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MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

post #1 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:09am
Thread Starter 
Rank 'em, Rate 'em, Review 'em, whatever

Volume #232 - Rene Clair

The Lace Wars (1965)
"Fables de la Fontaine, Les" (1964) TV Series
Three Fables of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons")
Tout l'or du monde (1961)
... aka All the Gold in the World
Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment "Mariage, Le")
The Gates of Paris (1957)
... aka Gate of Lilacs
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Night Beauties (1952)
... aka Beauties of the Night (USA)
The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
... aka Beauty and the Devil (USA)
Silence Is Golden (1947)
... aka Man About Town (USA)
And Then There Were None (1945) (as Rene Clair)
It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Forever and a Day (1943) (segment "1897")
I Married a Witch (1942)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Break the News (1938)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Last Millionaire (1934)
... aka The Last Billionaire
July 14 (1933)
... aka Bastille Day
À nous la liberté (1931)
... aka Liberty for Us (USA)
Million, Le (1931)
... aka The Million
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
Two Timid Souls (1928)
Tour, La (1928)
The Horse Ate the Hat (1927)
... aka An Italian Straw Hat (USA)
The Imaginary Voyage (1926)
The Prey of the Wind (1926)
The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925)
Paris qui dort (1925)
... aka Paris Asleep
... aka The Crazy Ray
Entr'acte (1924)
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post #2 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 
One of the leading French directors of the 30's, Rene Clair began as an actor in the films of silent pioneer Louis Feuillade before becoming a director. He became known for his whimsical comedies and satires, and he was an innovater in the use of sound in motion pictures. He briefly went to Hollywood, making films with mixed success before returning to France after the war, but he never experienced the success of his early career.

1. Le Million - A (Fantastically fun comedy/musical that is one of the best examples of early sound usage)
*2. A Nous La Liberte - A-
*3. Paris qui dort - A- (Fun and inventive sci-fi short featuring a ray that freezes time)
*4. Under the Roofs of Paris - B+ (beautiful sets and camerawork)
*5. The Flame of New Orleans - B+
*6. Entr'acte - B-

Own: 5 (Never gotten around to picking up Le Million)
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post #3 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:21am

Ratings out of


RENE CLAIR (1898 - 1981)


The Lace Wars (1965)
Three Fables of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons")
All the Gold in the World (1961)
Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment "Mariage, Le")
The Gates of Paris (1957)
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Beauties of the Night (1952)
The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
Silence Is Golden (1947)
And Then There Were None (1945)
It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Forever and a Day (1943) (segment "1897")
I Married a Witch (1942)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Break the News (1938)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Last Millionaire (1934)
July 14 (1933)
À nous la liberté (1931)
Million, Le (1931)
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
Two Timid Souls (1928)
Tour, La (1928)
The Horse Ate the Hat (1927)
The Imaginary Voyage (1926)
The Prey of the Wind (1926)
The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925)
Paris Asleep (1925)
Entr'acte (1924)

 



 


Edited by Jim_K - 5/3/11 at 6:56am
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post #4 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:22am
Rated from to
Titles in RED are theatrical screenings

Rene Clair
Nov 11, 1898 - Mar 15, 1981

The Lace Wars (1965)
Three Fables of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons")
All the Gold in the World (1961)
Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment "Mariage, Le")
The Gates of Paris (1957)
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Night Beauties (1952)
The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
Silence Is Golden (1947)
And Then There Were None (1945)
It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Forever and a Day (1943) (segment "1897")
I Married a Witch (1942)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Break the News (1938)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Last Millionaire (1934)
July 14 (1933)
À Nous la Liberté (1931) (Own the DVD)
Le Million (1931) (Own the DVD)
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) (Own the DVD, haven't watched it yet)
Two Timid Souls (1928)
La Tour (1928)
The Horse Ate the Hat (1927)
The Imaginary Voyage (1926)
The Prey of the Wind (1926)
The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925)
Paris qui dort (1925)
Entr'acte (1924) (Own the DVD)

Seen 8
Own 4
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post #5 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:31am
In order of merit:


1.And Then There Were None (1945) ****
2.Le Million (1931) ****
3.A` Nous La liberte` (1931) ****
4.I Married A Witch (1942) ****
5.The Beauty Of The Devil (1950) ***1/2
6.It Happened Tomorrow (1944) ***1/2
7.The Ghost Goes West (1935) ***1/2
8.Entr' Acte (1924) ***1/2
9.Under The Roofs Of Paris (1930) ***1/2
10.Night Beauties (1952) ***
11.Silence Is Golden (1947) ***
12.Paris Qui Dort (1923) ***
13.The Gates Of Paris (1957) ***
14.The Grand Maneuver (1955) ***
15.Three Fables Of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons") *** - this is actually a four-part film entitled LES QUATRES VERITES!
16.The Flame Of New Orleans (1941) **1/2


In my opinion, Clair is one of the greatest French film-makers although he seems not to be held in such high esteem anymore, which is a pity. His post-war work shows a decline, but it is still well worth watching and recognizably Clair's - as are the films he made outside France, despite their erratic quality (but it has to be said that practically none of the great European directors who went Hollywood during WWII fared too well).

