Speed Scene Secrets: Christian Clavier on Filming Iconic Ski Moments in Les Bronzés!

The memorable pig scene in Patrice Leconte’s “Les Bronzés font du ski” was nearly cut from the film. Last year, during an interview on France Inter, actors Gérard Jugnot, Marie-Anne Chazel, and Thierry Lhermitte discussed this standout moment, which is featured in the book Le Splendid par le Splendid (2024) they were promoting.

In this famous sequence, Jérôme (played by Christian Clavier) is about to go skiing with Popeye (Thierry Lhermitte) when he’s urgently summoned to treat a patient. Upon arrival, he discovers that the “patient” is actually a pig named Copain, a play on the French phrase “Copain comme cochon” (thick as thieves).

Somewhat Improvised Backstage, No Animal Harmed

On the radio, Thierry Lhermitte shared that the scene required some unexpected arrangements.

“We weren’t supposed to do it. The pig was anesthetized, poor thing, so it could be tied down on a doctor’s examination table. But the building wasn’t aware… We had rented the medical office to shoot the scene, but we hadn’t mentioned we’d be putting a pig on the examination table!”

The scene remains unforgettable thanks to the hilarious dialogue delivered by Christian Clavier: “Why did you come here? I don’t treat animals! (…) He’s anemic? Just eat him, I don’t know what else to tell you: EAT HIM! (…) You heard me: EAT HIM!”

Marie-Anne Chazel assured viewers that the animal was not mistreated.

Clavier also noted in the book that the pig had been discreetly transported in a costume trunk, and they had to shoot quickly.

“This huge beast had been brought in hidden inside a costume trunk. We had to be quick because the vet told us that after an hour and a half, the pig would wake up, and it would be better for us if we had finished filming by then! You can imagine how fast we were moving, at least I was!”

A Book Recounting the Group’s Memories

These anecdotes, among others, are compiled in Le Splendid par le Splendid, a collective work released in November 2024, which the late Michel Blanc contributed to before passing away the month before its release. Fans can find these stories and more about the troop directly in bookstores.

Les Bronzés font du ski is available on VOD.