They wanted war? They got it. This Friday January 5, 2024, TF1 offered prime-time The secret history of the Unknownstold by Bernard Campan, Pascal Légitimus and Didier Bourdon in person, accompanied by their former acolytes Smaïn and Seymour Roussel, but also Julien Cazarre, Mimie Mathy and Michel Boujenah and Michèle Bernier. The opportunity for cult actors of French cinema, seen in particular in Les Trois Frères, Le Pari and Madame Irma, to look back on their successes, and the genesis of their group, formed thanks to a single man: Philippe Bouvard. But if they owe their success to the latter, they also owe their bankruptcy to him. Indeed, after two years spent doing sketches at the Petit Théâtre de Bouvard, the five friends want to gain their independence… But Philippe Bouvard declares war on them.
“After two years of success, some of us want to move towards something else, and also come out of the shadow of Philippe Bouvard (…) We didn’t realize that we were playing a dangerous game all the same. When we told PB that we had decided to leave him, he tried to keep us, he told us: I suggest you try to manage the five of you, the others won’t know. He was doing a little trickery that. He was told: We’re going to think Philippe. But very quickly he was called back, and it was me who called him back, and told him: No, Philippe, we are leaving the Bouvard theater. And he said to me: You want war, you will get it“ says Bernard Campan. Didier Bourdon still remembers very well the last conversation he had with his ex-employer and producer, more resentful than ever: “When he looked at me, he pulled his face and said to me: You realize that you will end up with zero francs per month ?”
The name and show of Philippe Bouvard used and usurped
The start of their independence was complicated, and Les Cinq, the name given to their group, then composed of Smaïn and Seymour Brussel, chose to monetize their celebrity acquired with Philippe Bouvard, and to use it on their posters to attract more people. But at that time, the young comedians did not imagine themselves to be outlaws, and Philippe Bouvard found the unexpected way to take revenge: “The organizers added ‘Seen at the Théâtre de Bouvard'” And we didn’t monitor that at all” explains Bernard Campan. Considering his name and his broadcast used and usurped, Philippe Bouvard takes them to courtand asks them a small fortune in damages. Justice proves him right, and The Five find themselves condemned and ruined.
Ruined, Smaïn and Seymour Brussel forced to abandon
“At one point, there was a letter that arrived, and then we said: Uh??? It was a lawyer who told us: There you go, you owe this amount. It was a crazy amount for us , I think it was 50,000 Francs, so ten thousand balls each at the time” remembers Pascal Légitimus. And if the five comedians tried to defend themselves, the courts nevertheless ruled in favor of their ex-employer: “We lost and we didn’t have any money, I remember, we asked for a spread. He had asked for much more. It was still a lesson. This job is merciless. Afterwards, I don’t blame Bouvard, that’s how it is.” said Philippe Bouvard. In the end, The Five will end up dissolving following the departure of Smaïn, precipitated by this lost trial. The Five become The Cat Car and Co, but Seymour Brussel also leaves the machine. Les Inconnus was born, and enjoyed the success that we know of them.