Mr. Freedom

Mr. Freedom is a 1968 superhero film by the expatriate American photographer and filmmaker William Klein. Starring the popular French actress Delphine Seyrig, this anti-imperialist satirical farce has cameos by the well-known actors Donald Pleasence and Philippe Noiret, as well as the musician Serge Gainsbourg.[1]

For the London pop art store, see Mr Freedom (fashion).
Mr. Freedom
Film poster
Directed byWilliam Klein
Produced byGuy Belfond
Christian Thivat
Michel Zemer
Written byWilliam Klein
StarringJohn Abbey
Delphine Seyrig
Donald Pleasence
Philippe Noiret
Music byMichel Colombier
Serge Gainsbourg
CinematographyPierre Lhomme
Edited byAnne-Marie Cotret
Release date
  • 8 January 1969 (1969-01-08) (France)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageEnglish
French

Plot summary

Under the command of Dr. Freedom, the crass superhero Mr. Freedom (John Abbey) goes to France to stave off the advances of the mysterious French Anti-Freedom (FAF)[2] organization. He joins forces with the femme fatale Marie-Madeleine to lead his own anti-communist Freedom organization. The Freedom mission is complicated by the machinations of communist foes — the Stalinist Muzhik Man and the ferocious Maoist Red China Man (portrayed as a giant inflatable dragon). France, refusing to see the FAF as a threat, rebuffs Freedom, leading to an escalation of Cold War tactics. In the end, betrayed, Mr. Freedom destroys himself trying to save the "unappreciative" nation.

Cast

Reception

Fearing it may never be seen otherwise, Klein showed the film at the 1968 Avignon Festival. Marxist-Leninist groups criticized the political caricatures of Red China Man and other characters.[3]

References
  1. Mr. Freedom on IMDb
  2. A pun on the French slang term faf “fascist”.
  3. Smith, Alison. French Cinema in the 1970s: Echoes of May. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005
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