Fechner, Christian

(July 26, 1944, Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France - November 6, 2008, Paris, France)

   A former conjurer, he was present at the beginning of the careers of singer Antoine and the pop band Les Problèmes (his brother Jean-Guy Fechner was a member of the group), which soon became a success­ful comedy team, Les Charlots. In 1972, he created his own production company, Les Films Christian Fech-ner. He produced more than thirty movies, mostly comedies, including four Charlots vehicles (1972 Les Fous du Stade, Claude Zidi; Les Charlots font l'Espagne / Los Charlots van a Espana, Jean Girault, France / Spain; 1973 Le Grand Bazar, Claude Zidi; 1974 Les Bidasses s'en vont en Guerre / 5 matti vanno in guerra / Die tollen Charlots—Die Trottel von der 3. Kompanie, Claude Zidi, France / Italy / West Germany), two Pierre Richard comedies (1974 La Moutarde me monte au Nez / USA: Lucky Pierre; 1975 La Course à l'Echalote / Der Tolpatsch mit dem sechsten Sinn / Der lange Blonde und die kleine Schwarze / Mich laust der Affe, Claude Zidi, France / West Germany), and some Louis de Funès successes (1976 L'Aile ou la Cuise, Claude Zidi; 1978 La Zizanie / USA: The Spat, Claude Zidi; 1980 L'Avare, Jean Girault, Louis de Funès; 1981 La Soupe aux Choux, Jean Girault). He also financed such original features as Calmos / UK: Cool, Calm and Collected (Bertrand Blier, 1976) and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf / USA: The Lovers on the Bridge (Leos Carax, shot in 1988-1990). He also co-wrote a James Bond parody in which co-starred Les Charlots and Mickey Rooney (1975 Bons Baisers de Hong Kong, Yvan Chiffre).

 Filmography

1993 ◘ Justinien Trouvé, ou Le Bâtard de Dieu (also co-screenwriter, co-dialogist)