Man on the Train (L'Homme du Train)

Starring:Jean Rochefort, Johnny Hallyday, Jean-FranÃ§ois StÃ©venin, Charlie Nelson, Pascal Parmentier, Isabelle Petit-Jacques, Edith Scob, Maurice Chevit, Riton Liebman, Olivier Fauron, VÃ©ronique Kapoyan, Elsa Duclot, Armand Chagot, Michel Laforest (II), Alain Guellaff, HÃ©lÃ¨ne Chambon, Sophie Durand, Jean-Louis Vey, SÃ©bastien Bonnet, Jean-Jacques Cornillon
Director: Patrice Leconte
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
You wouldn't think a movie that's mostly two old guys talking could be a thriller, but that's exactly what Man on the Train is. French singer Johnny Hallyday plays a professional criminal who comes to a small town to take part in a robbery. By chance, he meets talkative Jean Rochefort (The Hairdresser's Husband), who invites the laconic Hallyday to stay at his house because the hotel is closed. The two form an unlikely friendship, each curious about (and envious of) the other's life. But all the while plans for the robbery continue, while Rochefort is preparing for a dangerous event of his own. The pitch-perfect performances make Man on the Train completely involving. Rochefort and Hallyday play off of each other beautifully; it's impossible to put your finger on what makes these subtle, supple scenes so magnetic. Directed with spare authority by Patrice Leconte (Ridicule). --Bret Fetzer
Description
Patrice Leconte's (Girl on the Bridge) MAN ON THE TRAIN tells the touching story of two men from different walks of life as they develop an unexpected friendship and change each other's view of life at the last possible moment. Milan (Hallyday), a thief, steps off the train in a small town in the French Alps where he plans to rob a local bank. By chance, after he is unable to find a room for the night, he encounters Manesquier (Rochefort), a retired poetry teacher whose sedentary lifestyle bores even himself. Sharing nothing in common except important plans for the weekend - one is to rob a bank and the other is to go in for open-heart surgery - the two men begin talking and soon develop a respect for one another, as well as a secret longing to live the type of lifestyle the other lives. And, as the friendship grows even stronger, each man defies his personality to explore his yearning for the life of the other.

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Movie Collection DVD set

Wonderful Collection

a must for a fan

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection

Alfred Hitchcock

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
Signature Collections | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
Boxed Sets & Collections | Alfred Hitchcock | Mystery & Suspense Masters | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
All Titles | Warner Home Video | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002HOES0
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Description

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection contains the DVD debut of 8 Hitchcock classics including "Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Special Edition," and the following 7 new single-disc DVDs: "Dial M For Murder," "Foreign Correspondent" "Suspicion," "The Wrong Man," "Stage Fright," "I Confess" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The previously released "North by Northwest" is also included in the 10-disc Signature Collection. Each of the 9 films in the collection shows why Hitchcock is regarded as one of Hollywood's most esteemed and important directors, and also brings legendary stars to the digital front including Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Montgomery Clift and many others.

Strangers on a Train - En route from Washington, D.C., champion tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets pushy playboy Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker). What begins as a chance encounter turns into a series of morbid confrontations, as Bruno manipulates his way into Guy's life. Bruno is eager to kill his father and knows Guy wants to marry a senator's daughter (Ruth Roman) but can't get a divorce from his wife. So Bruno suggests the men swap murders, which would leave no traceable clues or possible motives. Though Guy refuses, it won't be easy to rid himself of the psychopathic Bruno. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia appears in this film. The extra features included on the DVD are: Alternate 'preview' version of the film; Commentary by director Peter Bogdanovich, Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stephano, Strangers on a Train author Patricia Highsmith and biographer Andrew Wilson; New making-of documentary Strangers on a Train: A Hitchcock Classic, with Farley Granger, film historian Richard Schickel, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell and other Hitchcock family members and colleagues recalling the making of this suspense landmark; Three intriguing featurettes: The Hitchcocks on Hitch, Strangers on a Train: The Victim's P.O.V., Strangers on a Train by M. Night Shyamalan; Alfred Hitchcock's Historical Meeting, a vintage newsreel.

Each DVD will be presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition and will include the original theatrical trailer, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Customer Reviews:

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Movie Collection DVD set.......2007-04-12

A Must have for all hard-core Alfred Hitchcock movie fans

Wonderful Collection.......2007-04-06

This collection is absolutely fabulous. All the movies are remastered and are excellent quality especially on a big screen. Just as I remembered them. Too cool...

a must for a fan.......2007-03-08

As a long time fan of Hitchcock, I am always looking for more. I have approx. 20 of his films on DVD. This collection has some that I had never seen before. In addition, the "making of" special features are great for someone who wants to know what made Hitch so unique as a film director. I have (and will) spend many hours viewing these discs.

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection.......2007-01-29

If you an Alfred Hitchock movie fan, you need to get this box set. There are some movies, I haven't seen before, but I did enjoy them.

