Tanned 3 (TF1) – Patrice Leconte: "I thought we were going to lose Gérard Jugnot…"

Why did you choose a palace in Sardinia as the filming location?

Patrice Leconte: I wanted the film to be set in the sun in a luxury establishment, corresponding to the gentrification of bronzes. That’s why I sent an assistant to look at nice hotels. Discovered one in Sardinia. What a treat: It had two Italian actresses, Ornella Mutti and Caterina Murino.

How would you explain that Le Splendid’s schoolboy spirit hasn’t aged a bit in this movie about their reunion?

The bond between them remained intact. Splendid’s six actors have never stopped seeing each other, despite their individual successes. They are always incurable jokers, especially Lhermitte and Clavier, and it was a real pleasure to meet them again. However, this shoot was a little different from the first two due to the pressure of the public’s great anticipation. On set, the cast was less carefree and more professional. That didn’t prevent some memorable slips…

For example ?

I thought we were going to lose Gérard Jugnot, the victim of an appalling chuckle. In the famous dinner scene, played by Arthur Jugnot, where Bernard and Nathalie’s son confesses his homosexuality, Jugnot makes a mistake and bursts into laughter. On the contrary, Michel Blanc cracks and collapses on his plate. Suddenly, a huge wave of laughter leaves the table and wins over eighty-five extras and technicians who become peonies. I had a plexus bar and had to leave the set. I’m drowning! I’ve never had this much fun in my entire career.

Is it true that Michel Blanc wanted the character of Jean-Claude Dusse to no longer have a loose side?

Yeah ! Michel wanted to develop Jean-Claude Dusse, who made his fortune in Los Angeles and wore colorful wigs. She looks really cool and managed to get Gigi into bed. The good idea is that this perpetual loser who didn’t get results was likely to tire the public.

Dominique Lavanant would be the head of the Turk on the set. “They treated me like a plague victim,” he said after the movie’s release.

I really like Dominique, but she tends to exaggerate her negative feelings too much. Since Les Bronzés goes skiingcreates an unfortunate confusion between herself and the character Christiane, the beautician that everyone is making fun of. For example, he was obsessed that Christian Clavier didn’t like him in Sardinia! And after every scene with him she was surprised at his kindness…

How do you react to the critics who crushed this third work?

I’m answering a very simple thing: How can a movie this bad get eleven million entries? Note that the first two Bronzés were also mistreated by critics when they came out.

Les Bronzés 3: Friends for life: Sunday, July 27 at 9:10 pm TF1

Jean-Baptiste Drouet