11 The Bride Wore Black

[domino harvey]

This has sold out, FYI

[domino harvey]

Revisited this as a supplement to rereading James Monaco’s book. I liked it a bit more this time but I still think that recent revisits of other Truffauts have only convinced me further that he was a limited talent as a filmmaker and there’s a reason his films aren’t talked about nearly as much as they used to be— literally insane to me that Chabrol was contemporarily seen as a failure by so many when he was bebopping and scatting all over Truffaut in this (and any) period. At least we get his little cameo in the JDV short on the disc!

Was amused at Kent Jones’ rather subdued appreciation of the film in light of the booklet having to axe a negative essay, as I don’t think he loves this one all that much either. Funny to learn that Hitchcock praised the poisoning scene though, as there’s zero suspense there (I wonder if Hitchcock was just being nice to his adoring pupil?) though I did find Bouquet’s section the most interesting for his characterization.

[nowhereisaplace]

Not to get too far off topic but I recently did a triple feature of 1964 New Wave films and I thought it was interesting that all 3 featured extended sequences at Orly - The Soft Skin (which is one of the better Truffaut’s in my opinion), Chabrol’s The Tiger Loves Fresh Meat, and A Married Woman. I loved watching those 3 showcase that location. I’m not saying any one is better than the other, but I really loved Chabrol’s free form Eurospy flick really play with the space of the airport - and I don’t think you can find 2 more different films than Soft Skin and Tiger!

[domino harvey]

Love the airport scenes in the Chabrol film, such great energy and invention in the whole film! Just barely missed your cutoff (December 1963) but Deville’s L'Appartement des filles also qualifies (the opening credits are brilliantly airport themed as well)

[nowhereisaplace]

And then of course La Jetee in 63 as well! A photographic airport to be sure!