Pierre Richard Recalls Filming with Legendary Actor’s “Great Bad Faith”

Before becoming one of the most beloved faces of French comedy, Pierre Richard achieved his first major success in 1970 with “Le Distrait.” In this first feature film as a director, he also cast himself in the lead role, playing a particularly clumsy young man recruited by an advertising agency.

Opposite him was a far more experienced actor: Bernard Blier, who portrayed the company’s director. A true legend of French cinema, the young filmmaker approached him with considerable trepidation.

Directing Bernard Blier in His First Film

Last year, during the release of “The Man Who Saw the Bear,” Pierre Richard delved into his memories. Invited to the podcast “À voix nue” on France Inter, the then 91-year-old actor recounted how intimidating it was to direct Bernard Blier.

“I adored Bernard, but I was very scared at the beginning. He had done 103 films, it was my first, and he was under my direction. It’s not easy to say: ‘Cut! Bernard, that wasn’t good, you’re not very good.’ I was terrified of him, especially since he had a reputation for being somewhat difficult. One day, I told him: ‘You know, you have the reputation of being mean?’ He responded: ‘I’m not mean, but I don’t like idiots!’”

However, fear soon gave way to genuine affection between the two men. Pierre Richard especially remembers a partner as talented as he was capable of defending the indefensible with disarming confidence.

“He was the man with the greatest bad faith I have ever met. To that extent, it becomes poetic,” he said with a smile, reminiscing about the unforgettable actor from “Les Tontons flingueurs.”

The Folder Hiding a Cheat Sheet

This notorious insincerity notably manifested during the filming of a scene in which Bernard Blier had to recite a long monologue while walking down a hallway. Upon arriving on set, the actor suddenly suggested adding a prop to the scene.

“One morning, he arrives. He had a long monologue in a long hallway. He says to me, ‘You know, I thought last night. What if I had a folder?’ I ask him, ‘Bernard, why a folder?’ And he says, ‘Well, because I’m the president. A company president, he has a folder!’ I therefore tell the assistant to give Bernard a folder. Bernard goes to get makeup done, and the assistant, checking if he’s gone, tells me: ‘He doesn’t know his lines. When he doesn’t know his lines, he asks for a folder and puts the script in the folder.’ And it was true!”

The actor’s explanation might have seemed perfectly coherent with his character. In reality, the document mainly allowed him to discreetly consult his lines during the take.

Eighteen Takes Because of a Simple “Pause”

But walking, acting, and reading a text hidden in a folder proved more complicated than expected. Bernard Blier’s hesitations forced Pierre Richard to frequently stop the camera. Yet, the actor refused to admit any forgetfulness.

“Bernard says to me, ‘Why did you cut?’ I reply, ‘There was a pause, I thought you forgot your line.’ And then he says, ‘It’s not a forgotten line, it’s a pause.’ He turns to the crew and says, looking at me, ‘Such bad faith!’” recounted Pierre Richard, laughing.

The scene ultimately required no fewer than 18 takes. A mishap that did nothing to lessen Pierre Richard’s admiration for his co-star, whom he still sees as “a tremendous actor.”

With over 1.4 million viewers in French theaters, “Le Distrait” gave Pierre Richard the real starting point of his career. Two years later, he cemented his status as a new key figure in comedy with “The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe.” The rest, as they say, is history.

“Le Distrait” is now available to rediscover on VOD.

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