L'Heritier Des Mondesir (1939)
Directed by Albert Valentin
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
That matchless French farceur Fernandel has a field day in L'Heritier de Mondesir (The Mondesir Heir). A wicked lampoon on astrology, the story is set in motion when the Baron de Mondesir dies suddenly, leaving a fortune behind. A rustic rube (Fernandel, who also plays six other roles!) finds that, as the Baron's illegitimate offspring, he is the sole heir to the Mondesir estate. It is at this point that our hero is pounced upon by phony astrologers Elvire Popesco and Jules Berry, who seek to separate Fernandel from his bankroll by convincing him that the disposition of his estate has been predetermined by the stars. The villains almost get away with it, but Fernandel is saved by a vision of his noble ancestors, who warn him not to be so gosh-darned gullible.
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Keywords
astrology, con-artist, con/scam, deception, illegitimate-child, inheritance