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Celebrating Christmas in the footsteps of Santa Claus Is a Stinker
SOS Distress Friendship
In the film, the address given is 17 rue Montmartre, but the building filmed is at 17 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre. The twists and turns multiply and the lines that have become a cult are flying. The one where Pierre (Thierry Lhermitte) repeats his famous “That’s it, yes” was inspired by one of the agents of the Splendid. The man working in the hall where the troupe performed used to pronounce it with a particular tone. Amused by this tic of language, Jean-Marie Poiré decided to integrate it.
Address: 17 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
Trousseau Square
Zézette (Marie-Anne Chazel) and Thérèse (Anémone) are looking for oysters and white wine near this brewery. Inspired by a local woman, the role of Marie-Anne Chazel required special dentures in order to give the actress her special elocution.
The title of the film was originally supposed to be Santa Claus shot himself in the ass but the producer refused. But the chosen title was sometimes boycotted by advertisers. The latter have sometimes modified it to displaySanta Claus Is a Stinker But not the real one. RATP even refused to put up the posters in the metro!
Address : 8 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012 Paris
Mr. Poisseau’s pharmacy
Félix (Gérard Jugnot), who is “seriously injured”, is being treated in this pharmacy run by Mr Poisseau. The role of the latter is played by Jacques François, then very well known. The production could not afford the actor’s high fee and he finally played for free. Touched by his gesture and appreciating the character, Jean-Marie Poiré then called on him for Papy fait de la résistance, Les Visiteurs 2, Operation Corned Beef.
Address : Pharmacie des Archives, 2 Rue des Archives, 75004 Paris
Galeries Lafayette
Félix and Zézette are little people living in a caravan on a wasteland near the ring road. Today, no more rabbits in this abandoned place. The Debré Hospital moved in.
Nevertheless, Felix must work to support the couple, soon to be parents. He is therefore Santa Claus in front of Galeries Lafayette Haussman. Built in 1894 to the plans of architects Georges Chedanne, Louis Majorelle and Pierre Patout, this building was a department store six years later.
During a break in the shooting, Gérard Jugnot took off his Santa Claus wig in order to smoke a cigarette. He was then slapped by a passer-by ordering him to put his disguise back on because his daughter still believed in Santa Claus. Moreover, when he shot these scenes in front of department stores, he had to rush out of a truck and play for only a few seconds, as the famous stores did not approve the shooting because of the title of the film.
Address : 40 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Vincennes Zoo
The grand finale takes place in the zoo, where the protagonists throw packets containing the pieces of the unfortunate elevator repairman to the carnivorous animals. Entirely rebuilt between 2008 and 2014, the Vincennes zoo covers 14.5 hectares. It is one of the five most visited zoological parks in France, with 900,000 visitors per year. In order to be able to put its cameras there, the film crew had made the city of Paris believe that it was the shooting of Les Bronzés fêtent Noël.
Address: Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
Butcher’s shop Charcuterie
At the beginning of the film, Félix (Gérard Jugnot) walks into this delicatessen and asks for a piece of “this long, soft thing”, talking about a blood sausage. Today, it is a pastry shop that occupies the site. The shooting was so funny that several scenes had to be cut because of its director, Jean-Marie Poiré, laughing out loud during certain sequences.
Address: 200 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
Stairwell
Stairwell
The stairwell and the lift illustrate the entrance to the premises of SOS Détresse Amitié, where Mrs Musquin (Josiane Balasko), president of the association, gets stuck in the lift. Jean-Marie Poiré’s technical teams built all the sets for the interior scenes in the Epinay-sur-Seine studios. These places were built in 1907 by Charles Jourjon and Ambroise-François Parnaland. It was the location for the filming of Moonraker, the eleventh film in the James Bond saga.
Address : 10 Rue du Mont, 93800 Épinay-sur-Seine
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By Damien Canteau
Passionné par l'Histoire, les animés, les Arts et la bande dessinée en particulier, Damien est le rédacteur en chef du site spécialisé dans le 9e art, Comixtrip.