A little help with Catherine Deneuve

[cinemalover]

My latest excursion to Costco found me tempted by a 5 film set of Catherine Deneuve films.

The set includes:
Manon 70
Lovers Like Us
Le Choc
Fort Saganne
Hotel Des Ameriques

I don't believe that I've ever seen any of these films but I'm always up for something new. Can any of our studio audience fill me in on any of these films. Is this a set that would be worth picking up?

[charliechaplinfan]

I love Catherine Deneuve but have never seen any of these films.

I've never seen her in anything bad and of course she's uncommonly pretty

[cinemalover]

Thanks ccfan,

There's no question that she's beautiful! The one film on the set that really intriqued my was Le Choc, which co-stars Alain Delon (whom I also like) and was described on the box as a crime thriller. That sounds like it may be right up my alley.

[Ann Harding]

Dear Cinemalover,

I think I can answer your question!

In the lot, I have seen 4:

Lovers Like Us (Le Sauvage) is an amusing comedy where she stranded on a deserted island with Yves Montand, a trifle less OTT than usual. Deneuve is playing the really annoying screwball comedian rather nicely.
Le Choc was a rather boring Delon vehicle.
Fort Saganne by Alain Corneau had some very nice shots of the desert. I am not a great fan of Gérard Depardieu, but he was OK in that one. Deneuve has only a fairly small part.
Hotel Des Ameriques by André Téchiné is certainly the best picture of the lot. It's got even Danielle Darrieux playing Deneuve's mother!

So overall, a very mixed bag. certainly not Deneuve's best films. You'd better find the Bunuel pictures (Tristana, Belle de Jour).

[cinemalover]

Ann,
Thanks, that does help.

So Le Choc is a dog? Too bad, but the other ones sound interesting.

[Ann Harding]

I haven't seen Le Choc in years, but, I remember that it wasn't tremendous....The director's name: Robin Davis seems to confirm that opinion. He never made such good pictures....

[MichiganJ]

Chris,
I was also interested in this set and found this review of it on DVDtalk

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33614/ca ... n/?___rd=1

Since I have most of the Deneuve films available (here in the US), I still may nibble. But I must admit, they don't sound all that great.

Hope this helps,

Kevin

[Mr. Arkadin]

One of the better Deneuve films that is not available in region 1, is Luis Buñuel's Tristana (1970). A wonderful and underrated work (at least here in the U.S.) by artist and director alike.

[Ann Harding]

You are absolutely right, Mr Arkadin: Tristana is just amazing!

I just want to correct a mistake. Hôtel des Amériques doesn't feature Danielle Darrieux. She was with Deneuve in another film from the same director (le Lieu du Crime), hence my mistake. But this is definitely worth watching!

[cinemalover]

Thanks everyone for your kind assistance.