I would love to watch all his other films, of course, but these in particular: The Imaginary Voyage (1926), An Italian Straw Hat (1927), July 14 (1933), The Last Millionaire (1934), Forever And A Day (1943) and Tout L'Or Du Monde (1961).
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post #6 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Bill, either Entr'acte or Paris Qui Dort is an extra on the A nous la liberte DVD (with the other being an extra on Under the Roofs of Paris). Don't you ever watch the extras?
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post #7 of 24
7/31/05 at 11:49am
Very rarely...no time...no time!
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post #8 of 24
7/31/05 at 12:35pm
RENE CLAIR

Seen: 4
Like: 0
Own: 0

Rank order:

And Then There Were None (1945) (as Rene Clair)
I Married a Witch (1942)
Million, Le (1931)
à nous la liberte (1931)


Very disappointing director. None of these is a terrible movie, but none of them is very good, and they all are ones that should have been great. To compare A Nous La Liberte with the much, much better Modern Times is to compare a cheese sandwich to Filet Mignon. And even the least good of the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films is better than And Then There Were None. I watched all 4 of these with high expectations, and was disappointed each time.
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post #9 of 24
7/31/05 at 3:23pm
I Married a Witch (1942)
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post #10 of 24
7/31/05 at 7:25pm
The Lace Wars (1965)
"Fables de la Fontaine, Les" (1964) TV Series
Three Fables of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons")
Tout l'or du monde (1961)
... aka All the Gold in the World
Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment "Mariage, Le")
The Gates of Paris (1957)
... aka Gate of Lilacs
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Night Beauties (1952)
... aka Beauties of the Night (USA)
The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
... aka Beauty and the Devil (USA)
Silence Is Golden (1947)
... aka Man About Town (USA)
And Then There Were None (1945) (as Rene Clair)
It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Forever and a Day (1943) (segment "1897")
I Married a Witch (1942)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Break the News (1938)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Last Millionaire (1934)
... aka The Last Billionaire
July 14 (1933)
... aka Bastille Day
À nous la liberté (1931)
... aka Liberty for Us (USA)
Million, Le (1931)
... aka The Million
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
Two Timid Souls (1928)
Tour, La (1928)
The Horse Ate the Hat (1927)
... aka An Italian Straw Hat (USA)
The Imaginary Voyage (1926)
The Prey of the Wind (1926)
The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925)
Paris qui dort (1925)
... aka Paris Asleep
... aka The Crazy Ray
Entr'acte (1924)

Bolded films I've seen.

It Happened Tomorrow is a fun little movie and IS on R1 DVD.
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post #11 of 24
11/17/05 at 4:19am
Updated Master list...............................
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post #12 of 24
4/15/06 at 6:25am
Updated Master list...............................
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post #13 of 24
7/7/06 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

Updated:

The Flame of New Orleans - B+
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post #14 of 24
10/31/06 at 1:01pm

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

And Then There Were None (1945) - 7/10
A Nous la Liberte (1931) - 8/10
Million, Le (1931) - 8/10
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) - 7/10
Entr'acte (1924) - 8/10

Would definitely see more, he's delightful.
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post #15 of 24
7/14/07 at 5:44am

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

Updated Master list...............................
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post #16 of 24
10/18/07 at 6:10pm

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

Chapeau de paille d'Italie - slapstick that actually manages to be elegant at the same time. The camera never stops.
Le Million- I cut my teeth on this one. The scene behind the opera stage of the reconciliation is a pure delight.
Le Silence est d'or - This one shows Maurice Chevalier as the French would see him for a refreshing change and a Gallic shrug of the shoulders.
And Then There Were None - immeasurably better than any of its imitatations and one of the best of its kind.
Les belles de nuit - I'd give my eyeteeth to see this one again. I caught it at the Cinematheque and the place was exploding with laughter.
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post #17 of 24
12/28/07 at 9:09am

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

The Lace Wars (1965)
"Fables de la Fontaine, Les" (1964) TV Series
Three Fables of Love (1962) (segment "Les deux pigeons")
Tout l'or du monde (1961)
... aka All the Gold in the World
Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment "Mariage, Le")
The Gates of Paris (1957)
... aka Gate of Lilacs
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Night Beauties (1952)
... aka Beauties of the Night (USA)
The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
... aka Beauty and the Devil (USA)
Silence Is Golden (1947)
... aka Man About Town (USA)
And Then There Were None (1945) (as Rene Clair)
It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Forever and a Day (1943) (segment "1897")
I Married a Witch (1942)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Break the News (1938)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Last Millionaire (1934)
... aka The Last Billionaire
July 14 (1933)
... aka Bastille Day
à nous la liberta (1931)
Million, Le (1931)
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
Two Timid Souls (1928)
Tour, La (1928)
The Horse Ate the Hat (1927)
... aka An Italian Straw Hat (USA)
The Imaginary Voyage (1926)
The Prey of the Wind (1926)
The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925)
Paris qui dort (1925)
... aka Paris Asleep
... aka The Crazy Ray
Entr'acte (1924)
Edited by Michael Elliott - 9/19/09 at 10:41pm
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post #18 of 24
1/31/08 at 4:06pm

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

UPDATED:

Entr'acte (1924) (Own the DVD)

Seen 8
Own 4
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post #19 of 24
3/7/09 at 4:52am

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #232 - The Films of RENE CLAIR

Updated Master list...............................
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post #20 of 24
9/19/09 at 10:41pm
Update:

Million, Le (1931)
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post #21 of 24
10/10/09 at 12:03am
Rene Clair

I Married a Witch (1942)
À nous la liberté (1931)                        (soon)
Million, Le (1931)                                       (soon)
Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)                (soon)
Paris qui dort (1925)
Entr'acte (1924)                                           +
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post #22 of 24
1/2/10 at 10:41am

Update:

The Beauty of the Devil (1950)


Edited by Jim_K - 5/3/11 at 6:57am
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post #23 of 24
1/9/10 at 7:38am

Update:

The Ghost Goes West (1935)


Edited by Jim_K - 5/3/11 at 6:59am
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post #24 of 24
7/2/10 at 8:34am

Update:

 

The Gates of Paris (1957)


Edited by Jim_K - 5/3/11 at 7:02am
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