On a perched tree: why was the filming of this film complicated?

Released in theaters in 1971, the film titled Perched on a tree, worn by Louis de Funès, will be rebroadcast on Sunday, December 26, 2021, from 9:05 p.m. on C8. Directed by Serge Korber, this comedy features the character of Henri Roubier, embodied on screen by Louis de Funès, who is returning from Italy. This French promoter has just concluded an agreement giving it control over European highways. While driving on the roads along the Mediterranean, Roubier picks up a young hitchhiker, performed by Olivier de Funès, as well as a lovely young woman in difficulty, played by Geraldine Chaplin.

The latter force Roubier to make a detour via Cassis. As night falls and he is exasperated by his two passengers, he misses a turn and his vehicle is thrown into the void at the top of a cliff. The car and its occupants miraculously find themselves perched on an umbrella pine planted on the cliff face. The passengers try to extricate themselves, but at the slightest of their movement, the car moves, threatening to tip over into the void. It is the 6th time that Louis de Funès gives the reply to his son Olivier after Fantômas goes wild (1965), Le Grand restaurant (1966), Les Grandes vacances (1967), Hibernatus (1969) and The Orchestra Man (1970).

On a perched tree: significant logistical resources deployed for filming

Due to its scenario, the shooting of this feature film was quite complex for the production. Director Serge Korber thus shot 5 weeks in natural settings in the cliffs of Cassis, which are the highest in France, while the technical team built a false umbrella pine, before attaching a car to it. Afterwards, the director surrounded himself with stuntmen, placed in the car, and mountaineers to climb the cliff, and film the car from a helicopter. The filming of this comedy thus required significant material for the rescue scenes, special effects, etc. Subsequently, the second part of the shoot took place in the studio with the real actors.

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