Convince Radiance to Release a Michel Deville Film

[Radiance]

Fran, if you release a Deville, I will street team the shit out of it for you gratis

As will I, I’ve been shouting his name in any film forum I can find and more, begging for more people to discover his genius. But alas, as of now it seems all for naught unless we were to get a Christmas miracle. Speaking of which, does anyone know what happened to the planned Blu-Ray of La Petite Bande, I can’t seem to find it anywhere online and I’m scared that it’s gotten quietly canned.

Should be this year

Let’s see a Radiance Deville thread. Let’s see support and awareness. With enough of both it’ll happen…

[Peacock]

Dossier 51 is a very unique genre film and could be a good place to start!

[Calvin]

Let’s see a Radiance Deville thread. Let’s see support and awareness. With enough of both it’ll happen…

!

Who wants to start it?

Dossier 51 is a very unique genre film and could be a good place to start!

It does seem like easiest Deville film for them to release given its genre credentials; I could see it being a decent seller.

[ryannichols7]

I believe this is the first time we've ever had a label request this. this is basically the physical media version of "1000 retweets and we will ____" and I support it!

if The Bear and the Doll can be dual territory, I guarantee you we can get enough people that will buy anything with Bardot's name slapped on it to sell out of an LE and hopefully fund other Deville releases

[mizo]

Just to add my voice to the choir, I would 100% buy an English-friendly blu of any Deville film. Not sure which ones have HD masters ready to go, though

[domino harvey]

Deville films that would conceivably make someone understand why he’s one of the best to ever do it, with brief annotations of why Radiance should release

Ce soir ou jamais (1961) - incredible use of cinematic space and time, plus Anna Karina at her most beautiful

Adorable menteuse (1962) - whipsmart and whip fast Nouvelle vague would-be touchstone

À cause, à cause d'une femme (1963) - Hitchcockian examination of a ladies man. Fran, I think you would love this one

L'Appartement des filles (1963) -stewardesses get in comic romp with Sami Frey. The performance scene would have been an iconic new wave moment like running through the louvre if it had ever been seen on that scale

L'Ours et la poupée (1970) - Deville’s most commercially appealing movie is also one of his best. I just don’t think any label releasing this could lose money on this BB meets Wes Anderson meets Bringing Up Baby joyride

L’Apprenti salaud (1977) - Deville’s masterwork, but this is never going to be released because it has no stars. Maybe we get lucky and it’s in a box? If you want to swing for the fences though, man this is the one

La petite bande (1983) - non stop visual brilliance, but forthcoming from France and no subs are needed

Péril en la demeure (1985) - Twisty modern noir, already out on English friendly Blu though

Nuit d'été en ville (1990) - Creatively staged post coitus drama. Essentially non stop nudity, ie sell it to the raincoat brigade

Toutes peines confondues (1992) - Twisty modern noir, Mathilda May is hot

[Aspect]

I want to throw in my vow to buy any Deville release that Radiance releases. I’ve bought all of the French stuff except that Vecchialli one.

[therewillbeblus]

I'll second all of domino's nominations, especially L'Ours et la poupée, which if you just sample the first few minutes of will immediately elicit joy, guaranteed. I think this one is the way to go, if you can get it.

I'll also throw in a plug for a late-Deville, La Maladie de Sachs, a wonderful dramedy that's incredibly moving, funny, and accessible - while maintaining a strong sense of originality within its deceptively-straightforward, goodnatured soul. I also think you'd love this one, Fran. Plus it looks great, being recent, and wouldn't need a bunch of restoration work

[Noiretirc]

I want to throw in my vow to buy any Deville release that Radiance releases. I’ve bought all of the French stuff except that Vecchialli one.

I echo this vow, except that I've never seen a Deville. But I love that Radiance made this thread.

[ryannichols7]

I think a big thing would be to jump on these before Criterion does (since it doesn't appear that they have) and then we have to wait on them to even show up on the channel, and then maybe get one on disc. I mean, they still haven't released L'Amour Fou and Radiance has fully sold out of their limited edition of that already...

not gonna lie I'm taking recommendations left and right in this thread, and I think it would be smart to use this to take down any thoughts I have about the various films. and hopefully I do actually watch them and write about them too..

[domino harvey]

Lots of good writing from Deville Heads in his filmmaker thread as well

[therewillbeblus]

Deville is literally the filmmaker that inspired me to write thoughts on this forum. I believe my first writeups are in that thread

[bottlesofsmoke]

Just adding to the chorus of those that will support any Deville release. I’ve loved most of his films that I’ve seen, they have such a perfect, rare combination of playfulness and intelligence. Watching Adorable menteuse, À cause, à cause d'une femme and L'appartement des filles within close proximity of each other was such a wonderful experience, it reminded me of when I first watched Rohmer, which was a feeling I wasn’t expecting to ever feel again.

