! Unfortunately, then, the series ends on a bit of a whimper but it's sheer fun nonetheless and, ultimately, that's what really matters...
Final chapter in the "Fantomas" series; a little tired
Fantomas goes communist? Well, not exactly. Although he taxes the rich heavily, he does not intend to re-distribute their wealth - he prefers to keep it all for himself! This third and last mid-1960s "Fantomas" film is mostly set in and around a Scottish castle, which automatically means that Inspector Juve will wear a kilt and be scared by fake ghosts. Much of the comedy is long, loud and labored, which is unfortunate, because Louis De Funes does show that he could pull off more subtle comedy, like he does in one scene where he tries to snatch some jewels. There is one exciting action scene - a horse chase - though this time, unlike what happens in the 1964 "Fantomas", Jean Marais' high-flying stunts are obviously doubled. Mylene Demongeot has a little more to do here. The finale leaves the door wide open for another sequel, but it never materialized. ** out of 4.