Customer Reviews

Me & The Colonel [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I never forgot this movie after having seen it 30 years ago. When its title was found while searching amongst Danny's films I remembered the story as if it was yesterday. I immediately purchased a copy to show my family, and my son watched it a second time immediately.
As a Jew in France during the Nazi period, Danny's Jacobowsky is in very great danger, out of necessity he teams with a Polish colonel to leave France. The "HOW" of this is humorous(!) and heart-warming. The Jurgens' Colonel and Kay's Jacobowsky compliment each other wonderfully; one is brave the other not, one is clever the other not, one is handsome the other not, one is sensible the other not, etc.
You'll smile time after time throughout the movie!

This is a gem of a movie, unfortunately largely overlooked. I think Danny Kaye gives his best performance here, in a long career of wonderful performances. And the plot offers something for almost everyone, without in the least being a pandering smear of action.

Men to whom I recommended this film liked it for its recreation of conditions in World War II France. The tanks, the Germans sweeping in to occupy, the grim choice faced by the local residents of the occupied towns - to cope, to conciliate, or to combat.

All the women to whom I've recommended this film liked the romance. With its hint of the possibility of polyandry to come, this movie was ahead of its time, without stooping to the crasser implications of the modern meaning of "a threesome."

I have also recommended this movie to anyone involved in any 12-step program or any program designed to overcome phobias. Faced with a tough situation, Danny Kaye reminds himself of his motto, "There are always two possibilities." He doesn't allow himself to get boxed in. A motivational speaker could endlessly recite this philosophy to anyone suffering from agoraphobia or social phobia. But that wouldn't have the impact of actually seeing Danny Kaye put his motto into play in such an engaging way.

I suppose a hyper-politically correct person might find a grain of stereotyping here. Kurt Jurgens, also in what I consider to be his best performance, plays a Polish officer - big, bluff, and yes, a little "dumb." And Danny Kaye plays a Jewish refugee who is, yes, rather "resourceful," and who relies on this resourcefulness to get him through. However I don't think anyone could ultimately object to this mote of stereotyping, because overall, both Kaye and Jurgens prove themselves to be such winning, incomparable individuals - they transcend any attempts to fit them into a mold.

This is a must-see movie. It will lighten your heart. It will leave you feeling more hopeful - about humanity and about your own future. After watching it, you too will realize that, even confronted by the most dire circumstances, you always have at least "two possibilities."

I love watching Danny Kaye movies! I was not at all disappointed with this one! A taste of what the Europeans went though in WWII. A little suspense. A little love. Some funny situations. Very enjoyable!

I don't know exactly why I keep coming back to this film. I first saw it late one night on television, in a time slot reserved for insomniacs who have nothing better to do. I loved everything I had seen Danny Kaye in, so I watched and was immediately entranced. The story involves the charming and sensitive Yakobowski (Danny Kaye) as a Jewish refugee trying to flee from the German onslaught of the occupation of France. He teams quite accidentally with the bull headed Polish Colonel (Kurt Jurgens) who needs to escape to England. Of him, Kaye relates "You, my colonel have the finest mind of the twelve century. Unfortunately, we are in the Twentieth century." The 2 are in no way similar, except for their goal to escape the occupation. Where one is bold to the point of reclessness {"For a real man there is only one possibility!"), the other is cautious, and open to alternatives. Through the tale, the two function better than either can alone ("Together we make a hero.") and pass beyond bigotry to genuine friendship. It is a sweet tale of optimism and hope, painted with broad brush strokes.

I come back and back to this movie because of this, just to re-experience "my two possibilities." You will love this film.

I never forgot this movie after having seen it 30 years ago. When its title was found while searching amongst Danny's films I remembered the story as if it was yesterday. I immediately purchased a copy to show my family, and my son watched it a second time immediately.
As a Jew in France during the Nazi period, Danny's Jacobowsky is in very great danger, out of necessity he teams with a Polish colonel to leave France. The "HOW" of this is humorous(!) and heart-warming. The Jurgens' Colonel and Kay's Jacobowsky compliment each other wonderfully; one is brave the other not, one is clever the other not, one is handsome the other not, one is sensible the other not, etc.
You'll smile time after time throughout the movie!

I've read the other reviews and echo their sentiments. I too saw this movie many many years ago on late night TV. I fell in love with it immediately. So I lament the really stupid title because it makes the movie sound lame instead of the beautiful combination of acting, story and script that should be in everyone's top 25 films. It's funny, warm and sweet without being schlocky or corny. In the cathedral of my heart, a candle will always be burning for it. It is available (if you are lucky enough to find it) in VHS. But, as the movie teaches, in life there are always two possibilities. I'm waiting for the DVD.

Yes. I saw the movie as a newly trained doctor in Madurai, a city in Tamilnadu, South India. I even remember the theatre - Regal Talkies. (It used to double-up as the Victoria Edward Hall Public Library during the day time).
The punch line in the film is "The more I see this man Jacobowsky, the less I like him" - uttered very often by Kurt Jurgens.
Jurgens suspects that Danny Kaye is hanky pankying with his beautiful wife.
Near the end, they are cornered by the Nazis Gestapo. Jurgens goes into a shock and is unable to speak. Danny does the talking and explains everything deftly.
Finally they escape.
But Jurgens thinks that they have left behind a secret document.
But Danny produces it from within his neck scarf.
And Jurgens smiles and says, "The more and more I see this man Jacobowsky, the more I like him".
That was the last scene.

Received the VHS tape in record speed - especially to Australia! Box was in excellent condition. Tape works perfectly. Thank you.

This is one of my all-time favorite films. I sent it as a gift to a close friend. This DVD was listed (properly) as non-USA format, an obstacle that any decent DBA manager could bypass. It was NOT clearly indicated that it was in SPANISH and therefore totally useless even if the foreign security codes were eliminated. It will be returned ... hopefully for a full refund as it was shipped by an outside agency in Voorhees, NJ, not from Amazon ... another glitch that was not disclosed and caused a significant delay in shipment.

Barton

First, let me state that I am not reviewing this DVD from Spain but one that I bought in Germany, also PAL region 2 format. I find it irritating that one cannot determine whether this DVD was formatted anamorphically for 1.85:1. The one I bought in Germany is properly formatted for wide screen TVs. The German version (under Jakobowsky und der Oberst) is about 9 Euros for a new disc (through Amazon) and also has the original English sound track. There is a used disc available through Amazon Great Britain for about 16 pounds (much more expensive).I am not sure of its video formatting. Remember, these are region 2 PAL versions. If you have an all region PAL/NTSC DVD player it is well worth it to buy it from Amazon.com in Germany, even though the postage may be more expensive. It may be cheaper than this import from Spain.

Secondly, This is a wonderful comedy about a touchy subject which leaves one with a good feeling. Based on play by Franz Werfel (author of "The Song of Bernadette"),I think you find the dialogue witty and the message of the film heart warming. It is set during WWII and deals with the two main characters fleeing the Nazi's in France.