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One of the Great Movies, according to Roger Ebert. Nice read.

Report from the Telluride screening

But the screening those who were present will never forget was the 70mm unspooling of Jacques Tati's 1967 masterpiece "Playtime." At about the hour-and-45-minute mark, a great rustling commenced on the Galaxy Theater's main floor, followed by outright panic and a stench that was unmistakable: A skunk had somehow made its way into the cinema and was scurrying around under the seats -- another Telluride first that would be hard to reproduce anywhere else.

Pepe Le Pew aside, there are no skunks in France, but otherwise I can almost picture such a scene in a Tati film. Though perhaps the comedy would be too broad, better left to Hal Roach.

If it were to be found in a Tati film, it would most definately not be a skunk. Tati's new found pet cat would somehow find itself with a white stripe of paint on its back and everyone would keep getting up to move without screaming. And of course, everytime a seat in the theater would refold itself back up, you'd hear the pluck of a cello.

I did my comparison of the 2 Criterion versions and the new one is sharper and has more image on the sides but is alittle darker than the old one. When i watched both for the first 20 minutes i did see some of the new scenes in the new one that lasted about 30 seconds or so. I have not watched all of the new version but so far it looks great!. Lets hope Criterion releases TRAFFIC soon.....

I was at the Telluride screening in question - it wasn't as much of a riot as the writer insists. Quizzical looks abounded, but mostly we were too transfixed on that stunning 70mm print. It's the only real way to experience the film, though I'll gladly take my DVD as a substitute.

Seeing that final reel - the carousel! - on the big screen made me smile so much I was nearly crying.

I hope they reissue Parade which was available as a laserdisc Criterion.

Who owns the rights of the various Tatis ?

French completist wrote:I hope they reissue Parade which was available as a laserdisc Criterion.

Who owns the rights of the various Tatis ?

Isn't it his Estate?

Has anyone noticed on amazon that copies of the older edition of Playtime have plummetted in value? I feel bad for people who shelled out fifty or sixty bucks for their copy a year ago!
Brian

Same happened with Mon Oncle and M. Hulot's Holiday, and they were selling for US$200 easy. The original 400 Blows was going for even more, and now it's practically worthless.

Think the same thing would happen to Salo if they somehow regain the rights to that film?

I received the recent issue of Douglas Pratt's "Lasedisc/DVD Newsletter", which contains a review of the new version of Playtime. According to the reviewer, the colors on the old version are far more accurate. He specifically mentions that the greys in the old version are now rendered as blue, which he believes is a manipulation that does not represent Tati's film accurately. Any opinions on the subject?

Brianruns10 wrote:Think the same thing would happen to Salo if they somehow regain the rights to that film?

Probably the day it was announced.

I've never seen Playtime but, from my experience, Doug Pratt is pretty much a dolt. Judging from the beaver screencaps of Playtime, I've gotta guess he's wrong. The old disc had a puke green filter look going for it. I don't know if Tati was big on puke - I guess it's possible - but I would tend to think that wasn't the intended look.

There's an interview with Jonathan Rosenbaum at the Speakeasy with Dorian radio show (11th December 2006).

At one point Rosenbaum mentions that he'd suggested a short film that Tati and his daughter made about a football pitch in the rain for inclusion on the Playtime DVD, but they weren't able to get the rights. He did say that maybe they might be able to include it on a future disc(!)

I did a search and it looks like it is this film.

does anyone else think that the subtitles are just a bit wonky? i have a widescreen tv and some of them [like "j" and "y"] are chopped off at the bottom of the frame.

Subtitles for Playtime? I don't think you really need them.

Stan Czarnecki wrote:Subtitles for Playtime? I don't think you really need them.

This may be true, but it doesn't really answer my question.

I'm hesitant to buy this DVD since there is a possibility that CC (or any other company) might release the entire Mr. Hulot series of films in a box set.

What are the chances of that happening?

malcolm1980 wrote:I'm hesitant to buy this DVD since there is a possibility that CC (or any other company) might release the entire Mr. Hulot series of films in a box set.

What are the chances of that happening?

Very slim from Criterion. They've repeatedly said they have no plans to release Traffic.

I actually saw this today at a small screen place. Hilarious movie, I really enjoyed myself. Laughed until I cried. The best part had to be either the scene where he's at the product expo or whatever that was. When the guy slams the quiet door I thought I was gonna die. And then the scene in the restaurant where Hulot tries to jump and grab the fruit. I also loved the sort of romantic feel that it took towards the end, with the carousel and the lights. I'm glad I chose to see this on the "big" (small) screen and not the TV. So much going on in a few of the scenes.

A lot of surprises! Like the nuns, little things like that pop up all over the place.

Magic Hate Ball wrote:A lot of surprises! Like the nuns, little things like that pop up all over the place.

The carousel scene has to be one of the most beautiful events ever put on to film. It's incredible. The last shot is magnificent as well, just the street lights in pure darkness. Seeing this in both the theater and on my beat up SDTV, it didn't affect how magnificent this movie is, especially with a transfer like this.

Every time I watch this film, I'm filed with so much joy, and I keep questioning how a man can make a film like this. It's magnificence is beyond all movies, and it's something much more than a comedy. This film might be one of the greatest pieces of cinema celebrating the joy of us and living. So much is going on, it's a bit overwhelming, but the end is the perfect way to place you back in a sort of state of calmness before leaving the theater, or the T.V. room.

Absolutely one of the best Criterion releases.

The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:Absolutely one of the best Criterion releases.

fully agree... Tati's films all have that strange quality... I love them.

The last shot is magnificent as well, just the street lights in pure darkness.

I don't know if anyone notice this but when the street lights turn on in the dusk, their poles and arches hanging the lamps reflect the lily-of-the-valley bouquet that the woman received as a gift from M. Hulot. Beautiful touch.

When I first saw Playtime I thought it was one of the coldest films I've ever seen . . . upon repeated viewings, I haven't changed my mind . . . all the little grace notes you describe -- the "carousel," the lights that pollute the darkness of the night sky, but nonetheless form into a flower -- all are symbols of Tati's longing for the Paris of his youth, the Paris of flower-sellers, the Eiffel-tower Paris that American tourists like me eat up with a spoon . . . but they're remnants, glimpsed imperfectly in reflections in the cold, modern towers, or simulated in the rondelet of cars in the "carousel."

Viewing M. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle and then Playtime you can see a progression as Tati's vision gets darker and darker. The jokes are there all right, and the Hulot character retains some of his bumbling, Chaplinesque charm, but they're in the service of an increasingly bleak view of the world.

Don't get me wrong . . . I love the film, and I agree that it's one of Criterion's best releases. This is just my two cents.