This Franco-Italian co-production is generally looked upon as one of the poorest flicks in Fernandel's career.
Let's be fair:it begins quite well as a simple but funny comedy. A vet cures the animals but when he goes to the farm to care for a calving cow,he is asked to examine the whole family ,from the patriarch ("he's always coughing") to the youngest brat ;the butcher's wife brings him a leg of lamb just for a piece of (medical) advice. Although he insists he is not a physician ,all people around treats him as a true doctor .And when he (accidentally) heals a famous star,every one wants his consultation. To put the Medical Association off the track,all the patients are asked to bring their pet with them,and the "vet" is supposed to talk to the so called sick animal. Unfortunately a true (female)(physician has just arrived in town and she is not prepared to accept it. Add a hypochondriac rich countess and her unscrupulous nephew and the movie seems to be going in a good direction.
But when three socialites show up ,the movie degenerates ;these three women overplay ,so does Fernandel, and it is almost unbearable for a long while.
The screenplay becomes interesting again when the nephew learns that his dear auntie has just passed away;the return of the three actors :Sylva Koscina as the doctor,Ugo Tognazzi as the evil heir and Denise Grey as the "dead" dowager make up for the lead's tendency to ham it up.
It is not a masterpiece ,by a long shot. But it has its moments.
Let's be fair:it begins quite well as a simple but funny comedy. A vet cures the animals but when he goes to the farm to care for a calving cow,he is asked to examine the whole family ,from the patriarch ("he's always coughing") to the youngest brat ;the butcher's wife brings him a leg of lamb just for a piece of (medical) advice. Although he insists he is not a physician ,all people around treats him as a true doctor .And when he (accidentally) heals a famous star,every one wants his consultation. To put the Medical Association off the track,all the patients are asked to bring their pet with them,and the "vet" is supposed to talk to the so called sick animal. Unfortunately a true (female)(physician has just arrived in town and she is not prepared to accept it. Add a hypochondriac rich countess and her unscrupulous nephew and the movie seems to be going in a good direction.
But when three socialites show up ,the movie degenerates ;these three women overplay ,so does Fernandel, and it is almost unbearable for a long while.
The screenplay becomes interesting again when the nephew learns that his dear auntie has just passed away;the return of the three actors :Sylva Koscina as the doctor,Ugo Tognazzi as the evil heir and Denise Grey as the "dead" dowager make up for the lead's tendency to ham it up.
It is not a masterpiece ,by a long shot. But it has its moments.
