In The Heir, broadcast Sunday at 9:10 p.m. on C8, Jean-Paul Belmondo embodies a businessman at the center of a machination. Half a century later, director Philippe Labro takes us behind the scenes of filming.
Fifty years after its shooting in 1972, what first image of The Heir always come to mind?
Philippe Labro: The final scene shot at Rome airport was very complicated to develop. On the one hand, we filmed with four cameras to multiply the points of view of the attack. On the other hand, we had privatized this part of the terminal and as much to tell you that we were walking by the stopwatch.
Did you immediately think of Belmondo for the role?
Let’s say that to edit a film at the time, it was better to have Belmondo Where Delon at the casting. That said, Jean-Paul had hesitated because it was the first time that he played an executive in a suit and tie, far from his casual roles. But his fans accepted everything from him as soon as he took them by the hand.
The story is dark. Was that felt in the atmosphere of the shoot?
Not with Belmondo who was a competitive prankster. One night, an Italian police commissioner told me on the phone that two foreigners, including Mr. Belmondo, had been picked up totally drunk on the public highway. I’m about to put on some pants… when I recognize Jean-Paul’s voice in extremis! Another time, he had moved the huge flower pots from the hotel to put them outside my door, which prevented me from going to the set the next day. Jean-Paul always needed to mess around!
In the casting, we find Jean Rochefort and Michel Beaune, two close friends of his. Was he imposing his gang?
I admit that Jean-Paul had his say and that he asked me to find a role for Jean and Michel… He needed to be surrounded by people he trusted. Which didn’t prevent him, like the real stars, from leveling up with everyone, from the producer to the props man.
On the Net, images of an alternative ending have circulated where (beware, revelation) the hero of the film does not die since we see him open his eyes…
These images are absurd and dishonest. I don’t know who got them but it’s obvious that they are those of a transition between two takes, when Belmondo is waiting for us to start the shot again. There was never any question of not killing the character. That said, given the huge success of the film, I’m sure the producer would have dreamed of a Heir 2!…
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