Alfred Hitchcock.......2007-01-16

This was a gift to my son, he was thoroughly excited about it, he said he loved it.

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT FOR UNDERSTANDING THE HEROIC AND GREAT WEARY FRENCH INTELLECT
A Lasting Impact
i saw this several years ago...
Fatalism
An Excellent Movie of Paths Not Taken

Man on the Train (L'Homme du Train)
Starring: Jean Rochefort , Johnny Hallyday , Jean-François Stévenin , Charlie Nelson , and Pascal Parmentier
Director: Patrice Leconte
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000CABJX
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Amazon.com

You wouldn't think a movie that's mostly two old guys talking could be a thriller, but that's exactly what Man on the Train is. French singer Johnny Hallyday plays a professional criminal who comes to a small town to take part in a robbery. By chance, he meets talkative Jean Rochefort (The Hairdresser's Husband), who invites the laconic Hallyday to stay at his house because the hotel is closed. The two form an unlikely friendship, each curious about (and envious of) the other's life. But all the while plans for the robbery continue, while Rochefort is preparing for a dangerous event of his own. The pitch-perfect performances make Man on the Train completely involving. Rochefort and Hallyday play off of each other beautifully; it's impossible to put your finger on what makes these subtle, supple scenes so magnetic. Directed with spare authority by Patrice Leconte (Ridicule). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Patrice Leconte's (Girl on the Bridge) MAN ON THE TRAIN tells the touching story of two men from different walks of life as they develop an unexpected friendship and change each other's view of life at the last possible moment. Milan (Hallyday), a thief, steps off the train in a small town in the French Alps where he plans to rob a local bank. By chance, after he is unable to find a room for the night, he encounters Manesquier (Rochefort), a retired poetry teacher whose sedentary lifestyle bores even himself. Sharing nothing in common except important plans for the weekend - one is to rob a bank and the other is to go in for open-heart surgery - the two men begin talking and soon develop a respect for one another, as well as a secret longing to live the type of lifestyle the other lives. And, as the friendship grows even stronger, each man defies his personality to explore his yearning for the life of the other.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT FOR UNDERSTANDING THE HEROIC AND GREAT WEARY FRENCH INTELLECT.......2006-06-13

I discovered this film on a rack in a liquor store in Mexico and brought it home for viewing. It builds much more slowly and subtly than the vast majority of American disposable blockbusters. In fact it withstands and demands and rewards several viewings, like re-reading James Joyce all of your life. I have used it very well in French One classes, and the students ask to see it again, despite the undeserved R ratiing. I cannot see anything in this film which merits the Restricted rating, except perhaps it does not make fun of the French, except in a very subtle and wry manner. If the R is for language, hey, it's in French! And I do not see any obscenities. Heck, Shreck has more obscenities. Rather this film is filled with poetry, including declaimed by a ruffian to his former poetry professor who confronts him as a means of ending his old and sad life and only comes out a hero. This film is way to subtle for the average American viewer trained on blast-and-crash movies, but please live with it awhile until you can perceive its intricate gossamer invisible webs and resonance. The forsaken robber who speaks only one line of original poetry at ten o'clock each morning is inexplicably gripping and poignant and exposing the harsh light of speaking about him only destroys the compelling effect. This gentle film builds slowly to the bright day of a fulfilling and illuminating and revelatory ending like great films as Grand Illusion or Babette's Feast. I highly recommend it, as one who lived in France over thirty years ago. Its American R rating is incomprehensible.

A Lasting Impact .......2006-03-27

A teacher and a lifelong criminal meet in a pharmacy in a small, out of season French town. The hotel is closed, the thief and his headache wind up at the teacher's big old family house. Days pass. One laconic, one loquacious, each is ever more drawn to the other's life. Saturday approaches; each prepares and subtly prepares the other for the approaching personal crossroads. And for both Saturday goes terribly wrong but brings one last shared miraculous moment and vision to move each man beyond what his life before has been. Meticulously acted by Jean Rochefort and a weary Johnny Halladay and tensely quiet until its jarring conclusion, Man on a Train retains its grip long after the final credits.

i saw this several years ago..........2005-12-16

and was pleased by the performances of the leads...what i like about johnny halliday's performance as milan, is that even though he's a bad guy, you still kinda end up liking him and even feeling bad for him at the end of the movie. in one scene, he shows a kid how to interpret a poem, which i thought was pretty funny. Manesquier ( jean rochefort ) is a nerd, but in one scene which he stands up to some bullies in a bar, proving he has a spine. milan and manesquier's friendship, makes the movie, each wishing they could live the other person's life, and that alone is enough. there have been few french films which i didn't like. this is one of my favorites...

Fatalism.......2005-06-11

We imagine ourselves to have free will, but most humans follow a trajectory set for them by society, family, circumstances. While possible to alter his fate, an individual will rarely put forward the strenuous effort to do so.

