Parade *** (1974, Jacques Tati, Karl Kossmayer) – Classic Movie Review 13,746

Jacques Tati appears as Monsieur Loyal, emcee for a variety show, in his last film Parade (1974), set in a historic circus building in Stockholm.

Set in a historic permanent circus building in Stockholm, Sweden, Jacques Tati’s last film Parade (1974) features Tati as a clown in a circus and focuses on a number of clowns, music-hall mimes of sportsmen and various other circus acts.

Tati appears as Monsieur Loyal, emcee or ringmaster for a variety show with sight gags, mime, juggling, slapstick, dancing, animal acts, musical jokes, and magic tricks. Tati writes and directs the film, and performs two funny mime turns, miming a tennis game in slow motion and imitating a boxer going into a championship bout, and once again impersonates his beloved iconic character Monsieur Hulot, on a fishing trip.

Parade is in essence an old-fashioned variety show, quickly and cheaply shot on a mix of video, 16mm and 35mm for Swedish television. Filming took place at the Stockholm Cirkus in 1973, shot by Ingmar Bergman’s frequent director of photography Gunnar Fischer.

Although certainly interesting and entertaining, unfortunately the film does not match Tati’s early masterpieces as lack of finance put constraints on the legendary director’s creativity.

Also appearing are Karl Kossmayer, Pia Colombo, Les Williams, Les Veterans, Les Sipolo, Bertilo, Pierre Bramma, Michèle Brabo, Juri Jägestedt, and Dominique Lavanant.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,746

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