When a French stuntman’s real-life risks mirrored his chaotic, high-stakes cinematic career

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1977 action comedy L'Animal, Jean-Paul Belmondo plays a desperate stuntman attempting to win back his former partner. Off-screen, Belmondo’s commitment to the role was equally perilous, as he insisted on performing his own dangerous feats, leading to a series of genuine injuries during the production of the film.

Directed by Claude Zidi, the 1977 production L'Animal—released in the United States as Stuntwoman—follows the professional and romantic fallout between two stunt performers, Mike Gauché and Jane Gardner. After a disastrous car accident on their wedding day leaves them both hospitalized, their partnership dissolves. Gauché, portrayed by Belmondo, finds himself unemployed and struggling to navigate life until he is hired to double for Bruno Ferrari, a cowardly, effeminate movie star who happens to be his physical lookalike.

The narrative centers on Gauché’s frantic efforts to reclaim Gardner’s affection while she prepares to marry the Count of Saint-Prix. This leads to a series of elaborate schemes, including impersonating the star he doubles for and eventually crashing a wedding ceremony while disguised as a gorilla. The film’s humor relies on these layers of deception, as Gauché navigates the absurdity of his professional life to secure his personal future.

Belmondo’s dedication to the craft of stunt work was central to the film’s identity. He performed the majority of his own stunts, resulting in significant physical trauma, including a dislocated ankle on the steps of Sacré-Cœur, various injuries from a tumbling scene, and a severe ear wound sustained during a fight with a tiger. Aerial sequences were intentionally scheduled for the end of production because insurance providers would not cover them. During these final scenes, Belmondo achieved a personal ambition by standing on the wing of a Fieseler Fi 156 aircraft in flight.

The film resonated with audiences, selling more than 3 million tickets in France and earning over $7 million at the global box office. Despite the risks taken by its lead actor, the production successfully captured a blend of slapstick comedy and genuine danger that defined the era’s action cinema, cementing its legacy as a notable entry in Belmondo’s extensive filmography.

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