Under the Roofs of Paris - Criterion Collection

Starring:Albert PrÃ©jean, Pola IllÃ©ry, Edmond T. GrÃ©ville, Bill Bocket, Gaston Modot, Jane Pierson, Paul Ollivier, Thomy Bourdelle, Raymond Aimos, Henri Rollan, Madeleine Rodrigue, Myla Seller, Charles Martinelli, Marcel VallÃ©e, Antoine Stacquet, Louis PrÃ© Fils
Director: RenÃ© Clair
Studio: Home Vision Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

René Clair's Under the Roofs of Paris is a delightful pastiche of vignettes loosely held together by a creaky plot involving theft, romance, and mistaken identity. Albert loves Pola, who is being romanced by a seedy thief. Albert ends up in jail instead of the thief and Pola falls for Albert's best friend, Louis. This film was Clair's first talkie and the first French musical. However, this isn't a musical in the Hollywood sense of the term. The characters do not break out in song every 10 minutes. Instead, we see action silently unfold to the pastoral orchestral music score. The film also features several imaginative tracking shots and an interesting glimpse into the post-World War I optimism that briefly reigned over Western Europe until the rise of National Socialism. --Kristian St. Clair

Description

In René Clair's irrepressibly romantic portrait of the crowded tenements of Paris, a street singer and a gangster vie for the love of a beautiful young woman. This witty exploration of love and human foibles, told primarily through song, captures the flamboyant atmosphere of the city with sophisticated visuals and groundbreaking use of the new technology of movie sound. An international sensation upon its release, Under the Roofs of Paris is an exhilarating celebration of filmmaking and one of France's most beloved cinematic exports.

Customer Reviews:

Under the Roofs of Paris.......2007-06-21

This lustrous early sound film by Rene Clair tells of a love triangle in the City of Lights, using the 1930s-era streets (and yes, rooftops) of Paris as its sublimely visual backdrop. From the swooping opening shot and shadowy nighttime fight sequence to his only occasional use of dialogue and music, Clair treats all aspects of the medium with equal respect, relying heavily on cinematographer Georges Perinal and production designer Lazare Meerson for the evocative look of his film. I've no doubt the stylish, exhilarating "Paris" will weave its love spell on you.

A bizarre comic fantasy ..........2007-01-11

During the '30s, René Clair was considered one of the cinema's most stylish innovators and satirists... Now, however, both the 'poetic realism' and the exuberant humor on which his reputation once rested seem shallow and dated...

A critic, and a poet and actor in the serials of Louis Feuillade, the young Clair aligned himself with the French avant-garde of the '20s... Indeed, his silent work may be seen as offshoots of the Dada movement: his debut, "Paris Qui Dort" ("The Crazy Ray"), was a bizarre comic fantasy in which a mad scientist uses a magic ray to render the city immobile; only a group of strangers, safe atop the Eiffel Tower or in a plane, remain conscious to search for the culprit and bring Paris back to life...

A superb homage to the eternal city!.......2006-02-07

Rene Clair has always been the prototype of the kindness and noblesse as well an easy going filmmaker; his entire career colud be described as the most genuine artistic Ambassador of the costumes and typical characters of the great city.

Along his fruitful career, Clair developed and always bet for the best of the mankind. His depictions possesses that naive glance surrounded by a magical spell.

This film is a genuine portrait and a very sincere homage to Paris. An engaging that will captivate you over and over.

There's Something About Pola.......2005-05-04

I feel a little odd reviewing this movie. I seem to be in complete contrast to what other have to say about this movie. I was left somewhat disappointed.

I have only seen two previous films by French filmmaker Rene Clair. I saw "I Married A Witch" and "Le Million" (So far this is my favorite). So I have nothing against Clair's work. In fact I would say I already consider myself a fan. His work reminds me of the American slapstick comedies being made by Chaplin or Lloyd. And "Under the Roofs of Paris" as pointed out by other reviewers was Clair's first talking film. Though just as in Chaplin's first sound films "City Lights" and "Modern Times" dialogue is kept at a minimal. Much of the film has background music and when actors speak the music stops. The action of the film is always set to music. In fact "Under the Roofs of Paris" could have worked as a silent film. But I just didn't enjoy this movie as much as I did "Le Million" and the reason for that is the story. "Under the Roofs of Paris" has a flimsy story-line. The movie hangs by a very slim thread.

The movie has something to do with two men; Albert (Albert Prejean) and Louis (Edward Greville) falling in love with Pola (Pola Illery), some sort of story going on with a robbery (That is never shown on-screen) involving Bill (Bill Bocket) and Fred (Gaston Mobot). The problem with the film is Pola, who goes from one man to the next. I questioned whether she loved either of them. Or if she was capable to love at all. I didn't understand her character. How she was able to switch so fast from Albert to Louis is beyond me. And they say men are fickle! The other problem has to do with this robbery. Because we never see it on screen we don't know what's going on. Who did they steal it from? Why are the police involved? Was it from some rich family? And why exactly are Albert and Bill friends to begin with. But maybe I'm asking all the wrong questions. Maybe we are not suppose to think when watching this movie. Maybe we are just suppose to sit back and look at it. Well, if we do that "Under the Roofs of Paris" has something to be desired. It has a wonderful look. Much of this DVD transfer that I saw had a crisp clear look. The cinematography is beautiful. And the whole story-line was probably just a lark for Clair. But again, I just felt the movie didn't have the silliness of "Le Million", which had a much better story.

Also on this DVD is Clair's first film "Paris Sleeps" a 20 minute short that at first is quite funny but then goes on a bit too long. Not much happens.

Bottom-line: A confusing story that doesn't explain much and jumps from one situation to the next. The character Pola is a disappointment because she doesn't seem realistic. Has a wonderful look and at times is enjoyable, especially in the beginning.

Clair's first talkie is also one of his best........2004-10-15

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"Under the Roofs of Paris" released as "Sous les toits de Paris" in France is Rene Clair's first film with sound in it.

The film is about two men in love with the same woman. when one is falsely accused of a crime and sent to jail, the other takes advantage of the situation to make it worse.

It is another of the musical comedies released by Rene Clair, three of which (including this one) are currently available on the Criterion Collection.

The print quality is not perfect which is to be expected of a film nearly 75 years old. But as always, Criterion does an excellent restoration. This one having been done under the supervision of the French.

There are some great special features also.

"Paris qui dort" (Paris Alseep), Clair's first film is included. It is a silent film about a scientist who used a ray gun to 'freeze' every person in Paris. Only some people in an airplane and the night watchman in the top of the Eiffel Tower are unaffected.
There is also a interview with the director and a trailer.

This is a great release and both films on here are worth watching

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