Product Details

• Actors: Danielle Darrieux, Pierre Mingand, Raymond Galle, Paul Escoffier, Michel Duran
• Directors: Billy Wilder, Alexander Esway
• Format: Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: November 26, 2002
• Run Time: 77 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006LPE7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,093 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Mauvaise Graine" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

MAUVAISE GRAINE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Foreshadows the greatness to come., May 28, 2007

By 

D. Yarbrough (Decatur, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mauvaise Graine (DVD)

To start off I just want to say that this is by no means a masterpiece like Double Indemnity or Sunset Boulevard. I would only recommend this to a true Wilder or classic-French cinema fan. But now that I've written my disclaimers I'll tell you what I did like about this film. I went into this film somewhat hesitant, even though Billy Wilder is easily my favorite director. It did not take long, though, to realize that this master auteur had already begun to develop his signature style. From the subtle comedic undertones, to the almost pre-noir finale, there is definitely a Wilder vibe to this film.

The previous reviewer stated the car chase aspects of the film, I do find these interesting but I prefer the character development. The film focuses on spoiled playboy Henri Pasquier (Pierre Mingand) whom after a quarrel with his father is forced to fend for himself. Starting with Jean's estrangement from his father, the film shows his gradual moral and financial deterioration on his journey to self awareness. After some incidents that involve his car he meets kleptomaniac Jean, whom along with his sister Jeannette (an absolutely gorgeous Danielle Darrieux) works at a Parisian chop shop. The plot from here is a little melodramatic and cliche, but nonetheless interesting. I would definitely recommend this curio to anyone that loves or respects the work of Billy Wilder as much as I do.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great French car flick..., January 2, 2003

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mauvaise Graine [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The great German-born director, Billy Vilder, on his vay from Deutschland to Hollywood, stopped off in Paris to make this early car chase classic. A young French dandy, suddenly down on his luck, falls in with a slick gang of car thieves who run a phony auto shop, and who take him in and teach him the ropes in their cynical racket. He also falls in love, and attempts to break away from his criminal pals in order to live a clean life with his gal. Pretty cool presentation of French life in the interwar era, and of the growing fascination with the newly blooming car culture. Great crosscountry chase sequence at the end; fun stuff throughout. Recommended!