In "Man on the Train", two apparently different men meet by odd chance in a small town in France. One, Milan, is a rugged, tough criminal, an adventurer, a "doer". The other, Manesquier, is a frail, provincial retired school teacher...a dullard, a dreamer. Despite these differences, both men are weary of their lives, their destinies, to which they seem tethered like oxen to cart.

Milan dislikes his rootless life of crime. Manequier is bored with his predictable, provincial life. The two meet at a time when mortality confonts each one. The criminal intuits that an apparently easy bank robbery could be dangerous. The school-teacher will undergo triple-bypass surgery. Death provides the impetus and the serendipitous encounter provide the opportunity for the two men to shirk their fates momentarily and live the life they dream. Milan can be a comfortable "bourgeois de campagne" and Manequier, a roaming daredevil.

In the end, both men, whose lives seem so divergent, meet the same fate. One remembers, while viewing this film, Heidegger's instructions on the importance of keeping death present in our mind, if we are to lead complete lives. The two heroes of this story-at least briefly-accomplish this. Johny Hallyday (Milan) turns out to be a much better actor than pop-star in this thought-provoking, nuanced film.

An Excellent Movie of Paths Not Taken.......2005-04-23

On a cold weekday a single passenger gets off the train at a French village. The hotels are closed for the season, but he meets an elderly retired school teacher who offers him shelter. The first man is Milam (Johnny Hallyday), a tough, middle-aged criminal who plans to rob the village's bank on Saturday. The other is Manesquier (Jean Rochefort), an educated, aging man of limited means who still occasionally takes in a student to tutor. He will have a triple by-pass heart operation on Saturday.

Manesquier soon learns why Milam is in town, and appears to accept this without judgment. As the days go by toward Saturday, Milam finds himself reading books from Manesquier's library, asking to wear a pair of slippers in the evening, accepting a pipe of tobacco to smoke. Once Manesquier is late and a young pupil shows up at the door. Milam takes the boy in and leads him through the assignment on Balzac. "I'll be your teacher today," he says, although he has never read Balzac. He does an excellent job of it. Manesquier tries on Milam's black leather jacket and holds the gun he finds in Milam's luggage, one of three. He visits the barber shop and asks for a haircut, something between just out of jail and soccer player. He asks Milam to teach him how to shoot, and wishes he could help in the robbery. Both men, so different from each other, accept each other for who each is. Each recognizes a longing to have led a different kind of life than what he has; in fact, to have led the kind of life that the other has led.

Saturday arrives. Manesquier goes to the hospital for the operation. Milam meets two accomplices and goes to the bank for the robbery. The conclusion of the movie is mysterious, elegant, sad and satisfying. Both men find, in a way, their new lives.

This is a movie where, for me, all the pieces fit together. Rochefort and Hallyday are excellent; both are actors who don't need dialogue to express a point. Although the movie is about paths not taken, it also has a great deal of wry humor. Manesquier is a man of few illusions, as is Milam, but he also is able to look with amusement at himself and at their situation in life. I think this is an outstanding movie. I can also recommend Leconte's Monsieur Hire, The Widow of Saint-Pierre and Ridicule.

The DVD picture and audio are all they should be.

Average customer rating:

An interesting murder/mystery type of film worth watching

Man on the Tracks
Starring: Kazimierz Opalinski , Zygmunt Maciejewski , Zygmunt Zintel , Zygmunt Listkiewicz , and Roman Klosowski
Director: Andrzej Munk
Manufacturer: Polart
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00074CC32
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Description

A train races through the night and then suddenly comes to a grinding halt because a man lies dead on the tracks. The man turns out to be an engine driver who had lost his job. Different characters who knew the dead man during his life take part in the investigation of his death, each relating their own interpretation of the man and his death. Was it suicide? Sabotage? Was he an eccentric? A regular Joe?

Customer Reviews:

An interesting murder/mystery type of film worth watching.......2006-03-10

"Czlowiek na Torze" (Man on the Tracks) is a film about a mysterious death of a railroad worker killed by a train. The suspense of the movie revolves around the events that lead up to the death of the old conductor. We are left wondering if it was a suicide or murder as the investigators try to unravel the mystery.

Several stories and viewpoints are presented as they paint a picture of the man who was once in charge of the train that ran him over. On the one hand, the old conductor was not the most pleasant of fellows, being bossy and demanding; and on the other hand, his young crew saw him as an obstacle in their promotion. We get to sift though the details of their stories to find out what really happened.

To some degree, we are left with no one to clearly root for, as there is no clear hero or villain. But this should not be entirely surprising as we get to see several points of view, which obviously do not present any one person consistently favorable. Overall, "Czlowiek na Torze" is an interesting murder/mystery type of film worth watching.

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT FOR UNDERSTANDING THE HEROIC AND GREAT WEARY FRENCH INTELLECT
A Lasting Impact
i saw this several years ago...
Fatalism
An Excellent Movie of Paths Not Taken

The Man on the Train [Region 2]
Starring: Jean Rochefort , Johnny Hallyday , Jean-François Stévenin , Charlie Nelson , and Pascal Parmentier
Director: Patrice Leconte
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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