Search - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on DVD

Content Advisory: Adult Situations Movie Release: 1964 DVD Release: 11/26/1997 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 31 mins Studio: Fox Lorber Members Wishing: 21 Genres: Musical, Romance, Melodrama, Musical Romance See Also: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Jacques Demy's 1964 masterpiece is a pop-art opera, or, to borrow the director's own description, a film in song. This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher (Nino Castelnuovo), a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery (a luminous Catherine Deneuve), an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant (Marc Michel, reprising his role from Demy's masterful debut, Lola). A completely sung movie, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is closest in form to a cinematic opera. Composer Michel Legrand composed the score, modeling it around the patterns of everyday conversation. Umbrellas was re-released in 1997. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Catherine Deneuve - Genevieve Emery
Nino Castelnuovo - Guy
Anne Vernon - Madame Emery
Marc Michel - Roland Cassard
Ellen Farner - Madeleine
Mireille Perrey - Aunt Elise

Jacques Demy's 1964 musical masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg appears on DVD in its 1996 restored edition. The film, presented in beautiful, vivid colors, original widescreen format, and Dolby Sound, absolutely shines on DVD, but the supplemental materials leave the viewer yearning for a bit more. An all too brief story on the film's restoration is included, but nothing is mentioned about the history of the film's original production. The production credits are for the cast and crew only. Filmographies on Catherine Deneuve, Jacques Demy, and Michel Legrand are included, but no biographies, and nothing on the film's other lead actors. Also included is the re-release trailer, which is quite compelling in its simplicity, as well as English subtitles which can be turned on or off (the film itself is entirely sung in French). It's a shame the makers of the DVD didn't put a little more effort into the presentation of such a classic film, but what this DVD lacks in supplemental information is fortunately made up for by the sheer brilliance of this timeless film and its unforgettable music. ~ Jose Promis, All Movie Guide