Les Charlots - Les Charlots As A Trio / Rinaldi's Departure

Les Charlots As A Trio / Rinaldi's Departure

Rinaldi, Sarrus and Filipelli went on as a trio from 1976 to 1986 but their five subsequent films, with the lack of a decent producer, lesser budgets, mediocre scripts and directors, were less successful and lacked the lightness of their other films. Only Et Vive la Liberté! (1978) and the camp classic Les Charlots Contre Dracula (1980) were minor hits. All of their other films as a trio misfired. In 1983, former member Luis Rego joined his friends in a supporting part in Le Retour des Bidasses en Folie, a very bad film that tried to capitalise on their 1971 hit film Les Bidasses en Folie, but where Les Charlots played different characters.

Years later, Gérard Filipelli acknowledged that "if you are a fan of Les Charlots, it's best that you don't watch our last films..."

In the late seventies and early eighties, the three remaining Charlots focused on new songs and albums, releasing the album "Fesse en Rut Majeur" (1985) with only dirty lyrics, but also the hits "Chagrin d'labour", "La Bouche Camembert" and the very popular "L'Apérobic". They still made a lot of television appearances and despite the lesser success of their films, the trio was still very popular.

In 1979, they appeared in their first theatre play, "La Cuisine des Anges". It was a successful experience.

After the release of their 14th film, Charlots Connection (1984), the lesser success of the group saw Gérard Rinaldi leave his friends in 1986 to focus on his movie and TV acting career. Sarrus and Filipelli were the only two remaining members. Rinaldi achieved great success with TV sitcom Marc & Sophie from 1987 to 1991.