Hopefully Les Petites Demoiselles is included as an extra, it would go great with L'appartement des filles

[knives]

With the caveat that I’m region A locked, Deville is one of the few names I’d immediately buy for. I’ve genuinely enjoyed what I’ve seen and he’s just fascinating for me.

[Aunt Peg]

My top 3 Deville wish list are:

Le voyage en douce (1980)
La letrice (1988)
La maladie se Sachs (1999)

I have so many blank spots in Deville's filmography and I'd welcome all of those too, of which there are too many to list.

[MichaelB]

I saw La Lectrice when it came out, and remember enjoying it.

[Never Cursed]

I’ve only seen these two, but a blu-ray (any region) of Ce Soir ou Jamais or L’Appartement des Filles would be an instant buy for me. As domino said, these movies would probably be regarded as Nouvelle Vague classics if they had ever been put out in Region A/1

Domino, you mentioned a putative top 10 most wanted French cinema blu-ray list a while back. What else would be on it besides the Devilles?

[rapta]

Having had no prior experience with Deville, and admittedly only really hearing about him through this forum, the title I'm immediately drawn to is Eaux profondes (1981) due to it being a Highsmith adaptation starring Huppert and Trintignant, but also because I had no idea it existed and yet I've seen the Adrian Lyne version (which I weirdly enjoyed more than most). However, since there's already a Gaumont disc out there, I suspect a lot of people here might be frustrated if Radiance were to release it unless it was either part of a box set or the first of a few Deville titles.

Other than that though, obviously several others intrigue, particularly Ce soir ou jamais (1961), L'Ours et la Poupée (1970), Le Mouton enragé (1974), Le Dossier 51 (1978), Péril en la demeure (1985) and Toutes peines confondues (1992). I'm also curious about Lucky Joe (1964) too, is it any good?

Out of the above, seems Le Mouton enragé and Péril en la demeure also have already had discs too (both over a decade ago). Slightly surprised Toutes peines confondues hasn't had one yet as it looks very healthy from the clips I've seen...maybe an opportunity for Radiance right there.

Maybe Toutes peines confondues could work as part of a box set with Eaux profondes and Péril en la demeure? That could get the ball rolling, and if people responded well it could justify further titles. Could definitely see that working as a smaller box akin to the Corneau one, and would make the most sense logistically since the masters for each are already in decent condition.

If it was just down to one title though, I could see L'Ours et la Poupée making many people happy if it made it to disc. Doesn't admittedly feel like a Radiance title though, and might then set up expectations for more comedy, which traditionally is a harder sell for boutiques (it was disappointing to see how cautiously the Risi set sold, though it did go OOP eventually).

PS: Am I right in thinking StudioCanal hold the rights for Toutes peines confondues? Seems Gaumont released the French DVD, but I see it listed on the SC site...

[MichaelB]

Having had no prior experience with Deville, and admittedly only really hearing about him through this forum, the title I'm immediately drawn to is Eaux profondes (1981) due to it being a Highsmith adaptation starring Huppert and Trintignant, but also because I had no idea it existed and yet I've seen the Adrian Lyne version (which I weirdly enjoyed more than most). However, since there's already a Gaumont disc out there, I suspect a lot of people here might be frustrated if Radiance were to release it unless it was either part of a box set or the first of a few Deville titles.

I didn't see the Lyne version because I was tipped off that it was terrible, but I'm a big fan of the novel. Not that that necessarily makes for a good film, of course, and Highsmith in particular has been surprisingly fiddly to translate—the superficial suspense-thriller elements appeal to filmmakers, but the more intense Dostoevskian passages (a conscious influence; Dostoevsky was Highsmith's favourite author) tend to be toned down, but I'd certainly be prepared to give the Deville version a fair hearing. Certainly, the Letterboxd reaction seems a lot more enthusiastic than it was to the Lyne version, with the overwhelming majority of reactions being three and four-star ones and an average of 3.5 overall. Lyne, by contrast, only musters a pretty feeble 2.3.

(I'd be the first to acknowledge that this isn't an especially scientific test, but it does at least suggest a consensus that the Deville film is broadly superior.)

[andyli]

Didn't realize the thread was created by Radiance until now... I've not seen any of the Deville yet but will buy every single one of them from you guys.

[domino harvey]

Having had no prior experience with Deville, and admittedly only really hearing about him through this forum, the title I'm immediately drawn to is Eaux profondes (1981) due to it being a Highsmith adaptation starring Huppert and Trintignant, but also because I had no idea it existed and yet I've seen the Adrian Lyne version (which I weirdly enjoyed more than most). However, since there's already a Gaumont disc out there, I suspect a lot of people here might be frustrated if Radiance were to release it unless it was either part of a box set or the first of a few Deville titles.

