Product Details

• Actors: Sean Bury, Anicée Alvina, Ronald Lewis, Toby Robins, Joan Hickson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: April 16, 1996
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302658845
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,799 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you !, July 18, 2004

By 

sean bury - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I can't believe that such a small budget film that Anicee and I had the good fortune to make all those years ago, is still receiving your kind attention. Thank you for all your comments, I assure you it was great fun to make "Friends" and an honour to work with Lewis Gilbert who has continued to make some super films.

I shall always remember Lewis's words after the Preview showing..."Sean" he said as he came up to shake my hand,"you have nothing to be ashamed of !"..(I heaved a sigh of relief)...then he added.. "But nothing to be proud of either!". Years of dedicated training as a young actor just went down the pan!
I now work with people with special needs , the money is terrible but the smiles are the best! I have been lucky enough to see both of these 2 very different worlds. One feeds upon the attention it seeks and the other is just happy being, and getting on with things quietly, but both are exciting,fun and challenge one to do better. May your gods be with you all !

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paul and Michelle in Eden-how young lovers startedas friends, December 1, 2003

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In Paris, surly Britisher Paul Harrison, 15, suffers from a businessman father who's getting married and gaining a stepmother and a prim and proper stepbrother Gerald. Cute brunette Michelle Latour, 14 and a half, whose father's death has left her an orphan, flees from her cousin and her abusive live-in Pierre. Paul and Michelle meet and after a few days, run away to a countryside cottage Michelle and her artist father used. Both are fed up with adults who don't seem to want, understand, or care about their feelings. "Adults. They're all the same. As long as you don't bother them..." Paul says. Later he contends that "if we were old enough, they might leave us both alone. Nobody's gonna find us no matter how hard they try." Late twenties onwards is considered old for them.

It's a nice, cozy two bedroom, one living room with fireplace, cottage. And it's apparent that Michelle is in her element in the countryside. Even though Paul's the one who decides to run away and tag along with her, Michelle's knowhow proves that she's more responsible than he, although he learns from her and from experience. She knows how to cook and wash so her abilities as a housewife are in plain evidence. Paul is educated, but that doesn't do him any good where they are.

The world Paul and Michelle create isn't that far removed from the adult world, because necessity dictates Paul to find a job in order to buy food. They go hungry together, become disillusioned at times, and even their idyllic union is briefly threatened in a war of words. But they triumph and soon fall in love, and beyond. Michelle is very gentle and is quick to stand by him when his job hunt yields nothing. She assures him he'll have better luck tomorrow. And the horrid women of today are quick to brand their boyfriends or husbands losers if they have that trouble! Give me a girl like Michelle anyday! The cottage in the idyllic countryside instead of the busy streets of Paris works in their favour. Here, they have their Eden. Sure, the long walk Paul has in the fields or in town is quite a trial, but it makes a man out of him, plus he feels the esteem in getting money and having Michelle to come home to.

Their outlook and message to the world is encapsulated in this exchange, when they are having a picnic. Michelle asks Paul, "What is the future?" To which he replies "It's here. It's us. Until we're properly married.... Until we're old enough. No one to say that we're too young."

Lewis Gilbert directed this movie and its sequel, Paul And Michelle. His better known efforts include You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Educating Rita, and Shirley Valentine. And Elton John's score and love songs add to the magic, particularly the title track and "Seasons" which Heart did on their Road Home album. "Funny how young lovers start as friends" he sings. Funny, and wonderful. And the old English lady Paul helps in the bookshop is Joan Hickson, who played Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the BBC TV series in the 1980's.

Both leads are great here, making a loving and ultimately responsible couple in their Eden. The controversy this film aroused for portraying mid-teens as parents isn't justified. Although Anicee Alvina does indeed do a great job of looking fourteen, (she was 16) and her topless scenes may have caused a stir. She is very cute and darling, a cross between Judy Garland, especially when wearing pigtails, and Drew Barrymore. And her voice is so girlish and cute French accented English.

A sense of emancipation exploded in the 1970's, such as the youth and women's liberation movement, and Roe v. Wade was two years to come after this film. Despite this being an English-directed film, the childbirth here reflects the illegality of abortion in France, which continued until 1974, but also a return to the idyllic romanticism that the above movements sundered. No, I'm not saying this is something the right can rally to, but more a return to nature, away from the stifling metropolis and authority. A sweet little film whose sequel I can't wait to see.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of those great "coming of age" movies, January 14, 2005

By 

Carol Adams (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My husband of 26 years & I saw this as Juniors in HS. Yes, he was my boyfriend then and still continues to be. I think we both cried our eyes out. I think possibly we were drawn to the movie by the Elton John music in it, but were then swept away by the teenage angst of it all. Paul and Michelle were just about our ages when we saw the movie- so very easy to identify with!!
It is wonderful to hear that Sean is doing well, I am also in the "helping professions" (an RN). I thought his performance was good and very believable. "Michelle" came across as very sweet, fragile and vulnerable. I think the main theme is that if they didn't have to deal with the "real world" then they could be happy and continue to be in love. How many times have all of us wanted to just have a "Calgon moment". If we all had no outside worries and could just deal with our "basic needs" it could be somewhat easier. I have a 15 yr old daughter and wouldn't have a problem with her seeing this movie.. Kids see so much worse these days that this is very tame.
For those of you who are trying to locate the CD my husband (a huge Elton John fan) was able to get a 2-CD set which came out in 1992. It is called, "Elton John-rare masters" Polygram studios. This has all the friends songs as well as many others. As far as we know this is the only CD with the "Friends" music. We also had the LP years ago and were thrilled to find the CD. Good luck.
I recommend this movie for anyone who loves the "young love" theme. I only wish it was on DVD now!!