[Citroëns in the cinema] The Citroën DS: from Louis de Funès to Hollywood, the epic story of a movie star

Welcome to the fourth and final installment of our series dedicated to Citroën's memorable appearances on the big screen. After exploring the adventures of the 2CV, the Traction Avant, and even the futuristic SM, it is time to conclude this journey in style. And for that, what better subject than the biggest star of them all, the one whose mere presence can light up a scene? An entire article was necessary to pay proper tribute to the Citroën DS, the automotive "goddess" that has never ceased to fascinate filmmakers and captivate audiences since its debut. Its sculptural design, revolutionary comfort, and aura of luxury and modernity opened the doors to movie studios worldwide, granting it a career as rich as it was varied. Fasten your seatbelts for one last ride with a true legend.

The DS and Louis de Funès: a love story on film

In its native France, the Citroën DS is inextricably linked to an emblematic figure of popular cinema: Louis de Funès. The beloved actor, who often portrayed the archetypal grumpy but endearing Frenchman, shared the screen with the DS in an impressive number of films, creating a comedic duo that was as effective as it was memorable. Their on-screen partnership began in the 1960s and helped solidify the DS in the collective imagination as the car of choice for executives, dignitaries, and comedy heroes alike.

The most spectacular example is undoubtedly the flying DS from Fantômas se déchaîne (Fantomas Unleashed, 1965). Equipped with retractable wings and jet engines, it allowed Commissioner Juve and his allies to escape the criminal mastermind in an epic final scene. This transformation, a technical feat for its time, left a lasting mark on generations of moviegoers. But the relationship didn't end there. In Le Grand Restaurant (The Big Restaurant, 1966), the authoritarian Mr. Septime's DS 21 is central to the plot. In Hibernatus (1969), a DS once again serves as the family car. And one cannot forget the famous black DS 23 driven by Victor Pivert in Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, 1973). Chauffeured by Salomon, the car becomes the setting for cult scenes. In the films of Louis de Funès, the DS was never just a prop; it was a fully-fledged character, a narrative device that highlighted the social status, ambitions, or misfortunes of its occupants.

An international career, from sci-fi to crime drama

While the DS is a French icon, its fame quickly spread beyond its home country's borders. Its avant-garde design, perceived as both timeless and futuristic, earned it a special place in Hollywood productions, often used to symbolize a unique vision of the future or to add a touch of European elegance. One of its most famous appearances is without a doubt in Back to the Future Part II (1989). When Marty McFly arrives in the year 2015, he encounters a flying taxi that is none other than a heavily modified Citroën DS. It was a logical choice by the producers, who were looking for a "timeless" car to represent the future.

More recently, its charm has worked its magic in the world of superheroes. In X-Men: First Class (2011), a DS can be seen on the streets of Paris, adding a touch of authenticity and chic to the 1960s setting. However, it is perhaps on television that the DS found one of its greatest international roles. In the hit series The Mentalist, the main character, Patrick Jane, played by Simon Baker, drives a magnificent 1972 DS 21 Pallas. It was the actor himself, a great admirer of the car and its history, who insisted that his eccentric and stylish character should be behind the wheel of this "goddess." For seven seasons, the DS became a key and instantly recognizable element of the show, helping to cement its status as a global style icon. It has also been featured in art-house films like "The Goddess of 1967" and, more recently, in Francis Ford Coppola's epic "Megalopolis," proving its enduring appeal.

In conclusion, the Citroën DS is not merely a car that has made cameo appearances in films. It is a true icon, a four-wheeled actress that single-handedly embodies innovation, technology, and audacity. It is this unique personality that threw open the doors of the seventh art, a world perennially fascinated by its timeless design and the sense of luxury and vision it represented then and still represents today. Its silhouette continues to transcend eras with the same grace, and there is no doubt that its cinematic career is far from over.