Comments on: The Last Film of Julien Duvivier - Diaboliquement Vôtre (1967)

by: cinebeats

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:29:43 +0100

Thanks Johannes! I really appreciate the offer but I’m not sure if I would be able to play the DVD on my NTSC system.

I’m glad you enjoyed my review and thanks again!

by: johannes

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:15:28 +0100

hi kimberly, thanks for your review of “Diaboliquement Votre”. The film was aired twice during the last 15 months or so on German public tv. (as “Mit teuflischen Grüßen” in German language)I happened to record it on a dvd recorder, +R format. Picture quality is rather satisfactory. It’s neither Widescreen nor 4:3 but something in between, but sure better than VHS. In case you’re interested in a copy don’t hesitate to get in touch (I’ve given my e-mail address).
congrats on your “cinebeats” and best regards! johannes

by: cinebeats

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:53:45 +0100

Thanks for sharing you’re thoughts about Duvivier, Gareth. He’s a dierctor that I’m really interested in, but it’s so hard to find his films and that’s a shame. I haven’t seen La Belle équipe, but it sounds very good.

My own favorite Duviver film is probably Flesh and Fantasy, but I do need to see more of his work.

I have just learned that Criterion will be releasing Duvivier’s Panique (1947) later this year or sometime in 2008, so we have that to look forward to!

by: Gareth

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:43:32 +0100

I think you are right in thinking that Duvivier’s dismissal by the nouvelle vague critics and filmmakers has contributed to his relative invisibility these days; even in France, some of his most interesting films aren’t available on DVD.

My personal favourite is 1936’s La Belle équipe, which I think has held up remarkably well, with great performances from - among others - Jean Gabin and Charles Vanel. I’d especially like to get a DVD with both endings - the downbeat original apparently favoured by Duvivier himself, and the more upbeat version, “suggested” by the producers in the context of the Popular Front government of the time, and far more widely seen. Although they’re less noteworthy, I also quite enjoy his much later Don Camillo films, huge successes across Europe in the early 1950s. I’d really like to see Au bonheur des dames - on the big screen would be especially nice!

by: cinebeats

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:35:31 +0100

I’d really like ro see more of Duviver’s films as well and his Lydia is on my list too! It’s a shame that more of his films are not easily available in the US.

Senta does still look fantastic! I came across some recent pics of her when I was searching for info about this film online and I thought she looked terrific. Obviously she’s aged, but she’s still really lovely and you’re right, her face does not look like she’s had much or anything done to it at all.

by: Campaspe

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:51:55 +0100

I am a big fan of Duvivier and live in hope of tracking more of his movies–Un Carnet du Bal and Lydia, to name just two. I recently bought David Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Film (a late 1970s edition) and it is funny how his cranky dismissals seem to haunt certain directors; Duvivier is one, definitely. I will try to track down this DVD and ignore the bad transfer.

I also love seeing Senta Berger in anything. She was so beautiful and after seeing some recent pictures of her I can say she still looks absolutely fantastic. Not overly surgeried at all, just the right combination of nature and nurture for her age.

by: cinebeats

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 23:59:46 +0100

Peter - I hope you get the chance to check out Diboliquement Votre sooner or later! I’ve never seen Au Bonheur des Dames but I bet it was fun to catch it on the big screen. I wish more of Duvivier’s films were available on DVD.

Jeremy - Thanks! I think the DVD is the exact same print used for the VHS which I’ve also seen. It looks really awful, but at least the movie is available. It’s a shame that so many of Duvivier’s films are hard to find.

by: Jeremy

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:52:24 +0100

Thanks for this Kimberly,
I knew very little about Duvivier so this was really interesting to read. I love “Diboliquement Votre” and really appreciate your thoughts on it. I have always thought it was a really undervalued film. Delon is his usual fantastic self and Roubaix is a real favorite.
My copy comes from the old vhs release and from your description it sounds like the dvd isn’t much better. I hope this film gets a proper re-issue soon…
Great and fascinating read.

by: Peter Nellhaus

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 23:33:37 +0100

I hope to see this film sometime. When I was in SF last year for the silent film festival, I saw Au Bonheur des Dames which was incredible at times. What a treat!

by: cinebeats

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:56:05 +0100

I think you’d enjoy Diaboliquement Votre, Mike or at the very least find it interesting.

I have not seen Jessua’s Traitement de Choc but I really want to! It’s a film that’s been on my “must see” list for long time but I haven’t managed to track down a copy yet. I also really want to see two of the director’s other films (Jeu de massacre and Armaguedon, which also stars Delon). All 3 films sound really interesting to me.

Delon nude = a good thing! ;)

by: Mike

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:23:31 +0100

Er, my above comment may come off as implying that Delon in the nude is *not* interesting, but I’m sure you understood that I meant things about it sound interesting in addition to that ;)

by: Mike

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:22:29 +0100

This sounds pretty interesting, and I'm more or less always up to watching something with Delon! Also, as a tad off-topic question, have you ever seen Alain Jessua's Traitement de choc, aka Doctor In the Nude? Some stuff I've read about it (other than Delon in the nude) make it seem like it'd be very interesting-- Eyeball magazine had a nice article about the director.