The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973)
Kernel Score: 83% · 1,039 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Comedy
Released: 1973-10-17
Runtime: 100 minutes
Where to watch The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob
- Stream: Chai Flicks
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In this riot of frantic disguises and mistaken identities, Victor Pivert, a blustering, bigoted French factory owner, finds himself taken hostage by Slimane, an Arab rebel leader. The two dress up as rabbis as they try to elude not only assasins from Slimane's country, but also the police, who think Pivert is a murderer. Pivert ends up posing as Rabbi Jacob, a beloved figure who's returned to France for his first visit after 30 years in the United States. Adding to the confusion are Pivert's dentist-wife, who thinks her husband is leaving her for another woman, their daughter, who's about to get married, and a Parisian neighborhood filled with people eager to celebrate the return of Rabbi Jacob.
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob is a G-rated 1973 French farce involving mistaken identity, disguises, and a hostage situation played for comedy.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Comedic hostage and chase scenes with no real violence, played for laughs.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob
If you liked The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Phantom of Liberty (1974) — 83%
- PlayTime (1967) — 85%
- The Great Dictator (1940) — 91%
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) — 84%
- Life of Brian (1979) — 87%
- Top Secret! (1984) — 78%
- OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009) — 78%
- Get Married If You Can (2014) — 80%
Director
Cast
- Louis de Funès as Victor Pivert
- Suzy Delair as Germaine Pivert
- Marcel Dalio as Rabbi Jacob
- Claude Giraud as Mohamed Larbi Slimane / Rabbi Zeiligman
- Renzo Montagnani as Farès
- Janet Brandt as Tzipé Schmoll, grandmother
- André Falcon as Minister
- Xavier Gélin as Alexandre, general's son
- Henri Guybet as Salomon, Pivert's driver
- Popeck as Moishe Schmoll
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob FAQ
Is The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob good?
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob has an 83% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,039 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob?
In the US you can stream The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob on Chai Flicks, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob OK for kids?
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob is a G-rated 1973 French farce involving mistaken identity, disguises, and a hostage situation played for comedy.
What movies are like The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob?
If you liked The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, try The Phantom of Liberty, PlayTime, The Great Dictator and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.