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It isunfortunate that we had to go to the Russian store to get more Gabin films - tought luck finding them locally. So we took home four.Out of these, only the "Killer" was completely insignificant, a minor crime flick where Gabin plays a secondary role. So strike that one.
"Pigs across Paris" has a great duo - Gabin playing with Bourvil, and that is one nice combination. Plot? Not much, really, so just watch the two great actors that need no screept to look interesting. Add to this a short but of course funny performance by Louis De Funès - who could forget Commissaire Juve of Fantomas fame (none of that boring, boring 007 stuff there... and Mylène Demongeot... ah... she is simply so gorgeous!) - and you got something to look forward to.
"Counterfeiters of Paris" is far more interesting, as there is a plot and intrigue, and Gabin, of course, leads the team with his usual ho-hum attitude. Not a bad film, with most characters having a bit more than paper-thin depth to them.
The best of the bunch? Why, "Monkey in Winter", of course. That one is hilarious and features a duo that will make any movie buff smile with anticipation - Gabin and Jean-Paul Belmondo, both playing a close to their best, and both having honest fun in process. Just another example of how trully great actors don't need much of a plot to produce a wonderful and memorable performances, where acting is subtle and unintrusive, but the emotions high and deep.
All films, of course, use the worst form of translation - the voice over (whatever is the standard term for that?) in Russian, that DOES take some out of enjoyment, as you really would like to hear some of his voice, never mind the unfamiliar words. But it is not too bad still, and after just a few minutes you get absorbed in the act anyway, plus the translators do a pretty good job overall.
It seems like there is simply no limit to those three decades of French cinema - seems like you can spend the rest of your life studying and revisiting those great actors and directors.
Follow Ups:
Then be sure to see "Le Tatoué" with Gabin and Louis de Funès. I must confess that hearing Louis de Funès speaking in russian must quite quite strange.
It will have to be the Russian store again, or the TLA in Phily. Also on the list is "Le Soleil des voyous" - we loved it some thirty years ago...
There is quite a few records from him.
...I recall that when I married my wife, together with dishes and books she brought a couple of his records, in the accordion style, and I remember one song quite well. But I didn't know he was prolific. I checked the amazon, and they have at least five of his recordings, so I will order some.Thanks for the reminder...
Seems the all tackled the "chansonette française" in their times. Rick Springfield didn't invent nothing...If ever you have trouble getting some records let me know I can help you.
Films you have to absolutely see if you love french cinema:
Le Salaire de la peur
Cyrano de Bergerac (with Gérard Depardieu)
Les quatres saisons d'Espigoule (best film I saw last year)
Les gens du marais(with Michel Serrault)
You realize I had to translate the titles first... my French is almost as good as my Chinese...Anyway, I know the first two quite well, but not the 3 and 4. The "Wages..." I recall seeing in 1954, when we just got the TV, and everyone around talked about it, I just remembered the explosions on a tiny, 6" screen... Many years later I fell in love with it.
BTW, young Depardieu plays an episode in the "Killer" with Gabin. He is quite charming there, and not yet fat at all.
We also suddenly saw him in one of the recent Russian films, where he plays - you probably guessed it - a Frenchman visiting Russia.
One of his best performances was I think in "Tous les matins du monde" - but of course having de Sainte Colombe's music added to his charm.
What films with Gérard Philipe do you recommend? I felt like revisiting his works, but found none locally, so need to search wider.
Liking Jean Gabin is easy. After all, he is perhaps one of twenty or so of the greatest actors who have ever lived. We grew up with people like him, Michel Simon (who can forget "L' Atalante"?), Bourvil, Fernandel, etc. We loved them all the way to the point of coming to America. Then it all came to a holt.The strange thing is how hard it is to obrain those movies here. Believe me, I don't have any problem with the fact that I can drive five minutes and rent every piece of junk that Harrison Ford or Kevin Kostner ever did, for this is their playground. But to not be able to get ANY Gabin or Fernandel movies (outside of New York, that is) really pisses me off in a major way.
Now, here is my question to Jim and anyone else living in Europe. Is the situation pretty much reversed there? Say, I am in Paris and have a burning desire to see a film with Jean Arthur - am I SOL?
Well, forget Jean, as nice as she was, but how about Spencer Tracy? How many of his films would I find in an average "good" rental place in Paris?
Staying with France for a moment (such an easy target... shooting fish in the barrel...), what kind of selection of German films would be there? Swedish? Japanese? Italian? Russian? Polish? English? Chinese?
Of foreign (to France) films, which country would be better represented, and which would not get any light of day at all? I don't care what reason...
but if you are in Montreal, La Boîte Noire will cover all of your need for "le cinéma de répertoire"
My wife loves videos; rents them almost daily. Our local French video shop has thousands of English-language tapes. Regrettably, they mainly focus of pop movies of the last 10 years ("new releases" is the biggest section). But their oldies selection almost rivals a typical Blockbuster. The plus is that there is a very good selection of British, Irish and Awstrine movies. It is a treat to rent sets of "Yes Miniser" - probably the funniest TV series ever.Another plus is that we get plenty of french movies subtitled in english.
And, to more directly answer your question - yes, we get tons of movies from around the world subtitled in english. This is the best selection of all, IMHO, and is much better than in the US. But we are in the Geneva 'burbs, where 25% of the population comes from another country.
Victor, here's my views for what they're worth:
"Say, I am in Paris and have a burning desire to see a film with Jean Arthur/Spencer Tracy"
Yes, it's possible. Mainly the film noir genre from the 40's/50's.
"what kind of selection of German films would be there? Swedish? Japanese? Italian? Russian? Polish? English? Chinese?"
There are 'V.O.' sections in most good rental shops, so they can be found but I'd say the majority would be american or english.
"Of foreign (to France) films, which country would be better represented, and which would not get any light of day at all?"
Definately american. I've never seen any Andorrean films ;0)
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