Film Still

Mr. Freedom

William Klein

France

1969

92 minutes

Color

1.66:1

English

Synopsis

William Klein moved into more blatantly political territory with this hilarious, vicious Vietnam-era lampoon of imperialist American foreign policy. Mr. Freedom (John Abbey), a bellowing good-ol’-boy superhero decked out in copious football padding, jets to France to cut off a Commie invasion from Switzerland. A destructive, arrogant patriot in tight pants, Freedom joins forces with Marie Madeleine (a satirically sexy Delphine Seyrig) to combat lefty freethinkers, as well as the insidious evildoers Moujik Man and inflatable Red China Man, culminating in a star-spangled showdown of kitschy excess. Delightfully crass, Mr. Freedom is a trenchant, rib-tickling takedown of gaudy modern Americana.

Cast

Marie-MadeleineDelphine Seyrig
Mr. FreedomJohn Abbey
Dr. FreedomDonald Pleasance
Dick SensassJean-Claude Drouot
Mr. Drugstore Serge Gainsbourg
Freddie Fric Rufus
Moujik ManPhilippe Noiret
Christ ManSami Frey
Marie Rouge Catherine Rouvel
Henry PillsburyJoe Détergent
Virgin MaryMonique Chaumette
Chambermaid Rita Maïden
Captain FormidableYves Montand

Credits

DirectorWilliam Klein
ProducerGuy Belfond
ScreenplayWilliam Klein
CinematographyPierre Lhomme
EditingAnne-Marie Cotret
MusicSerge Gainsbourg
Production DesignWilliam Klein
CostumesJanine Klein and William Klein

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