The classic 17th century Moliere comedy Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme is given respectful treatment in this 1958 filmization. Jean Meyer stars as the vulgar nouveau-riche protagonist, whose attempts to buy his way into the uppermost rungs of society provide plenty of knowing chuckles. The film was produced by the Comedie Francaise, then as now the world's foremost purveyors of Moliere's best works. Star-director Jean Meyer does little to open up the play cinematic, filming the piece exactly as written, right down to "stage waits" for laughs. Would that someone had filmed the like-vintage American staging of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, starring that incomparable Broadway clown Bobby Clark. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi