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Jacques Tati (1907 - 1982) is probably best known as as a French Film Director, Actor and Mime. Surprisingly he was voted the 46th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. With only 9 films to his credit as Director in a long career, he directed the least number of films of the top 50 Directors of all time. Perhaps is greatest characterisation was Mr. Hurlot, an eccentric conservative, goofy yet good-willing man who seems destined to do everything wrong in the modern world. Mr Hurlot is the french equivalent of Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) and predates the latter by several decades. These characters and the films they appear in are strong on visual comedy and short on dialogue. Few words are used and even fewer are heard clearly. Jacques Tati is essentially a mime artist and it is his body language that makes his kind of humour practically unique. The Jacques Tati Collection on DVD comprise 5 films: Jour De Fete, Les Vacances De M. Hurlot, Mon Oncle, Playtime and Parade. The Les Vacances De M. Hurlot film is my favourite and was filmed in black & white early in his career. This collection is perhaps Tati's 5 best films. The first 4 films all involve M. Hurlot in different adventures, or perhaps that should be misadventures. The 5th film, Parade, was recorded in a theatre during which a number of variety acts take to the stage in turn. Tati makes the occasional appearance both as himself and as the legendary M. Hurlot. There are times during Parade when the viewer might question whether the audience is also part of the act because there is much audience participation. Parade was an attempt by Tati to raise money for his films and therefore it doesn't follow his usual film format. I think this is the least interesting film of the quintet. I principally purchased this boxed set because of the M. Hurlot adventures which are somewhat reminiscent of the early silents such as Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. I never grow tired of watching them all.Read full review
My introduction to Jacques Tati came back in the 1980’s when Channel 4 use to play decent films on a Saturday afternoon, one of which was TRAFFIC, which remains one of my favourite films. What we have here is basically the rest of Jacques Tati oeuvre, and it is quite fantastic. Jacques playing the ‘buffoon’ in a Rowan Atkinson/Mr Been style (of course predating), but much more subtle, much funnier, and much kinder, gentle, and may I say in an old fashioned compassionate way. If you have the attention spell of a gnat, have to be constantly on your smart phone, and think everything should be in Technicolor with CGI effects surround sound and popcorn, then this ‘vintage’ box set is possibly not for you. But if you can cope with a slower pace, sit down, relax, and absorb Les Vacances de M. Hulot, if you are not in stitches at the end of it, please check your pulse!Read full review
Great films by a great director.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Excellent films from the French master of comedy, Jaques Tati. A bit over-priced considering their age, but if you're as desperate to see them again as I was, you have to pay full price.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I’m a fan of the disconnected, the observer of how we live today, or yesterday in Tati’s case. Hi points out the absurd. I love it!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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