The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

1973Movie1 h 40 minG

78
GreatGoodWatch score

A fast-paced, thrilling comedy movie about society and politics.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

THE WILD... THE HILARIOUS... THE SCREWBALL... THE RIOTOUS

In this riot of frantic disguises and mistaken identities, Victor Pivert, a blustering, bigoted French factory owner, finds himself taken hostage by Slimane, an Arab rebel leader. The two dress up as rabbis as they try to elude not only assasins from Slimane's country, but also the police, who think Pivert is a murderer. Pivert ends up posing as Rabbi Jacob, a beloved figure who's returned to France for his first visit after 30 years in the United States. Adding to the confusion are Pivert's dentist-wife, who thinks her husband is leaving her for another woman, their daughter, who's about to get married, and a Parisian neighborhood filled with people eager to celebrate the return of Rabbi Jacob.

Feels like

  • Classic French Farce
  • Mistaken Identity
  • Cultural Clashes
  • Social Satire
  • Broad Slapstick
  • Fast-Paced Comedy
  • Political Incorrectness
  • Iconic Film Score
  • Nostalgic

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Gérard Oury

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 17, 1973 · 1 h 40 min · G

Released
October 17, 1973
Runtime
1 h 40 min
Age rating
G
Genres
Comedy
Original language
French
Also spoken
English, Yiddish, Hebrew
Made in
France, Italy
Budget
$5 million
Box office
$57 million
Available in
12 countries

Tropes

I Resemble That Remark!, Senseless Violins, Impersonation-Exclusive Character +9

  • I Resemble That Remark!
  • Senseless Violins
  • Impersonation-Exclusive Character
  • Mistaken for an Imposter
  • Faux Fluency
  • Henpecked Husband
  • Nice Jewish Boy
  • Hidden Depths
  • Fish out of Water
  • The Reveal
  • Gratuitous Foreign Language
  • Slippery Skid

12 of 75 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob?"

Questions about The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob?

In the United States, The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob streams on Chai Flicks and France, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 5 other countries.

Is The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.4 and Letterboxd 3.8 out of 5).

Is The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob okay for kids?

G

Yes: it's rated G in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and slapstick (8 of 10).

Will I feel good after watching The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for hopefulness and 5 for wholesome.

Was The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$57 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $5 million to make and earned $57 million worldwide, 12.7 times its budget.

Is The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob in English?

FrenchEnglishYiddishHebrew

No, it was made in French, with some English, Yiddish, and Hebrew.