| ||||||||||||||||||||
From director J.J. Abrams comes the next installment in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Into Darkness. See it at Cinemark theaters now and pre-order on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and the Exclusive Starfleet Phaser Gift Set. Shop Star Trek Into Darkness and more in the Star Trek Store. Learn more |
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Special Features
None.
Editorial Reviews
Debra Winger charms in this funny, romantic and touching comedy about the exploits of a trio of naive American pupils - and their sexual awakenings in the bewitching city of Paris! French Postcards captures the excitement of discovery and thrill of young love as the three get their education at the hands of a hilariously harassed headmaster, his sexy - and adventurous - wife, and a beautiful shop girl. Watch for a star turn by Mandy Patinkin who joins the cast of this beguiling and bittersweet comedy.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By DSA
Format:DVD
First of all, I'm very grateful that "French Postcards" finally has made it to DVD. I fell in love with this movie on HBO back in 1980, when it seemed to be on at least once a day. It's a sweet and funny movie that perfectly captures that in-between stage of life when you're in college.
The cast is terrific: The late Valerie Quennessen is completely enchanting as Toni, a young French woman who falls in love with bookish American student Joel (Miles Chapin). There's also Blanche Baker, hilarious as she travels through Europe checking out the graves of famous authors. The DVD packaging makes a big deal out of Debra Winger being in the cast, but she barely gets any screen time.
The movie is delightful, but as for the DVD? Well, although the box doesn't state it, the music has been changed from the original release. Part of the movie's charm (and a comic comment on the scenes) was the use of French-language versions of American pop songs, including "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Do You Believe in Magic." Those have all been excised, replaced by generic-sounding French songs. There were some well-known English-language recordings in here, too: The Kinks' "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" and Nicolette Larson's "Lotta Love" were both prominently featured. Now, the Kinks' song has been replaced with an anoynmous dance tune; the Larson song has been replaced by...silence.
Perhaps the weirdest move of all involves a play the students put on. During the course of the production, Baker leads the students in singing Cole Porter's "You Don't Know Paree." However, the sequence in which Baker performs a solo has been completely removed. Then, instead of hearing the students sing the song, we see the students on stage, mouthing the words to the Porter song but the soundtrack has a chorus of tuneless people chanting: "I love Paris, oh how I love Paris, I love Paris, it's here I want to stay." OK, even if you've never seen the movie before, I think that would be noticeable.
The movie is presented in widescreen and the picture is fine, but the butchering is a major disappointment. I realize this wasn't a hit movie, but it's still wildly annoying. There are no extras and the packaging is rather sloppy: Even Quennessen's name is misspelled on the box cover. So, again -- love the movie, wished the DVD was better. Still, it's better than nothing.
The cast is terrific: The late Valerie Quennessen is completely enchanting as Toni, a young French woman who falls in love with bookish American student Joel (Miles Chapin). There's also Blanche Baker, hilarious as she travels through Europe checking out the graves of famous authors. The DVD packaging makes a big deal out of Debra Winger being in the cast, but she barely gets any screen time.
The movie is delightful, but as for the DVD? Well, although the box doesn't state it, the music has been changed from the original release. Part of the movie's charm (and a comic comment on the scenes) was the use of French-language versions of American pop songs, including "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Do You Believe in Magic." Those have all been excised, replaced by generic-sounding French songs. There were some well-known English-language recordings in here, too: The Kinks' "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" and Nicolette Larson's "Lotta Love" were both prominently featured. Now, the Kinks' song has been replaced with an anoynmous dance tune; the Larson song has been replaced by...silence.
Perhaps the weirdest move of all involves a play the students put on. During the course of the production, Baker leads the students in singing Cole Porter's "You Don't Know Paree." However, the sequence in which Baker performs a solo has been completely removed. Then, instead of hearing the students sing the song, we see the students on stage, mouthing the words to the Porter song but the soundtrack has a chorus of tuneless people chanting: "I love Paris, oh how I love Paris, I love Paris, it's here I want to stay." OK, even if you've never seen the movie before, I think that would be noticeable.
The movie is presented in widescreen and the picture is fine, but the butchering is a major disappointment. I realize this wasn't a hit movie, but it's still wildly annoying. There are no extras and the packaging is rather sloppy: Even Quennessen's name is misspelled on the box cover. So, again -- love the movie, wished the DVD was better. Still, it's better than nothing.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I saw this in the theatre when it first came out. A fun film.
