The 9 Dec 1967 LAT listed the film among the upcoming projects for Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin’s Tandem Productions, under its working title Two Times Two. As reported in the 14 Dec 1967 LAT, location shooting was planned for mid May 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. Production had not yet started when the 23 May 1968 LAT stated that Lear and Yorkin hired Swedish actress Ewa Aulin, known for the 1968 release, Candy (see entry). The producers reportedly outbid filmmakers Richard Lester and Tony Richardson for her services. The 28 Jun 1968 LAT noted that principal photography began 18 Jul 1968 in Paris, France.
       According to the 2 Aug 1968 LAT, Two Times Two was the only U.S. production in France at that time, due to the political unrest the country had undergone the previous spring. As filming got underway in late Jul, the French government assured Lear and Yorkin of its full cooperation, including the cessation of traffic during a scene featuring the Notre Dame Cathedral. Planned locations included the Paris Opera, the Chateau de Rochefort, and the Vaux-le-Vicomte. Filming took place at the latter location in mid-Sep 1970, as noted in the 17 Sep 1968 LAT.
       The 14 Jan 1970 Var stated that the title was changed to Louie, There’s a Crowd Downstairs. Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures promised a major promotional campaign for the upcoming release, as reported in the 15 Dec 1969 DV. The 11 Feb 1970 Var noted that advertisements featured a large screw, painted with the colors of the French flag.
       The picture opened 4 Feb 1970 in New York City under its official title, Start the Revolution Without Me. As stated in that day’s Var, the Trans-Lux East Theatre offered free admission to twins, and stars Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland performed a noontime cake-cutting ceremony in celebration of the 200th wedding anniversary of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Reviews were mixed, and public response was tepid. However, a news item in the 19 Jun 1970 DV revealed that the film had achieved “cult” status in Los Angeles, CA, where its run was entering the tenth week. A similar phenomenon occurred in Chicago, IL. The 16 Feb 1971 DV reported that the screenplay was nominated for a Writers Guild of America (WGA) as “best comedy written directly for the screen.”
       As noted in the 9 Jul 1969 DV, the film was given an “M” rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The designation was changed to “GP” the following year.