For 31 Years, Everyone’s Been Repeating This Famous Line Thinking They’re Funny

A memorable movie line can linger in the audience’s ears forever, especially when a film delivers one every five minutes. The film in question became an instant hit in theaters and remains the 15th biggest box-office success in France to this day.

With 13.7 million tickets sold at its release, “The Visitors” has secured its place as a staple of French comedy. It’s filled with unforgettable lines such as “Let me perish if I weaken,” “Okay,” “Mr. Ouch, not with your poncho” or “Where are the hens? I’m hungry!” and “You’re an ugly duckling but you’re quite tasty.”

Jacquouille Runs Amok

Upon their arrival in the modern era, both Jacquouille and Godefroy find it challenging to adapt to the new world they encounter. Fortunately, they meet Béatrice de Montmirail (Valérie Lemercier), who takes them into her home after rescuing them from the hospital. However, her house soon becomes a new battlefield for the two medieval characters.

Using an umbrella as a spit in the fireplace, washing up in the toilet, tossing expensive perfume into the bathtub, causing a flood, staining the carpet… their blunders are endless. That is until Jacquouille finds a less destructive but equally irritating pastime within the household!

“Day! Night! Day! Night!”

The discovery of the living room light switch is an epiphany for Godefroy’s squire, who starts flipping it on and off repeatedly while exclaiming “Day! Night! Day! Night!” perfectly mimicked by Christian Clavier. This goes on until Jean-Pierre remarks, “Is he going to keep doing that?”, and Béatrice de Montmirail eventually pleads, “Mr. Jacquouille, please, it’s getting annoying.”

The game stops then in the movie, but for the audience, it was already too late. The damage was done, and just as the “Okay” had been shouted across every playground at the time of the film’s release, the “day-night” game had (re?)become fashionable. Who, since the film, hasn’t played around with flicking lights on and off while repeating Jacquouille’s catchphrase, until being told to stop?

And you, what is your favorite line from The Visitors?