Product Details

• Actors: Shirley MacLaine, Brigitte Boucher, Alice Cambournac, Valentina Carnelutti, Cécile Cassel
• Directors: Christian Duguay
• Writers: Carla Giulia Casalini, Enrico Medioli, James Carrington, Lea Tafuri
• Producers: Corrado Trionfera, Daniele Passani, Elisabetta Iovene
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Screen Media
• DVD Release Date: July 7, 2009
• Run Time: 139 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00279MJHE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,067 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Coco Chanel" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Lovers of fashion, Paris, and love will adore Coco Chanel, a stylish biopic about the legendary fashion designer whose incredible vision and style would go on to become one of the most influential of the 20th century. And while Coco (née Gabrielle) Chanel's focus on her work was undeniable, and expertly chronicled in Coco Chanel, so, too, are her passionate loves--giving the film its depth and humanity. Shirley MacLaine shines as the older Coco, looking back at her legacy from the middle of the century, with her longtime companion and No. 1 booster, Marc Bouchier (Malcolm McDowell), at her side. MacLaine is equal parts arrogant, dismissive, and steadfast in her objective--yet just vulnerable enough to let viewers see the real woman beneath the hard exterior of international success. The stunning cast includes the Czechoslovakian-born Barbora Bobulova as the young Coco--as gamine and winsome as the young Shirley MacLaine--a determined young woman willing to work hard in a man's field and stay true to her own vision. Fashion fans will love learning the story of Chanel's rise from her poor beginnings in an orphanage to her hardscrabble start as a seamstress in Paris, slowly making contacts (and charming dashing young gentlemen) and insinuating her idea of elegant chic into the minds of a populace hungry for it. Chanel's conception of a fashion empire included the then-revolutionary idea of incorporating other products, like perfume; the young Coco, in creating her signature scent, said when launching Chanel No. 5, "I am sure this will be my lucky number." The DVD includes a fascinating making-of feature that shows the details of shooting on location and how the filmmakers got the period details absolutely parfait. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Academy Award winning actress Shirley MacLaine stars as Coco Chanel in this critically acclaimed film that charts the rise of one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. From her humble childhood and early days as a young dressmaker's assistant, to her passionate love affair with a dashing Englishman and ultimate success as a pioneering fashion icon, Coco Chanel is the story of a glamorous woman who was hard to love and harder to ignore. Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominated, Coco Chanel is a must-see film for every lover of fashion and romance.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The strength of a woman, overcoming life's hard knocks December 30, 2008

By J. J. Sigler

Coco CHANEL became a courageous, confident, fiesty and brave young woman when she was orphaned after her monther died and her father left her and younger sister at a convent in France. This is a very interesting story, well directed, filmed in beautiful France which demonstrates how CoCo faced each and every hardship in her life with grace and confidence, giving her continued hope for her future. Above all the negative, jealous people, CoCo maintained her focus, her infamous style and her dignity.

A must-see for anyone interested in how CoCo Chanel started in fashion, and for young women to view ways of overcoming hardships in life.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly Done......Amazing! June 1, 2009

By L. C. Fox

Format:DVD

I absolutely love this movie. i am so excited that is on dvd now. if you love fashion history then this is for you. if you love drama and romance then this is for you. if you're at all curious about this movie-just get it! it will not dissapoint you, i promise. this movie details what chanel is really about and how "it" came to be. it tells the story of coco's life starting from when she was a poor little girl in an orphanage to how her drive to succeed took her through many emotional and social challenges in order for her to become what "we" all know her as- "THE GREAT COCO CHANEL". Coco's stubbornness is both her gift and her downfall. I wont give anymore away-but that will become most evident throughout the whole movie.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Little black dresses June 16, 2010

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Coco Chanel has become a pretty popular subject for biopics in the last few years, and the first of them was the TV movie "Coco Chanel," which traces the legendary designer's rise from poverty to worldwide fame. Unfortunately, this movie doesn't do her justice -- it focuses more on Chanel's love affairs than her life as a businesswoman, and painstakingly whitewashes her personality.

