Children Of Paradise [1945] [Criterion] (BLU)
Marcel Carne
Synopsis
Poetic realism reached sublime heights with Children of Paradise, widely considered one of the greatest French films of all time. This nimble depiction of nineteenth-century Paris’s theatrical demimonde, filmed during World War II, follows a mysterious woman (Arletty) loved by four different men (all based on historical figures): an actor, a criminal, a count, and, most poignantly, a mime (Jean-Louis Barrault, in a longing-suffused performance for the ages). With sensitivity and dramatic élan, director Marcel Carné and screenwriter Jacques Prévert resurrect a world teeming with hucksters and aristocrats, thieves and courtesans, pimps and seers. And thanks to a major new restoration, this iconic classic looks and sounds richer and more detailed than ever.
- Audio commentary by film scholars Brian Stonehill and Charles Affron
- Video introduction by director Terry Gilliam
- Restoration demostration
- U.S. trailer
- Once upon a time: "Children of Paradise" a 2009 documentary on the making of the film
- New visual essay on the design of Children of Paradise by film writer Paul Ryan
- The birth of "Children of Paradise: 1967 Rob Houver film documentary featuring interviews with director Marcel Carné; actors Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, and Pierre Brasseur; production designer Alexandre Trauner and others
Product Details
- Language: French
- Subtitles: English
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of Discs: 2
- Rating: Not Rated
- Label: The Criterion Collection
- Release Date: 09/18/2012
- Run Time: 190 minutes
- Catalogue #: 141
- Region: Canada, US