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A Few Words About A few words about...™ After the Fox -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

Robert Harris

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I've heard some people discuss After the Fox as a part of the Pink Panther series, which it is not.

What it is, is a deceptively oddball film, about a slightly looney thief, who is, among other things, a master of disguise.

Peter Sellers is Aldo Vanucci, the thief in question, who along with Victor Mature playing an aging actor, Britt Eklund, Martin Balsam and Akim Tamiroff, give us 100 minutes or so of mid-level lunacy, strangely directed by Vittorio De Sica, who also plays a director in the film, from a screenplay by Neil Simon.

I can't believe I just wrote that.

MGM has delivered a decent master to Kino Lorber.

I just wish it was a better film.

Image - 3.25

Audio - 5

4k Up-rez - 3.25

Pass / Fail - Pass


RAH
 

Jim*Tod

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Decidedly an odd assortment of talent. I remember seeing it when it was new. The best aspect may the score by Burt Bacharach.... especially the hilarious title song sung by Sellers and the Hollies.
 

skylark68

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Only thing that I really remember about this film was the girl at the beginning wearing black thigh highs and a corset... Maybe I should revisit (it's been years).
 

lark144

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There was a time in the early to mid 60's when Peter Sellers couldn't seem do anything wrong (DR. STRANGELOVE, LOLITA, THE PINK PANTHER, A SHOT IN THE DARK etc). AFTER THE FOX comes from a few year later, when Peter Sellers couldn't seem do anything right (CASINO ROYALE, THE BOBO, etc) Nonetheless, I have a fondness for this film, in spite of the fact that it's not very good, especially considering the pedigree of its screenwriter & director. As I recall, Peter Seller plays a garden variety thief who pretends to be a famous Italian art film director who is helming Victor Mature's comeback film. Why this is the case is never really made clear. Nor is it clear why Peter Seller's genius for accents should fail him here. In fact, there's so much mugging and running about by the cast that it makes Frank Capra's POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES appear as if it was directed by Philippe Garrel. The inside movie jokes are kind of funny, but everything about the movie seems very routine, the oddest aspect being that Victor.Mature, simply by being himself, almost manages to steal the film from Peter Sellers.

I'm glad to hear that the Blu is watchable. I may indulge, when the price goes down.
 

Angelo Colombus

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De Sica did a few less memorable films in the late 60's like Women Times Seven, A Place for Lovers, and Sunflower but i kinda like After The Fox for the lunacy and seeing Sellers at work. He did return to better film making with A Brief Vacation and The Garden of the Finzi Continis which I hope will be re-release on dvd or Blu-ray since the Sony dvd is out of print.
 

Lord Dalek

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I mostly know of this film's existence from the theme song. Its actually more of a Peter Sellers track featuring The Hollies but nevertheless it appears on the latter's 30th Anniversary Collection set. Not sure if Bacharach was doing an intentional nod to Harry Mancini's work but it sure seems that way.
 

Dan_Shane

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ATF is one of my guilty pleasures. It may not be art, but I find myself quoting from it quite regularly. "Big bars of gold" and "I cried like a baby" are lifted from Simon's script to accent all sorts of events in my life. Whenever I watch the movie I never fail to hum along with Burt's nonsensical score that fits the action like a glove.

Any male who doesn't want to see Daliah Lavi in high definition should turn in his HTF membership card forthwith.
 

john a hunter

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"Any male who doesn't want to see Daliah Lavi in high definition should turn in his HTF membership card forthwith."

I hope that doesn't happen.
I would prefer Bradley Cooper any day of the week ,especially in HD:)
 

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Robin9

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ATF is one of my guilty pleasures.. . .

Any male who doesn't want to see Daliah Lavi in high definition should turn in his HTF membership card forthwith.

I think your memory is playing tricks on you. Daliah Lavi is not in After The Fox. The two women are the equally fabulous Maria Grazia Buccella and the nominal female lead Britt Ekland.
 

Dan_Shane

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I think your memory is playing tricks on you. Daliah Lavi is not in After The Fox. The two women are the equally fabulous Maria Grazia Buccella and the nominal female lead Britt Ekland.

Miss Buccella is who I was thinking of. Fabulous is the correct adjective for both lovely ladies.
 

Dennis Nicholls

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I own a copy of the older MGM release (Amazon says 2002 and now OOP in Region 1). It's a two sided DVD with P&S on one side and anamorphic WS on the other side. It's been years since I watched it but recall it being an acceptable release. Right now I'm not motivated to upgrade to a Blu-Ray release.

I much prefer this Peter Sellers role (and those in Dr. Strangelove) to that of bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films. In fact the only PP film I really enjoy is the first one in which Clouseau is merely the comedy relief to a David Niven caper film. The whole bumbling schtick gets old after a while which is also why I don't like Jerry Lewis.
 

Robin9

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I much prefer this Peter Sellers role (and those in Dr. Strangelove) to that of bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films. In fact the only PP film I really enjoy is the first one in which Clouseau is merely the comedy relief to a David Niven caper film. The whole bumbling schtick gets old after a while which is also why I don't like Jerry Lewis.

I agree completely. The original film is the only one in the Pink Panther series I have on disc.
 

Dick

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I agree completely. The original film is the only one in the Pink Panther series I have on disc.
I'd also consider A SHOT IN THE DARK, the last of the Clouseau films before Sellers changed the character and took it off into La La Land. His accent became so exaggerated and his physical comedy so over-the-top that it became cartoonish. Still sometimes funny as hell, but just not the personality of the first two films in the series.
 

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