[…]

Maybe Toutes peines confondues could work as part of a box set with Eaux profondes and Péril en la demeure? That could get the ball rolling, and if people responded well it could justify further titles. Could definitely see that working as a smaller box akin to the Corneau one, and would make the most sense logistically since the masters for each are already in decent condition.

I like Eaux profondes but while it does sound like a Radiance title, it’s not one that really shows why Deville is worth getting excited over so I don’t think the juice would be worth the squeeze on it (factor in some of the other titles you mention like Lucky Jo and Le Mouton enragé that fit this category of okay films that would nonetheless be awful intros for showing why Deville is a master of his craft). The existing Blu is not English friendly though, so it would be a relevant release on those grounds. I do think your proposed trio of titles would work together as a box (and you could swap one of them out for Le dossier 51)

Never Cursed, great question, lemme think on that

[soundchaser]

Add me to the list of Day One purchasers, regardless of the title.

EDIT: And I’ll (potentially) preempt DH by saying I’d do the same for any Mouret, with Caprice and Les choses qu'on dit, les choses qu'on fait, and Un baiser s'il vous plaît at the top of my list. The latter is probably the easiest sell, given its relative star power, but I think the folks who like What Happened Was… would dig any of them.

[rapta]

I didn't see the Lyne version because I was tipped off that it was terrible, but I'm a big fan of the novel. Not that that necessarily makes for a good film, of course, and Highsmith in particular has been surprisingly fiddly to translate—the superficial suspense-thriller elements appeal to filmmakers, but the more intense Dostoevskian passages (a conscious influence; Dostoevsky was Highsmith's favourite author) tend to be toned down, but I'd certainly be prepared to give the Deville version a fair hearing. Certainly, the Letterboxd reaction seems a lot more enthusiastic than it was to the Lyne version, with the overwhelming majority of reactions being three and four-star ones and an average of 3.5 overall. Lyne, by contrast, only musters a pretty feeble 2.3.

(I'd be the first to acknowledge that this isn't an especially scientific test, but it does at least suggest a consensus that the Deville film is broadly superior.)

I think 'terrible' is a bit of a harsh summation of Lyne's film, but I can understand why some went into it with certain negative energy toward people working on it (namely Ben Affleck and Sam Levinson). Aside from it being a Highsmith adaptation, perhaps there were certain expectations seeing as Lyne was returning to the erotic thrillers he was best known for. Personally speaking, I found it to work best in a tongue-in-cheek way, with Tracy Letts' appearance perhaps my favourite aspect. Might be worth you checking it out after seeing the Deville version.

Either way, I don't expect to see a Radiance release of Indecent Proposal anytime soon (though I'm sure they would have considered Jacob's Ladder if StudioCanal hadn't already released it themselves recently).

I like Eaux profondes but while it does sound like a Radiance title, it’s not one that really shows why Deville is worth getting excited over so I don’t think the juice would be worth the squeeze on it (factor in some of the other titles you mention like Lucky Jo and Le Mouton enragé that fit this category of okay films that would nonetheless be awful intros for showing why Deville is a master of his craft). The existing Blu is not English friendly though, so it would be a relevant release on those grounds. I do think your proposed trio of titles would work together as a box (and you could swap one of them out for Le dossier 51)

It does seem more Chabrol-esque than the rest of Deville's work, if that makes sense (or maybe even Miller-esque, possibly why I regarded it as Radiance-worthy).

Anyway, maybe with enough interest and persistence, a small box set could happen. Would very likely help if the rights were through the same licensor of course, with Gaumont being the common source for Eaux profondes, Péril en la demeure and Le dossier 51 at least. It seems Pathé may have Toutes peines confondues, so not exactly impossible but still worth mentioning.

Though it seems like it hasn't been restored yet, if they could somehow get L'Ours et la Poupée maybe it could pair well with La petite bande, which has been restored. Together they could make for a fun little double-bill.

[Red Screamer]

I’ve only seen (and loved) Ce soir ou jamais and La petite bande, but you can count me in as part of the paying audience for such a release.

While we’re blueskying suggestions, Dan Sallitt has been a vocal Deville booster since sometime in the 2000s and his critical style of formal analysis, focusing on directorial problem solving, is well suited to Deville’s playful sensibility — writing from him would be a great inclusion on such a release.

[therewillbeblus]

La Divine Poursuite is also a hilarious road movie - like a good version of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I don't think many others have seen it, since it was one of the last Deville's to be subbed on back channels, but I have a hard time imagining it not finding an audience