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A First-Rate French Farce!, Mars 30 2002
Based on a play, Hotel Paradiso is a classic, light-hearted, and absolutely delightful French farce set in turn-of-the-century Paris. The actual storyline is very basic (ie. a married man seeking an evening of romance with a married woman); indeed, it must be basic to possibly allow for the complexity of the situations in which the characters find themselves and each other, the misinterpretations, and the elaborate (and comical) explanations that result. Never was the phrase, "Oh what a tangled web we weave" more appropriate than when applied here.There are two things that really make this production shine, however. First of all, there are no loose ends. Not only does every character have a role to play, but every single incident that occurs happens for a reason; no scenes have been included whimsically and without purpose. The story at times appears to be coming apart at the seams through misunderstandings and the entailing confusion, but such is in reality an intricately calculated illusion, for this is actually an extremely tightly-woven, carefully-controlled, and well-orchestrated production. It is thoroughly enjoyable for being so well-written, but it is all the more so for being so consummately acted by an ensemble which includes some of Britain's finest. By way of introduction and to give some idea of what to expect, M. Boniface (superbly played by Alec Guinness) fancies his next-door neighbour's wife, Mme. Cote (Gina Lollobrigida). With Mme. Boniface (a battle-axe of a wife) away for the evening and M. Cote (an architect) away on business for the night, M. Boniface seizes the opportunity to instigate a romantic liaison with Mme. Cote. But where to meet? Well, Mme. Boniface has just received a flyer advertising the newly-opened (and disreputable) Hotel Paradiso. While telling her husband of this disgraceful hotel, Mme. Boniface gives the flyer to her maid, Victoire (a very young Ann Beach--Fresh Field's "Sonya") to dispose of. (Victoire, by the way, has taken a fancy to M. Cote's nephew Maxim (a very young Derek Fowlds--Yes Minister's "Bernard").) In short, M. Boniface has found a place for his tryst with Mme. Cote (unaware that it is to this hotel that M. Cote's business has taken him). As if that's not enough, M. Martin, a friend of the Bonifaces, has arrived unexpectedly with his four daughters, but he must now find a hotel as the Bonifaces haven't enough room. M. Martin overhears Mme. Cote as she confirms the name and address of the hotel and thinks she is recommending it to him. And so the stage is set for what can only be described as a very fast-paced (indeed frantic) and very, very funny evening. One final character that I ought to mention is the police inspector. The role is not a large one, but it's wonderfully played by the late Leonard Rossiter (Rising Damp, Reggie Perrin). In conclusion, this is a splendid film, and it is sure to be enjoyed by fans of British comedy, for it is the stuff of which so much British comedy is made. It is well written, splendidly acted, and very funny--indeed, what more can one ask of a comedy? Highly recommended!
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