Customer Reviews

Start the Revolution Without Me [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have loved this movie from the first time I saw it and repeated viewings over the years have not diminished it at all. In fact, it seems funnier every time I watch it. The DVD presentation is good and the commentary soundtrack by Wilder, Sutherland and Yorkin is worth hearing for any fan of the film. As funny as anything produced by Monty Python, Mel Brooks or Mystery Science Theater, the comedy is dense and unending. Every opportunity for humor is used to great extent, visually, verbally, and physically. The supporting cast is strong (Billie Whitelaw, Hugh Griffith and more greats) and there are many LOL (laugh out loud) scenes. Thank goodness you can watch this DVD, so it's always "still 1789"!

I first remember seeing this film at age 6. I remember it because not fully understanding history, I thought this was a film about the American Revolution and the climax featured American patriots sacking a palace of George III.

I'm surprised there are so many negative reviews of film here on Amazon. The only people I've ever met whom even remember this film remember it because it's one of their favorites.

The plot: Two sets of twin brothers are switched at birth just before the French Revolution. One set is raised in the opulence of the aristocracy while the other set are raised as peasants.

1789, the rich brothers are sent to infiltrate Louis XIV palace and take part in an overly elaborate coup. The poor set are reluctant members of the French revolutionaries. After a mix up, the peasants become guests is Louis XIV's palace where they are not only out of place at balls and dinners, but fighting for their lives to survive this overly elaborate coup. In the climax the brothers flee with their girlfriends as the uprising peasants storm the palace in a battle royal.

Why this works:

High production quality: Photography, costume design, set direction, and editing are usually pushed aside in most comedies since the focus is on the actors and the jokes they tell. `Start the Revolution Without Me' is brilliantly shot on location to a production degree that dwarfs most recent 18th century films and take full advantage of it's beautiful setting.

Orson Wells' narration: I'd never have guessed that Orson Wells could be so funny. And in fact he isn't. He narrates throughout as if `Start the Revolution Without Me' were a serious historical piece. This is what's so funny. EVERY scene is introduced with the phrase "1789" the way only Wells can. After 10 times this really starts to get funny.

Corsican brothers ham it up: Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland really go over board playing the overly evil and psychotic Corsican twins. Wilder carries his hawk Thor with him at all times. When anyone brings up the fact that Thor is dead Wilder flies into violent fits. They consider themselves invincible gods.

Ridiculously elaborate coup plot: Most of the character interaction revolves around a plot for the Corsican brothers to assassinate Louis XIV. However all the characters keep switching sides so much it becomes ludicrous. At a costume ball so many secrete notes are passed that the dance floor overflows with them. The coup is headed by a villain "Escargot" who like Orson Wells takes this absurd plot very seriously.

Peasant brothers are the only sane people: The peasant brothers also played brilliantly by Wilder and Sutherland act like we would if we lived in `Start the Revolution Without Me'. They observe that the inmates are running the asylum and its best to escape this entire ordeal post hast.

In conclusion, `Start the Revolution Without Me' is film making at its best. An adventure farce with plenty of good humor and truly genius story telling.

The critics here on Amazon are being way to harsh, saying that it does not compare to Alexander Dumas or other great literary works. This is a kin to saying that `The Naked Gun' was not as good of a portrayal of terrorism as James Bond. They are to wayyyy different things.

This hilarious comedy takes the story of the Corsican Brothers and fractures it with two sets of mismatched twins, both played by Donald Sutherland and Gene Wilder, one set raised as the noble brothers, the other as peasants. Throw in the France of Louis XVI just before the revolution and you've got the setting for this totally screwball comedy.

Bud Yorkin & Norman Lear (of All in the Family) directed and produced and added a cast of the best English comedians to their two stars, Sutherland & Wilder. This includes: Hugh Griffith as the befuddled King; Billie Whitelaw as a randy Marie Antoinette; Victor Spinetti as the reptilian Count Escargot; Jack MacGowran as the seedy Revolutionary amongst others. Oh, and Ewa Aulin (she played Candy) is delicious.

