Customer Reviews

Don't Look Now - We're Being Shot at

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw this movie in Europe ten years ago and I've watched it countless times since. Now, in the US I cannot comprehend why not one video-rental place has it. It is such a pitty for the viewers because Louis de Funes and Bourvil have a talent and taste for comedy that are unparalleled today! Unfortunately, part of the humor lies in the language and the way it is said, so you will get an added benefit if you understand French. A must for any viewer of any age!

I simply cannot believe that almost none of Louis de Funès' films are available with English subtitles! This, despite the extreme popularity of this actor in France, and in other countries where his movies have been translated such as Russia (where he is perhaps even more widely known than is Charlie Chaplin).

When I visited Russia two years ago, a quick check in the TV Guide showed three of his movies on in the next week, all superbly dubbed in Russian (whereas the English-speaking world is apparently too poor to afford even subtitling them!). I remember two of the movies that I saw that week; one was La Grande Vadrouille and the other one was L'Aile ou la Cuisse (this was actually my favourite one of the two, although I enjoyed them both).

After this, I tried for two years (back in Canada) to find the names of the movies or the actors that I had just seen, to no avail. When I finally found some information about L'Aile ou la Cuisse, the website stated apologetically that the movie is not available with English subtitles because the humour is "French humour" and "does not translate well into English humour".

So then, am I to believe that the humour is translatable into RUSSIAN, but not into ENGLISH?! What complete BS!

Anyways, I finally settled on ordering a copy of La Grande Vadrouille (unsubtitled) from the Toronto library and watching it with my limited understanding of French. I STILL enjoyed it, even though I didn't understand what the characters were saying 60% of the time. The movie is perfectly edited, and the actors all play their parts well (although de Funès is the best of them). De Funès plays the stereotypical arrogant orchestra conductor ("Very good, very good! ... I mean, very good for me, YOU are not quite so good" when talking to his orchestra) who mostly involuntarily helps some English pilots reach England again.

The movie follows the characters from one unlikely place to another in WW2 France, so that there is always adventure to keep you excited when watching the movie even when there is no humour... But there IS humour in the movie, and it is a very funny brand of humour. It something of a mix between Chaplin slapstick and the "sophisticated" humour that is predominating in French movies of today. As I said before, the whole film is perfectly edited, and the screenplay is simply brilliant- it features everything from chase scenes to sleuth operations to prison escapes. Also worth noting are some of the stunts seen in the film; they look pretty realistic. The ending, in particular, is very fun to watch; it is very original, to say the least.

Another facet worth mentioning is the orchestral score, which is mainly by Wagner fits the film very well. This movie is certainly not a realistic depiction of war, but it's such a good film that it's hard to find much else to complain about.

To sum it up, if you know some French and like good comedy, I strongly suggest that you see this movie if you can obtain a copy.

If you are NOT French-speaking, The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob is (I think) the only film of his that is currently available with English subtitles (it's out of print on Amazon.ca, so check Amazon.com). I haven't seen it myself, but the reviews of it are all positive.

P.S. if you don't think that it's fair that famous French comedians such as Louis de Funès are being given the snub in the English-speaking world, please write a review of one of his movies, or perhaps send a letter to a company that does international DVD releases (Kino International may be a possibility, although I'll admit that I'm completely clueless on these things). Perhaps somewhere, sometime, somebody will notice, and these great films will finally be available for those of us who do not speak French!

I watched this movie originally in China when I was a kid. It was translated into Chinese. People grew up with me can't say they don't know this movie. The language in the movie, the acting skill of the actors, and the story line are just perfect. I am so glad I eventually found it. I am not a movie goer, but this one is one of the very few that stays in my mind. It makes me wonder, why do we bother producing so many movies that will disappear in your mind right after you watched it, OK, almost I mean. I wish every movie was made to the level this movie is at. After all, this is the way movies are supposed to be, I mean to stay with you, not like a meal. Watch it, you can't excuse yourself from not doing this favor to yourself if you have watched so many other possibly 'worthless' ones. I have and I will watch it countless times.

The last time I saw this movie was in 1970, when I was 11 years old, in an old drive-in in Cuernavaca, Mexico. After that, the film completely vanished from the face of the earth: no theatre would re-release it, no video rental would have it, no video store would know about it, and no one I knew had ever heard of it. Last week, by mere chance, I finally found it here on Amazon and bought it on the spot.

Those thirty years have not passed at all! It is still as funny as I remembered it (well yes, though, a little dated) and a refreshing romp after tons and tons of today's vulgar comedians, who should take a second look at Terry Thomas, Bourvil and Louis de Funes for a real class act!

Watch out for the great late Mexican actor Claudio Brook (Cronnos) playing ...a British RAF officer! ...and getting away with it, too!

I love this movie. I went to see it in the cinema 4 times (in Europe, of course). Too bad that nobody seems to know about this movie, or M. de Funes for that matter, in the USA :(

The only slight (very slight) minus are the subtitles. It seems that they do not translate everything that is said. But even that can not stop you from enjoying this movie :)

No doubt. a good movie can be kept in your mind for the
whole life, and you may metion it to people often. This
is the best movie that I have watched more than four times
in the past twenty years. From cinema, TV, and video tpae.
I do like it very much, and all of the normal humans too.

It is the best French movie that I have seen.
I talked to my Chinese friends before, all of them
watched this movie. more over, all their relatives and
friends watched it too. unbelievable.

Really, really funny. If you like Louis de Funes in this movie check out Les Grandes Vacances and the Fantomas series.

I have seen it at leat 5 times. Every time I can not help laughing. The master piece tells us what a real comedy should be. One thing I can not understand is that I can not find it in Blockbuster and Hollywood rental. What a great regret that most of US people can not enjoy it! Whose fault?

And this is THE classical French comedy. If you like it I also recommend 'Le Corniaud' with De Funes and Bourvil as well...