![Eclipse Series 34: Jean Gremillon During the Occupation (Remorques, Lumiere d'ete, Le ciel est a vous) (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HUgh0J3jL.jpg)
REMORQUES (1941, 84 minutes, Black & White, Monaural, In French with English subtitles, 1.33:1 aspect ratio): Jacques Prévert cowrote this atmospheric tale of the romantic trials of a tugboat captain, played by the iconic French star Jean Gabin. For André and the other members of the Cyclone's crew, existence is harshly divided between the danger of the stormy seas and the safety of life at home with their patient women. When André meets temptation in the form of the alluring Catherine (Michèle Morgan) during a risky rescue, he comes perilously close to betraying his wife (Madeleine Renaud) of ten years. The haunting REMORQUES is distinguished by beautiful tracking shots and cunning special-effects work.LUMIÈRE D'ÉTÉ (1943, 110 minutes, Black & White, Monaural, In French with English subtitles, 1.33:1 aspect ratio): A shimmering glass hotel at the top of a remote Provençal mountain provides the setting for a tragicomic tapestry about lives on the edge. This Jacques Prévert and Pierre Laroche–scripted tale of an obsessive love pentangle—whose principals range from artist to hotel manager to dam worker—was banned from theaters for the duration of the occupation for its dark portrayal of the hedonistic excesses of the ruling class.Today, it is often singled out as Grémillon's greatest achievement.LE CIEL EST À VOUS (1944, 107 minutes, Black & White, Monaural, In French with English subtitles, 1.33:1 aspect ratio): In this soaring romantic drama, the wife (Madeleine Renaud) of a former fighter pilot (Charles Vanel) who is preoccupied with his glory days in the sky during World War I, falls in love with the idea of flying herself. This soon becomes an obsession, and she undertakes a lofty feat: the longest solo flight ever made by a woman. A warm look at a working-class family as well as a triumphant tale of determination, LE CIEL EST À VOUS was one of Grémillon's most successful films, and can be interpreted as a necessarily stealthy portrait of nonconformity.
L**E
Formidable
There are many box sets about the 1940s, but I am glad to have this one now, with some good movies.
H**O
Jean Gremillon: un olvidado (injustamente)
No es frecuente poder ver filmes rodados en Francia durante la ocupación alemana, por lo que ésta trilogía ofrece una excelente oportunidad.Jean Gremillon fue un creador sobresaliente, hoy injustamente olvidado, cuyas virtudes acotadas por las restricciones del momento histórico, podemos aquí apreciar.
A**U
Great movies from a great director
I knew these three movies and i liked them very much, but without being able to watch them for many years. So I did enjoy get them back available for my greatest pleasure .
E**H
Between poetic realism and nouvelle vague
During the occupation most of the french directors made entertainment films so as to avoid trouble with the german propaganda. But Gremillon chose contemporary themes, lumiere d'ete is reminiscent of La regle du jeu for example that became forbidden. The screen-play is complex, but also entertaining. Striking is the different background music and background noise just as the camerawork. The booklets of the edition have a lot of useful information.
S**N
Not masterworks.
Interesting movies, but neither or them are the best of Gremillon. These are "Pattes blanches" or "Gueule d amour".
B**M
Excellent films
All three films in this set, are excellent. The legendary Jean Gabin in the first film, a young Georges Marchal in the second, ‘Lumière d.Été’ and a very impressive Charles Vanel in an exceptional performance, in the third, ‘Le Ciel Est À Vous’.
R**L
A POOR MAN's RENOIR. SO WHY NOT WATCH RENOIR?
I'm amazed by the rapturous reviews of what (to me) seem like thoroughly second tier films. Well acted (of course with Gabin and Renaud) but the plot-lines click along like a paint-by-numbers set, the special effects (especially in the model ships-at-sea sequences in REMORQUES) are pathetic, and while LE CIEL portrays a very strong and determined woman, she is a negative paradigm of everything that anti-feminists decry: a bullying, selfish, totally self-absorbed woman who will never win a Mother of the Year Award. While these films (historically) may resemble the films of Jean Renoir, they haven't a fraction of the depth, complexity or beauty of his films. Save your money on this set and watch GRAND ILLUSION or RULES OF THE GAME for the second, third or fourth time. They grow richer with every viewing.
G**N
Interesting time piece exploring the mores and landscape of France ...
Interesting time piece exploring the mores and landscape of France during the time of the Vichy government. Neither Nazi nor Vichy government play any role in these 3 tales. I found the "Le Ciel est a vous" the most enjoyable of the 3 plays. In this story aviation plays an important part in the lives of a French couple. The other films "Remorques" about a sea captain and "Lumiere D'Ete" about dalliances at a mountain resort were both interesting period pieces capturing the mores of the 1940ies in France. It was quite interesting to contrast the somewhat staid characterizations of the people in the Lumiere with what one might imagine if the same film were redone today.
A**D
Grémillon en zone 1
Beau coffret , mais zone 1 pour la lecture. C'est un gros handicap. Absurde pour des films patrimoniaux des années 40.Films bien restaurés
A**R
Great value!
a good collection of films, worth watching
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