Synopsis
This is a film that delights in not being what it appears. The opening moments look like a period gangster film. Suddenly, the scene transforms into a musical. Then this turns out to be movie within the movie. And so it goes, as one scene after another turns out not to be what we thought it was. The plot has roguishly charming Jean-Louis Trintignant setting up a kidnapping scheme with two colleagues. I can’t say much more without giving away the whole plot and the strange circuit on which it…operates. Suffice it to say that though there might be a couple of confusing moments, this is a playful, light-on-its-feet effort that will have you smiling (if sometimes sardonically) from start to finish.
Audio
The original mono is the only option here. No problems with that. It’s a warm, clear mono with no distortion.
Video
The print is a good one, and so is the transfer. There is no visible grain or edge enhancement, and the colours are nice. The format is that most awkward of widescreen ratios for 16×9 televisions: 1.66:1 (in this instance, non-anamorphic). But one can hardly blame the disc for preserving the film’s original ratio.
Special Features
Only the theatrical trailer. The menu is basic.
Closing Thoughts
No frills to this release, but a very enjoyable movie.
Special Features List
- Theatrical Trailer
