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Poster for The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

Seen it?

1973 | 100 min | Comedy

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It was critically acclaimed and it made about 13 times its budget, despite little lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1973: an older pace and style.

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 assasins 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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    Critically acclaimed

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $57 million worldwide on a $5 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 24K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Gérard Oury

  • Louis de FunèsVictor Pivert
  • Suzy DelairGermaine Pivert
  • Marcel DalioRabbi Jacob
  • Claude GiraudMohamed Larbi Slimane / Rabbi Zeiligman
  • Renzo MontagnaniFarès
  • Janet BrandtTzipé Schmoll
  • André FalconMinister
  • Xavier GélinAlexandre
  • Henri GuybetSalomon
  • PopeckMoishe Schmoll