In the French Style (1963)
Starring: Jean
Seberg, Stanley Baker, Phillippe Forquet, Addison Powell, Jack Hedley, Maurice
Teynac, Claudine Auger
Company: Twilight Time
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: Film: 4 out of 5
This is another film that I am seeing for the first time. Twilight
Time choose another wonderful film for their 3,000 Unit Special Editions. I
always love going into movies that I have no knowledge of. What better way to
see this film then on a wonderful High Definition Blu-ray that Twilight Time always
lovingly puts out.
After seeing this for the first time, I have to say this is
a black and white classic that lingers with you because of the solid acting
performances, and tight wonderful direction.
A young American named Christina, who is a student, moves to
Paris so that she can become apart of the art world. Once there she freely
finds many loves and goes through several lovers until falling in love with a journalist
who loves the booze. To make matters worse her father comes to Paris and try’s
to bring her home to the states, she must decide her fate and her love.
Starring the beautiful, amazing Jean Seberg. A stunning
actress that died way to soon. 40 years old, what a true horror. She was so
beautiful and so talented in front of the camera. She starred in one of my all-time
favorite films, by the master Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. She was so golden
as an actress. Sadly, her legacy seems to be lost by this modern generation.
Her death has always been a mystery to many, many basically believe the FBI
drove her to kill herself. They hounded her and spread horrible stories and humiliated
her over many times during their witch hunt investigations. The FBI did not
like that she gave money to organizations such as NAACP, Native American groups
and also The Black Panther Party. The FBI defamed Seberg to the public by creating
a smear campaign in that the child she was carrying inside her, was not her
husbands, but by Raymond Hewitt, a Black Panther. This gossip and story
destroyed her image and her stardom, causing her deep depression. The false
story ran in Newsweek and all across the world. The upset caused her to go into
premature labor, the child was born but ultimately died. Over the years the FBI
would not let up, hounding her with wiretaps and surveillance. She was found
dead in her car with pills and a suicide note. Hoover’s crazy era basically
killed her in my viewpoint. Whatever the case she left the movie world with
some amazing pieces of cinema. She shined in her roles and In the French Style
is another one of those prime examples of her ultimate importance in cinema. I
am ashamed that this is the first time seeing this movie. She was and will
always be, a beautiful soul.
Something that needs to be mentioned is the amazing
cinematography by Michel Kelber. Keber is one of the great geniuses of the cinema
making. His eye for the art form of film shines through his amazing career. He
is no longer with us, but he left the world rich in amazing imagery on film.
Starting in 1932 and worked all the way up to 1993. He was a master of the
lens. He captured breathtaking imagery and shots that few can ever match. In
the French Style is a prime example of that beauty.
Actor, editor and director Robert Parrish created this film.
Interesting to note about Parrish is he acted in many films of the Silent Film
era, mainly uncredited, such films as 1927’s masterpiece, Sunrise. The war
masterpiece, 1930’s All Quite on the Western Front, and Charlie Chaplin’s City
Lights. In the director chair he directed one my favorite Science Fiction guilty
pleasure's 1969’s Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. In the French Style is a
masterly done film. He brought this tale to life in a believable way. From
child actor to film director, Robert Parrish I feel was an important film maker
that should be remembered and thankfully his film has been honored to be a High
Definition Special Edition Blu-ray.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
A beautiful crisp black white imagery. The sound is spot on.
The music and dialogue flow with a crystal clarity. A beautiful example of how
to treat an older film. Twilight Time never lets me down in this department.
The video and audio quality they do to there Blu-ray, are some of the best done for Blu-ray’s.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.66:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1963 / B&W
Extras:
My Rating: 2 out of 5
Isolated Score Track (with some effects). The music behind
this film is done by a man who knew the music world and seemed to bring to life
the essence of music. He is no longer with us, died way to soon at 63 but his
music is still used today on soundtracks. That should show you the importance of
his craft. He composed over 130 pieces for film and TV. As of this writing his
music has been used for 70 soundtracks for film, TV, documentaries. He was
responsible for one of the greatest soundtracks to one of the greatest films,
1937’s masterpiece Le Grande Illusion. Amazing film and amazing music. Twilight
Time did a great job in adding this special feature to this lovely Blu-ray.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie
Kirgo, and Nick Redman. Always a treat to hear these three knowledgeable
masters of film history. I always look forward and hope that these commentaries are on the special edition Blu-ray’s. They are a highlight to these products
and Kirgo, Dobbs and Redman are true golden tickets of listening perfection.
Original Theatrical Trailer
You also get the wonderful insert booklet, written by the amazing Julie Kirgo. One of the first things I look forward to is these booklet inserts.
Overall:
Another fantastic choice. Another forgotten about film, resurrected
on a lovely high quality Blu-ray. Amazing audio and video. Some great special
features. A must see film for any lover of movies. A great film to explore. This
being the first time seeing it, I was so enthralled with it. I love watching
films that have not crossed my path. Always a plus to see a film for the first
time on a high quality product. Twilight Time seems to always amaze in the
quality and care they give there releases, and In the French Style is a prime
example of that mastery. Highly Recommended.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
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