“I would have liked to have made more films with him. We only did two together.”
Rémy Girard was commenting on the brilliant career of Denis Villeneuve with the Journal's representative when the conversation turned to another great of our cinema, the late Michel Côté.
As incredible as it may seem, the names of these two icons of our cinema screens only appear next to each other in two credits, “but twice,” remembers Rémy Girard.
The first time took place in 1989 on the set of the film “In the Belly of the Dragon” by Yves Simoneau. The two were a couple in this fantasy comedy, which also starred David La Haye, Mario Tifo, Monique Mercure and Pierre Curzi.
Rémy Girard and Michel Côté have fun on the set of the film “In the Belly of the Dragon” with David La Haye and Pierre Curzi. Photo from the Fantasia Festival archives
Twenty years later, the Côté-Girard couple, together with Louis-José Houde, gave our cinematography one of its greatest successes. The comedy “From Father to Cop,” directed by Émile Gaudreault, ended its theatrical run with grosses of nearly $9 million.
Michel Côté with Rémy Girard in a scene from the film “From Father to Policeman”. Photo from the archives of Philippe Bossé, provided by Cinémaginaire
Laurel and Hardy
“You can't say they were a flop in the cinema,” laughs Rémy Girard, who loved the chemistry between him and Michel Côté.
“I thought we were a good duo. In the film “In the Belly of the Dragon” we play Laurel and Hardy. There are scenes that are crazy. Some are even improvised.”
Unfortunately, their repeated calls to unite did not find an attentive ear.
“I told the producers, and also Michel. Why don't you do another duet? What's going on that isn't working? But hey, that didn’t happen,” laments the actor.
Aged well
Rémy Girard, not used to rewatching the films in which he starred, said he recently had the opportunity to reconnect with “In the Belly of the Dragon” during a special screening in Eastmain.
He liked what he saw. The film, which was just restored by the Elephant Project, has aged very well, he noted.
“The world was still laughing like crazy in the same places. It’s heartwarming.”