- Actors: Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, Jane Birkin, Nathalie Baye
- Directors: Bertrand Blier, Jacques Deray, José Giovanni, Julien Duvivier, Pierre Granier-Deferre
- Writers: Bertrand Blier, Jacques Deray, Georges Simenon
- Format: Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.66:1
- Number of discs: 3
- Classification: U
- Studio: Lions Gate
- DVD Release Date: 25 Mar 2008
- Run Time: 517 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- ASIN: B0012E2F5G
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 62,271 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
This boxed set of five of Alain Delon's lesser known films, is a welcome release for lovers of French cinema, and at least two of the films are minor classics. Being a big fan of Delon, I was delighted when they became available and I wasn't disappointed when I viewed them.
The films included are 'Diabolically Yours' (1967), 'La Piscine/the Swimming Pool' (1969), 'The Widow Couderc' (1971), 'The Gypsy' (1975) and 'Notre Histoire/Seperate Rooms' (1981). I believe that this is the first time they have been released on DVD, with English subtitles at least, and they present an interesting sweep of Delon's slightly lesser known films.
Nothing here reaches the artistic heights of Delon's best work in Melville's 'Le Samourai' or Antonioni's 'L'Eclisse', but I found all of the films enjoyable, intriguing, and worthwhile. The first two listed above are similar to Claude Chabrol's work in tone and substance, being tense murder mysteries while the last film of the set, directed by Bertrand Blier, is a very subtle and memorable work.
'La Piscine' in particular is a great film, set in and around a villa near St Tropez in the late 60s, and co-starring a young Jane Birkin, and Romy Schneider. The setting is sunny and luxurious, but the feel of the film is dark and malevolent. The only reasons I have given the set as a whole 4 stars rather than 5, is that one film, 'The Gypsy, is admittedly a little mediocre, and as I said, these are not 'classic' films of the first rank - rather, they are interesting lesser and more obscure ones.
For the relatively low price, these five films are well worth picking up. The set is region 1 encoded, so make sure your DVD player is multiregion before you do. The transfers in each case are fairly good given the age of the films - they are never ultra-sharp but are perfectly watchable even when blown up to projector size, which is how I watched them.
Recommended.
The films included are 'Diabolically Yours' (1967), 'La Piscine/the Swimming Pool' (1969), 'The Widow Couderc' (1971), 'The Gypsy' (1975) and 'Notre Histoire/Seperate Rooms' (1981). I believe that this is the first time they have been released on DVD, with English subtitles at least, and they present an interesting sweep of Delon's slightly lesser known films.
Nothing here reaches the artistic heights of Delon's best work in Melville's 'Le Samourai' or Antonioni's 'L'Eclisse', but I found all of the films enjoyable, intriguing, and worthwhile. The first two listed above are similar to Claude Chabrol's work in tone and substance, being tense murder mysteries while the last film of the set, directed by Bertrand Blier, is a very subtle and memorable work.
'La Piscine' in particular is a great film, set in and around a villa near St Tropez in the late 60s, and co-starring a young Jane Birkin, and Romy Schneider. The setting is sunny and luxurious, but the feel of the film is dark and malevolent. The only reasons I have given the set as a whole 4 stars rather than 5, is that one film, 'The Gypsy, is admittedly a little mediocre, and as I said, these are not 'classic' films of the first rank - rather, they are interesting lesser and more obscure ones.
For the relatively low price, these five films are well worth picking up. The set is region 1 encoded, so make sure your DVD player is multiregion before you do. The transfers in each case are fairly good given the age of the films - they are never ultra-sharp but are perfectly watchable even when blown up to projector size, which is how I watched them.
Recommended.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
not classics but not bad
18 Dec 2008
The films in this collection are not exactly classics and do not compare with Delon's best works such as "Le Samourai" and "Mr. Klein". However, if you are a die-hard Delon fan, you will not be disappointed. Mostly average, some are better than others. 1) "Swimming Pool". If you are a fan of Romy Schneider, you will not be disappointed. She simply radiates. The plot moves terribly slowly. It's a weak rehash of the "Purple Noon". 2) "Diabolically Yours". Silly and outdated. Senta Burger, then popular Germain actress, is not in the same league as Romy Schneider. 3) "Widow Courderc". This is excellent. Almost classic. The film is beautiful to look at with its natural setting. Good period details. Great acting abounds. Simone Signoret gives thoughtful, heart-breaking performance. If the ending was not so ridiculous, it would have been a classic. 4) "Gipsy". An average crime drama. so called B-film. 5) "Notre Histore". This is an interesting turn for Delon. He is actually more expressive than usual and shows a wider emotional range here. But overall this stylized film is rather boring to sit through.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Good value for less well known AlainDelon work
10 May 2010
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very good collection of the less well known works of Alain Delon. And it includes The Swimming Pool with Romy Schneider & Jane Birkin. But like any collected works, if you are not a Delon fan it may be hard going for some. I think he is a terrific screen actor and the five films in this collection add to his repertoire of, say, the hero as outsider...Delon has an interiority totally unique & compelling. He's fabulous to watch! Voila.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Delon is intriguing
12 July 2011
I'm reviewing Le Piscine (The Swimming Pool). The setting is up the mountain from St Tropez, FR. The characters are Parisians on vacation for a month renting a villa with a beautiful stone swimming pool/terrace. Handsome Delon and lovely (sexy) Romy Schneider are together for healing - it seems Delon's character at one point in his recent past tried to commit suicide. Suddenly an old lover of Romy's arrives uninvited who's surprisingly brought his pretty teenage daughter that no one ever knew he had. Romy's Ex apparently has been showing up lately in the couple's life & it seems to Delon he's trying to split them up. Needless to say Delon is not happy when Romy invites them to stay for a few days. This awkward arrangement, where Delon seems to be left with the teenager alone, is the beginning of an interesting kind of triangle.
That is the basis of this 120 minute movie. Some say it drags at times, but I am so fascinated by the gorgeous setting and characters, that the slow casual pace doesn't concern me. Even details of meals intrigue the viewer, and you'll get a good laugh from a party that is suddenly sprung upon the vacationing couple by their guest who has friends down in St Tropez... probably to put a dent in the romantic atmosphere the couple so longed for.
If you're new to Delon & Schneider, you are in for a treat. This couple has zinging electricity together on screen... off screen the two were the hottest couple in Europe during their 4-6 year engagement which ended in heart break due to their diverging budding careers.
Think of this as purchasing The Swimming Pool and with it you get 4 extra dramatic movies by one the best actors in Europe during the late 50's to 90's. Delon is one of the most handsome & talented actors of his generation. He's the "James Dean of France" who didn't die - who went on to have a full career - and Romy? she is unique unto herself.
That is the basis of this 120 minute movie. Some say it drags at times, but I am so fascinated by the gorgeous setting and characters, that the slow casual pace doesn't concern me. Even details of meals intrigue the viewer, and you'll get a good laugh from a party that is suddenly sprung upon the vacationing couple by their guest who has friends down in St Tropez... probably to put a dent in the romantic atmosphere the couple so longed for.
If you're new to Delon & Schneider, you are in for a treat. This couple has zinging electricity together on screen... off screen the two were the hottest couple in Europe during their 4-6 year engagement which ended in heart break due to their diverging budding careers.
Think of this as purchasing The Swimming Pool and with it you get 4 extra dramatic movies by one the best actors in Europe during the late 50's to 90's. Delon is one of the most handsome & talented actors of his generation. He's the "James Dean of France" who didn't die - who went on to have a full career - and Romy? she is unique unto herself.
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