I bought the VHS, & it's still fun. However, there is a LOT missing: several musical items ["Do You Believe in Magic" - in French, in the opening scene on the bus; "Lotta Love", as noted in another review; "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - in the scene with Mme. Tessier dancing w/ Alex at the end-of-year party] and several changed scenes.
The movie would be better "restored" & without deletions. I read somewhere that there were rights issues on some of the songs, and that some of the actors were not eager for this film to be released on video. The movie is remarkable for the pre-fame appearances of some actors and actreesses, as others have mentioned.
Buy the video, but if you somehow get a chance to see the actual film, I think you'll like the film better.
I bought the VHS, & it's still fun. However, there is a LOT missing: several musical items ["Do You Believe in Magic" - in French, in the opening scene on the bus; "Lotta Love", as noted in another review; "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - in the scene with Mme. Tessier dancing w/ Alex at the end-of-year party] and several changed scenes.
The movie would be better "restored" & without deletions. I read somewhere that there were rights issues on some of the songs, and that some of the actors were not eager for this film to be released on video. The movie is remarkable for the pre-fame appearances of some actors and actreesses, as others have mentioned.
Buy the video, but if you somehow get a chance to see the actual film, I think you'll like the film better.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By flimones
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
This movie brought back memories, of when I was a teenager Its just as I remember it..Only one thing, and it did upset me. I dont know if people will notice. There is a scene almost at the end when Joel and Toni are leaving and there parents run into each other, its here where I noticed something was missing?? The music..in the original movie it had Nicolette Larson's Lotta Love.. In this video its been deleted, and that really pained me, because that was part of the reason I bought this movie. I did not notice until later that it mentioned this on the cover of the video, I wonder why this was done.However overall the movie is safe clean AMERICAN fun from the 70's.. Great comedy.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Upset they changed the songs in the soundtrack. And did they edit out...
I used to love this movie and have seen it many many times (I have an old copy on VHS that I recorded years ago). Read more
Published 2 months ago by Marc Jeffries
3.0 out of 5 stars
music Mess
It is still a charming film, but the butchering of the music is inexcusable.At one moment, I turned to my viewing friend and stated that one of the best marriages of scene to music... Read more
Published 8 months ago by SUNSET1400@aol.com
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed the movie, disappointed in the 'edited' soundtrack
Was so excited to see that Amazon.com carried this movie that I immediatly purchased it in the DVD format. I once owned the movie in the VHS format many years ago. Read more
Published on May 4, 2011 by JCA
3.0 out of 5 stars
Could have used more postage!
This movie was as expected being rated 3 stars. I wanted to see some well known actors of today in their earlier roles when they were not so well known. It was interesting.
Published on February 14, 2010 by a6sense
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Bother with this DVD version!
I've always loved French Postcards but I was totally disappointed with this new DVD version which completed destroyed the movie because all of the music was replaced! Read more
Published on December 26, 2009 by Doriano Carta
5.0 out of 5 stars
A True Charmer of a Movie!!!
I loove this movie and have been waiting patiently for it to appear on dvd since I wore out my vhs copy of it. Read more
Published on February 11, 2009 by Vegan Marcos
5.0 out of 5 stars
GIVE US THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK!
I loved this movie when they played it on HBO back in the 80's. One of the best things was all the pop songs done in the French language like "Do You Believe In Magic? Read more
Published on November 7, 2008 by James Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Movie
I do like the movie French Postcards a lot. I seen it before on TV but If I knew the music was change, It would gave me more to decide if I still wanted to purchase the movie or... Read more
Published on October 30, 2008 by Jo Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Valerie Quennessen!!!!!!!
What can I say? Ever since I first saw this movie, I had fallen deeply in love with Valerie Quennessen. Read more
Published on July 20, 2008 by Harry Krishna
4.0 out of 5 stars
A charming film
If you are looking for an intellectually challenging film, this isn't it.
French Postcards is, however, a charming, sweet story about the hopes and expectations of... Read more
French Postcards is, however, a charming, sweet story about the hopes and expectations of... Read more
Published on June 14, 2008 by P. Power
