A Gendarme and a car on the path to glory.

A master of facetiousness, caricature and disguise, Louis de Funès had to wait until his fifties to become a star, after a chaotic career in film and theater.
From April 13, 2024 to March 9, 2025, the Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma is dedicating its temporary exhibition to this anniversary. Visitors nostalgic for the Trente Glorieuses, a reflection of a post-war society in the throes of change, will be immersed in the three mythical worlds of the film, the Mustang and Louis de Funès, through sets, photos, posters and objects.

2024 is a landmark year, with the 110th anniversary of the birth of Louis de Funès, the 60th anniversary of "Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez" and the Ford Mustang, first discovered in a French color film shot in Saint-Tropez.

The film is carried by the actor, who at the age of 50 achieves recognition for his talent and becomes the most popular French comic actor in the hearts of several generations. The perfectionism and tenacity he demonstrated over more than 20 years, both in the theater and on the silver screen, were finally rewarded, and his sometimes controversial comic genius would never be equaled.
Director Jean Girault and Louis de Funès surrounded themselves with a cast that hit the nail on the head, especially Michel Galabru in the role of the chief warrant officer. This perfectly matched tandem didn't falter for 18 years!

The cast also includes an iconic car, the first FORD MUSTANG to be imported into France, just a few days after its official unveiling in the USA. Now 60 years old, the film's red convertible is one of the oldest Mustangs in the world still on the road!

From April 13, 2024 to March 9, 2025, the Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma is dedicating its temporary exhibition to this anniversary. Visitors nostalgic for the Trente Glorieuses, a reflection of a post-war society in the throes of change, will be immersed in the three mythical worlds of the film, the Mustang and Louis de Funès, through sets, photos, posters and objects.