THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT
Un Chapeau De Paille D'Italie

A groom, on his way to the church, finds his horse eating a stylish chapeau that must be replaced before he can proceed to the wedding. Clair made this version of the Labiche-Michel 19th -century farce into a classic silent film comedy, substituting many of the play's verbal jokes with visual ones.

"a silent satire on the pretentions of the upper class, it is so expertly timed and choreographed that farce becomes ballet."— Pauline Kael.

Directed by Rene Clair. Script by Clair. Photo Maurice Desfassiaux, Nicolas Roudakoff . Cast; Albert Prejean, Olga Tschechowa, Marise Maia, Alice Tissot, Yvonneck

France 1927. 101 minutes. Silent film with music score.
ISBN 1-55881-244-X
OUT OF PRINT / NO LONGER AVAILABLE

UNDER THE ROOFS OF PARIS
Sous les Toits de Paris

In the crowded tenaments of Paris, a street singer, his best friend, a gangster vie for the hand of a sensuous young woman. This witty exploration of love and human foibles is noteworthy for capturing the flamboyant atmosphere of the city, in a studio set no less! In many ways, the film is an exhilarating celebration of filmmaking. Almost everything -- from the poetic camera movements to the remarkably creative sound techniques suggests Clair is making a film for the simple joy of making a film. Highly recommended, essential cinema.

Directed by Rene Clair. Script by Clair, With Albert Prejean, Pola Illery, Gaston Modot, Edmond Greiville, Paul Olivier.

France, 1930, 95 minutes. French Dialog with English Subtitles.
ISBN 1-55881-245-8
$19.95

A NOUS LA LIBERTE

A pair of jailed men, Emile and Louis, plan an escape. When they are both about to be caught, Emile sacrifices himself to save Louis who escapes and becomes a respectable businessman. Years later, Emile is released from prison and is re- united with Louis. After a series of madcap misadventures, their identities are revealed to some blackmailers who threaten to turn them into the police. One of the all time great comedy classics. A daft satire on the industrial revolution and the blind quest for wealth. These were the same themes that would later be explored by Jaques Tati and Charlie Chaplin. In fact, the assembly line sequence in A Nous La Liberte clearly inspired Chaplin's famous assembly line scene in Modern Times.

Directed by Rene Clair. Script; Rene Clair. Photo; Georges Perinal. Music Georges Auric. Sets by Lazare Meerson. Cast; Raymond Cordy, Henri Marchand, Rolla France, Paul Olivier, Jaques Shelley, Andre Michaud France, Germaine Aussey, Paul Olivier, Alex D'Arcy. Music by Georges Auric.

France 1931, 97 Minutes. French Dialog with English Subtitles.
ISBN 1-55881-247-4
$19.95

LE MILLION

A young painter leaves a winning lottery ticket in the pocket of a discarded jacket and sets off on a manic search that has him tangling with the cops, the mob and girlfriends. Finally he ends up in an opera house where his search becomes entangled with the on stage opera production ! “In his second sound film, with dialogue, music and sound effects recorded on a single track while it was being shot, Clair retained the ease of movement of his best silent work, with the added joy of integrated musical numbers. In fact, this funny, charming cinematic operetta had a great influence on the film musical.” —Holt’s Foreign Film Guide

Directed by Rene Clair. Script; by Rene Clair. Photo; Georges Perinal. Music; Georges Van Parys. cast; Annabella, Rene Lefevre, Paul Olivier, Louis Allibert, Vanda Greville, Raymond Cordy.

France 1931, 82 Minutes. French Dialog with English Subtitles.
ISBN: 1-55881-246-6
$19.95

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