When Gene Wilder goes nuts, no one can match him for hilarity. As the arrogant, pigheaded, lightning-tempered Corsican nobleman he is just simply wonderful. Sutherland's foppish brother is a perfect counterpoint.

There is so much good stuff in this that one could go on at length (the Ball with everyone passing notes of intrigue and the King in his chicken costume is just one). Suffice it to say, they threw in the kitchensink with one-liners, references to Dumas and every kind of swashbuckler, non-sequiters, puns etc.

A crazy madcap just-for-fun all-out comedy. One of the best ever made. A Classic. See it.

Years before BLAZING SADDLES, AIRPLANE! and THE NAKED GUN, this movie broke the ground for straight-faced wackiness while sending up the French Revolution.
Gene Wilder is absolutely hilarious as both the cowardly peasant and the kinky Corsican Brother. This is right up there with his performance in THE PRODUCERS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and his side-splitting vignette in Woody Allen's EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX.
Donald Sutherland is also hilarious as his shuffled twins and the rest of the cast is excellent. Billie Whitelaw, who six years later played the demonic maid in THE OMEN, is a sexy Queen Marie Antoinette.
Definitely check this out--when it finally hits on DVD!

If you enjoy Gene Wilder in the Mel Brooks films, then this movie is right up your alley. It is truly one of the funniest ever made.

The story involves two sets of twins - with one brother in each set switched at birth. One set is raised as aristocrats; the other as peasant revolutionaries. The time - 1779. (When you see the movie, you'll know how funny that line just was!)

Donald Sutherland and Gene Wilder are hilarious as the mismatched brothers, with the peasant-raised set rather normal if a bit cowardly, and the aristos just this side of psychotic. (Ok, maybe they are on the other side...).

Throw in a misunderstood Louis XVI betrayed by everybody and his brother, a Marie Antoinette who could give Messalina a run for her money and, of course, the sinister minister, D'Escargot, and you have the most outrageously funny Gene Wilder movie ever.

I first saw this movie when I was a senior in high school. A friend of mine took me and was repeating all the important lines just in case I didn't catch the puns. Well today I practically have memorised the film after repeated viewings ( how many times?)and now my daughters, one aged 13 the other 7, have picked up on this zany, non-stop spoof on an Engilsh version of French history. Who can forget the Corsican brothers, Mimi Montage or the Count d'Escargot. Let's not forget the compulsively self involved Phillipe deSisi and his pet stuffed eagle, Thor. This film has rightly attained cult status.

Saw it on TV not long after it was made. Never heard of Gene Wilder at the time, either. We just started to watch and started to laugh. What a terrific movie! What a funny guy! Now go out and rent "The Frisco Kid." You'll love it.

Another random grab from the rental shelves. I really enjoyed this movie. Donald Sutherland was very good at portraying the extreme snootiness of the Corsican brother and the dimwitedness of the Parisian peasant. Gene Wilder was playing--a marvelous version of what he does best, spastic exhasperated comedy. Always enjoyable. The costumes in this movie were amazing!

I think that is one of the best things about this--it really looks like it could have been a 'serious' film,all of the sets, lighting,costumes and make up look fabulous. Especially Marie Antionette's gowns and the King's party costume.

Orson Wells is so great when he surprises you with that sense of wicked humour he has and is great in his role.

Of course the climax that the viewer has been waiting for the entire filmis at the very end--and the movie handles it in an amazingly entertaining and unexpected way. I adore i

Being a fan of Gene Wilder I've loved this movie since I had first seen it over 15 years ago,and was glad to see it released on Dvd.The oomedy is very dry with a little slapstick and some sexual inuendo thrown in,all in good fun. highly recommend !!

I love this movie. I think that it is hysterical. I do not own it, but I have rented the DVD. The DVD falls very short. Almost no special features, except for a commentary track. Also, the film itself was injured. The aspect ratio used for the DVD is a matted format, while the film itself was shot in anamorphic. There is an anamorphic version shown on AMC, but why this was not used for the DVD escapes me. I still love this movie though, and I hope plans are made to correct this problem.