Le Splendid is a café-théâtre founded in Paris by a collection of writers and actors in the 1970s: Christian Clavier, Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte (four childhood friends who knew one another from the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine), Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin. The members of the company went on to become some of the most significant actors and directors in French cinema from the 1980s onwards and have collectively won many César Awards.
Anémone, Dominique Lavanant and Martin Lamotte have often worked with the troupe on stage and in films, but were not part of the collective. The café-théâtre was located in the Rue des Lombards in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
Members Main members Josiane Balasko Michel Blanc Marie-Anne Chazel Christian Clavier Gérard Jugnot Thierry Lhermitte
Collaborators Anémone Dominique Lavanant Bruno Moynot Martin Lamotte
Theatre Je Vais Craquer Ma Tête est Malade Le Pot de Terre Contre le Pot de Vin Bunny's Bar ou Les Hommes Préfèrent Les Grosses (adapted into film 1981) Amours, coquillages et crustacés (stage version of the film Les Bronzés) Le Père Noël est une ordure
Filmography 1978 : French Fried Vacation directed by Patrice Leconte 1979 : French Fried Vacation 2 directed by Patrice Leconte 1982 : Santa Claus Is a Stinker directed by Jean-Marie Poiré 1983 : Gramps Is in the Resistance directed by Jean-Marie Poiré 1994 : Dead Tired directed by Michel Blanc 2006 : French Fried Vacation 3 directed by Patrice Leconte
Individually each member of Le Splendid has had a successful career, collectively comprising hundreds of films and plays.
Box-office Movies starring one or all members of the Splendid with more than a million of ticket sales.
Films Director Members Year Tickets sold (France)1 Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra Alain Chabat Clavier 2002 2 Les Visiteurs Jean-Marie Poiré Clavier & Chazel 1993 3 Serial (Bad) Weddings Philippe de Chauveron Clavier 2014 4 French Fried Vacation 3 Patrice Leconte All 2006 5 The Dinner Game Francis Veber Lhermitte 1998 6 Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar Claude Zidi Clavier 1999 7 The Chorus Christophe Barratier Jugnot 2004 8 The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time Jean-Marie Poiré (2) Clavier & Chazel 1998 9 Un indien dans la ville Hervé Palud Lhermitte 1994 10 Marche à l'ombre Michel Blanc Blanc 1984 11 My New Partner Claude Zidi (2) Lhermitte 1984 12 Les Anges gardiens Jean-Marie Poiré (3) Clavier 1995 13 Going Places Bertrand Blier Lhermitte & Jugnot 1974 14 Little Nicholas Laurent Tirard Jugnot 2009 15 The Closet Francis Veber (2) Lhermitte 2001 16 The New Adventures of Aladdin Arthur Benzaquen Blanc 2015 17 Gramps Is in the Resistance Jean-Marie Poiré (4) Clavier, Jugnot, Balasko, Blanc & Lhermitte 1983 18 French Twist Josiane Balasko Balasko 1995 19 Serial Teachers Pierre-François Martin-Laval Clavier 2013 20 Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia Laurent Tirard (2) Jugnot 2012 21 Je vous trouve très beau Isabelle Mergault Blanc 2005 22 Babysitting 2 Nicolas Benamou & Philippe Lacheau Clavier 2015 23 Animal Claude Zidi (3) Balasko 1977 24 Tenue de soirée Bertrand Blier (2) Blanc 1986 25 Le Maître d'école Claude Berri Balasko 1981 26 Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo Vincent McEveety Jugnot & Balasko 1977 27 My New Partner II Claude Zidi (4) Lhermitte 1990 28 Didier