Barnes & Noble

Writer-director Jacques Tati's comic masterpiece is an understated, eloquent throwback to the days of silent movies, and his amiable protagonist bears comparison to the gently humorous characters portrayed by Buster Keaton and other silent-screen funnymen. Monsieur Hulot (Tati) is a mild-mannered bachelor who spends his summer holidays at a small Breton seaside resort where, during his latest visit, he inadvertently triggers a series of mishaps. Hulot wears an outfit every bit as distinctive as Charlie Chaplin's "little tramp" costume: hat, overcoat, and too-short trousers. He nearly always smokes a pipe and habitually walks as though he's fighting a strong wind. He instigates minor calamities wherever he goes but seems blissfully unaware of the consequences of his actions, adopting an air of bemused indifference to the pandemonium that surrounds him. In the best silent-film traditions, Tati relies little on dialogue, allowing perfectly orchestrated visuals and flawless comic timing to carry the day. Hulot ultimately appeared in four films, but this is by far the best one. Watching it will guarantee you 90 minutes of pure, unalloyed pleasure -- and that's more than you can say for many of the alleged "comedies" that flit across movie screens these days. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Already familiar to many, especially following his acclaimed directorial debut Jour De Fete, Jacques Tati came into his own and reached new levels of popularity with 1953's Les Vacances De Monsieur Hulot. The first film to introduce his much-loved alter ego Monsieur Hulot, it sets the pattern for future appearances of the character, throwing the bumbling hero unwittingly into the middle of the action and letting the ensuing mishaps provoke humor ranging from gentle observations to fairly biting satire. The setting this time is a stuffy resort community fond of the peace and quiet that Hulot interrupts without fail. Nearly dialogue-free and driven more by episode than plot (like all of the Hulot films), standout set pieces include a disrupted funeral, an interrupted game of cards, and -- one of Tati's signature bits -- a game of tennis played with rules that can politely be called unconventional. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide

Product Details

• UPC: 037429155721
• Source: CRITERION
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: B&W
• Sound: monaural
• Language: Français
• Subtitles: English, Français
• Time: 1:27:00
• Sales Rank: 523

Features:

DVD MENU