It opens in the post-WWII period, when Coco Chanel (Shirley MacLaine) is attempting to stage a comeback as a dress designer, which sets her to thinking about the past.

As a young girl (Barbora Bobulova) was abandoned by her father, raised by nuns, and plucked from a tiny tailor's shop by the wealthy playboy Etienne, who installed her in a country estate as his mistress. During her time in the countryside, she became acquainted with the English polo player Boy Capel, who encouraged her when she became making hats -- and funded a hat shop after she left Etienne.

Of course, she and Boy eventually ended up lovers, but their passionate affair was interrupted when World War I broke out. While Boy fought in the trenches, Coco expanded her business to include jersey clothes tailored for women's comfort -- which launched her into fame and fortune, but of course romantic problems ensued.

"Coco Chanel" was released by the Lifetime Channel, and it doesn't surprise me. We've got a woman succeeding despite some cliche sexism, rotten men who done her wrong, melodramatic tragedy, soppy sentimentality and lots of love-life stuff. In fact, "Chanel the designer" takes backseat to "Chanel the naive romantic with extreme daddy issues...."

And it painstakingly whitewashes the seedier aspects of Chanel's life -- her life as a professional mistress is depicted as being purely based on LUVLUVLUV, and her involvement with the Nazis is completely ignored.

Christian Duguay does a decent job as a director when he simply sticks to telling a life story, such as showing Chanel's growing success as a designer and her increasingly hardened personality. But when he tries more dramatic tacks (the whole "tango" scene), it ends up being insanely cheesy. I ended up giggling through the entire "white scarf" scene after a fatal car accident, because it was so horrendously mawkish.

The acting (not to mention the French accents) are a mixed bag as well. Barbora Bobulova is excellent as the young Chanel -- she's chic, striking and a very good actress, and manages to make you feel for Chanel despite her painful naivete. And there are some good supporting work by Olivier Sitruk and Valentina Lodovini. Too bad MacLaine sleepwalks through her role as "old Chanel," which mostly involves fighting with Malcolm MacDowell and grinding out complaints in a gravelly monotone.

"Coco Chanel" spends more time on the designer's love life than her life as an individual, and whitewashes anything that isn't pretty. Bobulova is excellent as Chanel, and it's too bad she couldn't have played her in a better movie. Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware- No subtitles April 25, 2010

By El Critico

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an entertaining and beautifully produced film, perhaps not as factual as "Coco Before Chanel" and obviosly this DVD left out some scenes that could have helped to clarify certain points, such as who was Julia (In real life it was her older sister who remained in the orphanage, but how will you know if you haven't read Chanel's bio?) ) and who is that niece suppose to be? Adrienne's daughter? But Adrienne was not her sister, but her aunt (Her mother's youngest sister). And who is the baby that in one scene the Coco character takes to the orphanage?
All this I'm willing to overlook, after all, this is a Hollywood product. What really bothered me was that the movie is advertised as having English subtitles, but they are nowhere to be found, and they are necessary in many scenes because the accent of the actress who played young Coco at times couldn't be understood no matter how many times you went back trying to figure out what she said.
Although I never bought Shirley McLaine as a French woman and the arbiter of French Fashion, she did a good job as usual.
All together, it's worth watching for the scenery and photography,and for those interested in fashion, the final fashion show at the end of the film was quite impressive.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE PERFECT MOVIE January 6, 2009

By CNN

This movie has everything! A true dramatic story - fabulous actors - fabulous fashion! Olivier Sitruk (Boye) rates right up there with Colin Firth in Pride & Prejudice!! This will always be one of my favorites - can't wait to get it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Coco Chanel September 29, 2009

By Cynthia L. Roberts

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this movie! I couldn't wait for the DVD to come out since e-bay people were trying to sell it for more than $150!!! Amazon had the best price for this DVD. I had seen it on television a few times but only got to see part of it each time. So that's why I bought the DVD.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING!!!!! September 21, 2009

By mxi8509

Format:DVD

Absolutely loved this movie - One of my all time favorite films!
Love the mix of fashion, romance, and struggle. Will watch it over and over. The actress who played Coco for most of the movie did an exceptional job.