Alain Chabat (2) Balasko 1997 29 Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine Patrice Leconte (2) Blanc & Chazel 1981 30 L'Enquête Corse Alain Berbérian Clavier 2004 31 The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent Gérard Oury Balasko 1984 32 Uranus Arlette Langmann & Claude Berri (2) Blanc 1990 33 Neuilly Yo Mama! Gabriel Julien-Laferrière Balasko 2009 34 The Umbrella Coup Gérard Oury (2) Jugnot 1980 35 Pinot simple flic Gérard Jugnot Jugnot 1984 36 The Lady Banker Francis Girod Lhermitte 1980 37 Babysitting Nicolas Benamou & Philippe Lacheau (2) Jugnot 2014 38 French Fried Vacation Patrice Leconte (3) All 1978 39 The Visitors: Bastille Day Jean-Marie Poiré (5) Clavier & Chazel 2016 40 The Joint Brothers Hervé Palud (2) Balasko 1986 41 A Crime in Paradise Jean Becker Balasko 2001 42 Back to Mom's Éric Lavaine Balasko 2016 43 Pardon Mon Affaire, Too! Yves Robert Balasko 1977 44 La Vengeance d'une blonde Jeannot Szwarc Clavier, Chazel & Lhermitte 1994 45 Too Beautiful for You Bertrand Blier (3) Balasko 1989 46 Dead Tired Michel Blanc (2) All 1994 47 Men Prefer Fat Girls Jean-Marie Poiré (6) Balasko & Lhermitte 1981 48 Le zèbre Jean Poiret Lhermitte 1992 49 Pas de problème ! Georges Lautner Jugnot 1975 50 La 7ème compagnie au clair de lune Robert Lamoureux Jugnot 1977 51 Monsieur Batignole Gérard Jugnot (2) Jugnot 2002 52 Cours après moi ... que je t'attrape Robert Pouret Chazel & Blanc 1976 53 Scout toujours... Gérard Jugnot (3) Jugnot 1985 54 Une époque formidable... Gérard Jugnot (4) Jugnot 1991 55 La Totale! Claude Zidi (5) Lhermitte 1991 56 French Fried Vacation 2 Patrice Leconte (4) All 1982 57 La nouvelle guerre des boutons Christophe Barratier (2) Jugnot 2011 58 Santa Claus Is a Stinker Jean-Marie Poiré (7) All 1979 59 Summer Things Michel Blanc (3) Blanc 2002 60 La Soif de l'or Gérard Oury (3) Clavier 1993 61 Les Rois du gag Claude Zidi (6) Jugnot & Lhermitte 1985 62 Le mariage du siècle Philippe Galland Lhermitte 1985 63 My Best Friend's Girl Bertrand Blier (4) Lhermitte 1983 64 L'opération Corned Beef Jean-Marie Poiré (8) Clavier 1991 65 The Race Djamel Bensalah Balasko & Jugnot 2002 66 Asterix and the Big Fight Philippe Grimond Chazel 1989 67 The Well-Digger's Daughter Daniel Auteuil Chazel 2011 68 Le coup de sirocco Alexandre Arcady Chazel & Jugnot 1979 69 Nuit d'ivresse Bernard Nauer Balasko, Lhermitte & Jugnot 1986 70 Absolutely Fabulous Gabriel Aghion Balasko 2001 71 Le prix à payer Alexandra Leclère Clavier 2007 72 Twist again à Moscou Jean-Marie Poiré (9) Clavier 1986 73 Le quart d'heure américain Philippe Galland (2) Jugnot 1982 74 Paris 36 Christophe Barratier (3) Jugnot 2008 75 Promotion canapé Didier Kaminka Lhermitte 1990 76 Pour cent briques, t'as plus rien... Édouard Molinaro Jugnot 1982 77 On aura tout vu Georges Lautner (2) Jugnot, Blanc & Chazel 1976 78 The Toy Francis Veber (3) Jugnot 1976 79 La gitane Philippe de Broca Chazel 1986 80 Just Visiting Jean-Marie Poiré (10) Clavier 2001 81 Boudu Gérard Jugnot (5) Jugnot 2005 82 Ma femme s'appelle reviens Patrice Leconte (5) Blanc 1982 83 Most Promising Young Actress Gérard Jugnot (6) Jugnot & Lhermitte 2000 84 My Life Is Hell Josiane Balasko (2) Balasko 1991 85 Un été d'enfer Michael Schock Lhermitte 1984 86 The Roommates Party Alexandra Leclère (2) Balasko 2015 87 Let Joy Reign Supreme Bertrand Tavernier Blanc, Clavier, Lhermitte & Jugnot 1975 88 Mauvais esprit Patrick Alessandrin Lhermitte 2003 89 Merci la vie Bertrand Blier (5) Blanc 1991 90 Circulez y'a rien à voir Patrice Leconte (6) Blanc 1983 91 Signes extérieurs de richesse Jacques Monnet Balasko 1983 92 Lady Cops Josiane Balasko (3) Balasko 1987 93 Je vais craquer !!! François Leterrier Clavier 1980 94 Effroyables jardins Jean Becker (2) Lhermitte 2003 95 Memories Jean-Paul Rouve Blanc 2014 96 Le prince du Pacifique Alain Corneau Lhermitte 2000 97 Fanfan Alexandre Jardin Lhermitte 1993 98 Casque bleu Gérard Jugnot (7) Jugnot 1994 99 Do Not Disturb Patrice Leconte (7) Clavier 2014 100 La Gueule de l'autre Pierre Tchernia Blanc 1979
Christian Clavier play in 25 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 122 167 881 ticket. Thierry Lhermitte play in 29 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 109 850 038 ticket. Gérard Jugnot play in 33 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 105 415 238 ticket. Josiane Balasko play in 26 movies over a million of entries. The films in which she played has sold 78 534 082 ticket. Michel Blanc play in 21 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 69 400 706 ticket. Marie-Anne Chazel play in 16 movies over a million of entries. The films in which she played has sold 60 138 655 ticket.
Awards Cannes Film Festival Year Category Recipient Film Result 1986 Best Actor AwardMichel Blanc Tenue de soirée 1994 Palme d'OrDead Tired Best Screenplay Award
César Award Year Category Recipient Film Result 1985 César Award for Best First Feature FilmMichel Blanc Marche à l'ombre 1987 César Award for Best Actor Tenue de soirée 1988 César Award for Best Actor Gérard Jugnot Tandem 1990 César Award for Best Actor Michel Blanc Monsieur Hire César Award for Best Actress Josiane Balasko Too Beautiful for You 1992 César Award for Best Actor Gérard Jugnot Une époque formidable... 1994 César Award for Best ActorChristian ClavierLes Visiteurs César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation César Award for Best Actress Josiane Balasko Not Everybody's Lucky Enough to Have Communist Parents 1995 César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation Michel Blanc Dead Tired 1996 César Award for Best Original Screenplay or AdaptationJosiane BalaskoFrench Twist César Award for Best Film César Award for Best Director 1998 César Award for Best Supporting Actor Gérard Jugnot Marthe 2000 Honorary César Josiane Balasko 2003 César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation Michel Blanc Summer Things 2004 César Award for Best Actress Josiane Balasko That Woman 2005 César Award for Best Actor Gérard Jugnot The Chorus 2007 César Award for Best ActorMichel Blanc Je vous trouve très beau 2008 César Award for Best Actor The Witnesses 2012 César Award for Best Supporting Actor The Minister
Thierry Lhermitte and Marie-Anne Chazel have never been nominated for a César Award. Josiane Balasko is the most awarded with 2 César and Michel Blanc, the most nominated with 8 nomination.
European Film Awards Year Category Recipient Film Result 2004 European Film Award for Best Actor Gérard Jugnot The Chorus
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Recipient Film Result 1995 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film Josiane Balasko French Twist
Lumière Awards Year Category Recipient Film Result 1996 Lumière Award for Best Screenplay Josiane Balasko French Twist 2007 Lumière Award for Best Actor Michel Blanc Je vous trouve très beau 2014 Lumière Award for Best Actor Thierry Lhermitte The French Minister
References