French Directors - Claude Chabrol

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French Directors - Claude Chabrol

The Claude Chabrol Collection Claude Chabrol Eight-DVD boxed set Eight films by the legendary French director Claude Chabrol are collected in this exhaustive boxed set. Includes Ten Days Wonder (1972, 105 mins.), The Unfaithful Wife (1968, 94 mins.), Les Biches (Bad Girls) (1968, 100 mins.), Innocents with Dirty Hands (1975, 121 mins.), Le Boucher (The Butcher) (1969, 93 mins.), This Man Must Die (1969, 110 mins.), La Rupture (The Breach) (1970, 124 mins.) and Nada (1974, 105 mins.). All films in French with English subtitles, except for Ten Days Wonder, which is in English. France, 1968-1974, 852 mins. DVD $99.95

Claude Chabrol: Tales of Deceit Claude Chabrol Five-DVD boxed set Claude Chabrol, the influential filmmaker credited with co-founding the French New Wave, directs five late career gems - Hitchcock-esque tales about wicked women, crooked cops, and disastrous affairs. Betty (1993, 103 mins.) is a masterful tale of alienation starring Stephane Audran as a mysterious woman living in an elegant Versailles hotel, who takes in Marie Trintignant, a wife running away from an emotionless middle class marriage. The Color of Lies (1999, 108 mins.) is a measured, thoughtful, and unsettling thriller that explores the fallout that occurs when a young girl is found raped and murdered in a slumbering fishing community. With Jacques Gamblin and Sandrine Bonnaire. Cop Au Vin (1984, 110 mins.) is a wryly humorous and boldly forward film about exposing the greed and ill-will governing characters' actions. L'Enfer (1994, 100 mins.), based on a script by Henri-Georges Clouzot, is a study of deranged jealousy starring Paul Cluzet and Emmanuelle Beart. Finally, Inspecteur Lavardin (1986, 100 mins.) is a leisurely paced murder mystery starring Jean Poiret as an urbane detective trying to solve the killing of a popular novelist. In French with English subtitles. France, 1984-1999, 518 mins. DVD $119.95

Betty Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's masterful tale of alienation stars Stephane Audran as a mysterious woman living in an elegant Versailles hotel, who takes in Marie Trintignant, a wife running away from an emotionless middle class marriage. Set in a world of casual affairs and ice-cold betrayals, Betty is a suspenseful, moving psychological study. The DVD is letterboxed and includes presentation by film scholar Joel Magny, trailer, and stills gallery. In French with English subtitles. France 1993 103 mins. DVD $44.95

The Bridesmaid Claude Chabrol Not Chabrol's first class-conscious thriller, nor his first adaptation of a Ruth Rendell novel, but in The Bridesmaid, we find a more forgiving Chabrol tackling the nuclear family by way of Hitchcockian mystery. The rising action concerns an bourgeoisie family composed of two squabbling sisters (one about to marry), a "put on a happy face" mom (Aurore Clement), and a mildly incestuous son (Benoit Magimel), who falls for his sister's sultry bridesmaid (Laura Smet). Sexually and narratively perverse, the film does not concern itself with the murder mystery aspects until you're already engrossed. "Deceptively understated and finally ferocious film" (New York Times). Letterboxed. Includes director interview, biography, filmography, photo gallery, and the documentary Chabrol Directs The Bridesmaid. In French with English subtitles. France/Germany/Italy, 2004, 110 mins. DVD $37.95

The Color of Lies Claude Chabrol A measured, thoughtful, and unsettling film from French New Wave veteran Claude Chabrol, this thriller explores the fallout that occurs when a young girl is found raped and murdered in a slumbering fishing community. When the chief of police (Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi) identifies a washed-up artist (Jacques Gamblin) as the primary suspect, it affects the man's standing with his cheerful wife (Sandrine Bonnaire) and other residents of the town. "A work of superior acting and quiet strength" (BBC). With Antoine de Caunes, Bernart Verley, Pierre Marlot, and Bulle Ogier. The DVD is letterboxed and includes making-of documentary, presentation by film scholar Joel Magny, trailer, and stills gallery. In French with English subtitles. France 1999 108 mins. DVD $44.95

Comedy of Power Claude Chabrol The French Hitchcock teams up with Isabelle Huppert once again to create another deceptive thriller. Huppert stars as an ambitious prosecuting judge whose investigations into corporate corruption threaten her relationships and life. "A sensational performance by Isabelle Huppert" (Stephen Holden, New York Times). With Francois Berleand and Patrick Bruel. In French with English subtitles. France, 2006, 110 mins. DVD $37.95

Cop Au Vin Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's murder mystery is both wryly humorous and boldly forward about exposing the greed and ill-will that governs his characters' actions. The plot centers on a teenage boy (Lucas Belvaux) who is smothered by his cruel and domineering mother (Stephane Audran). When a group of men scheme to rob the family of their assets, the boy takes action to impede their scheme, but he goes too far in the process. Based on a novel by Dominique Roulet. The DVD is letterboxed and includes presentation by film scholar Joel Magny, trailer, and stills gallery. In French with English subtitles. France 1984 110 mins. DVD $44.95

The Cry of the Owl (Le Cri du Hibou) Claude Chabrol A novel by Patricia Highsmith is the basis for this strange, memorable thriller from Chabrol. A young artist (Christopher Malavoy) becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman (Mathilda May), spying on her for months until she finally confronts him. When she returns his affection in an obsessive manner, the story takes a dark, murderous turn. "As suspenseful as it is darkly amusing...top-drawer Chabrol" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). French with English subtitles. DVD is letterboxed, includes audio commentary by French film scholar Ric Menello and a photo still gallery. France, 1987, 102 mins. DVD $44.95

A Double Tour Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's third film marks his first foray into the psychological thriller--a form he later perfected with works like L'Enfer. When middle-aged philanderer Henri Marcouz (Jacques Dacqmine) is found murdered, the police find that the list of potential suspects is long. Marcouz's stilted wife (Madeleine Robinson) and bitter son (Andre Jocelyn) have convincing motives for murder, but a local milk man (Mario David) and a Hungarian ne'er do well (Jean-Paul Belmondo) are just as suspicious. Chabrol spins the possibilities into a lurid whodunit that's distinguished by its strong performances and clever narrative. In French with English subtitles. France 1959 110 mins. DVD $44.95

The Eye of Vichy Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol strips the mask off a forbidden chapter of French history, the Vichy regime, in this controversial documentary which tackles the sensitive subject of French complicity and collaboration with the Nazis during World War II. French newsreels and other propaganda footage from the occupation era are "...edited by Chabrol with a keen, ironic eye...an irreplaceable view of what living in Vichy France was like" (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). English narration by Brian Cox (Manhunter, Rushmore). France, 1993, 110 mins. DVD $44.95

The Flower of Evil Claude Chabrol The French master of suspense, Claude Chabrol, returns with another exploration of the dark side of the French upperclass. After a brief stay in America, Francois returns to Bordeaux to live with his family on their large estate, where he quickly rekindles a romance with his step-sister, whose mother is running for mayor. Their privileged life is soon disrupted when an anonymous letter detailing the family's past indiscretions, including incest, adultery, murder, and possible war crimes, is leaked to the press, dredging up three generations of guilt that has haunted the bourgeois family. France, 2003, 104 mins. $44.95

Innocents with Dirty Hands Claude Chabrol One of Chabrol's least-known thrillers. Julie Wormser (stunningly played by Romy Schneider) is an icy wife who plots with her lover, writer and neighbor, Jeff Marle, to get rid of her alcoholic, impotent husband (Rod Steiger) while vacationing in St. Tropez. Fascinatingly ironic and ambiguous with a wonderfully convoluted plot, ever-changing relationsips and intriguing minor characters. "A superbly stylish and baroque crime thriller which marks a return for Chabrol to the bravura incorporation of pulp conventions" (Time Out). French with English subtitles. DVD includes the English dubbed version and a limited edition collector's booklet with biographies & photos. France/Germany/Italy, 1975, 125 mins. DVD $37.95

Inspecteur Lavardin Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's leisurely paced murder mystery stars Jean Poiret as the urbane detective from Cop au Vin, who arrives at one of Chabrol's trademark settings--a cozy, seaside village--to solve the slaying of a popular novelist. Stylish and charming, with lighthearted jabs at bourgeois convention, this is a first-rate thriller in the Hitchcock mode. The DVD is letterboxed and includes presentation by film scholar Joel Magny, trailer, and stills gallery. In French with English subtitles. France 1986 100 mins. DVD $44.95

L'Enfer Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol is in top form in this top-notch thriller--the study of deranged jealousy--based on a script by Henri-Georges (Diabolique) Clouzot. Paul Cluzet plays the owner of a small hotel who has everything--a beautiful wife, a new son, and a successful business located on a serene lake. But then he hears voices and begins to question his wife's fidelity, which begins a downward spiral into madness. With Emmanuelle Beart. In French with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed and includes audio commentary by Claude Chabrol, Chabrol Discusses L'Enfer featurette, presentation by film scholar Joel Magny, trailer, and stills gallery. France 1994 100 mins. DVD $44.95

La Ceremonie Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol returns in great form with this gripping suspense thriller. Sophie (Sandrine Bonnaire, Monsieur Hire) is a quiet, eccentric maid, hired by the Lelievres, a fashionable, bourgeoise French family living in a Brittany country estate. When Sophie befriends Jeanne (Isabelle Huppert), a boisterous postal worker who hates the Lelievres, the two misfits form a destructive bond, secured on a similar secret past. French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 111 mins. DVD $44.95

La Rupture Claude Chabrol One of Claude Chabrol's best films: a taut, diabolical thriller about a woman (Stephane Audran) who leaves her drug-addicted husband (Jean-Claude Drouot) after he violently attacks their child while in a schizophrenic haze. His aristocratic parents hire a brutal private detective (Jean-Pierre Cassel) to turn up incriminating evidence in order to discredit her in a child custody suit. With Michel Bouquet, Catherine Rouvel and Jean Carmet. French with English subtitles. France/Italy/Spain, 1970, 124 mins. DVD $37.95

Le Boucher Claude Chabrol A first rate psychological thriller from Claude Chabrol about the evolving relationship of a beautiful schoolteacher and a serial murderer. "In Chabrol's films, the relationships are plotted with a mathematical precision that does not rule out surprising developments" (Roy Armes). With Stephane Audran, Antonio Passallia, Mario Beccaria and Pasquale Ferone. French with English subtitles. France/Italy, 1969, 90 mins. DVD $37.95

Les Biches Claude Chabrol In Chabrol's New Wave set-piece, Federique is a rich and fashionable lesbian who encounters a young, bohemian sidewalk artist named Why. They escape together to St. Tropez for Christmas where Why ends up in bed with the young architect, Paul. Tension between the three escalates when they co-habit Federique's villa. As Paul's affections lean toward Federique, Why begins a jealous transformation that culminates in a deadly conclusion. French with English subtitles. DVD includes the English dubbed version and a limited edition collector's booklet with biographies & photos. France, 1968, 104 mins. DVD $37.95

Les Bonnes Femmes (The Good Girls) Claude Chabrol Bernadette Lafont, Clotilde Joano, Stephane Audran and Lucille Saint-Simon star as four working girls in Paris in this brilliant New Wave thriller by Claude Chabrol. What they hope to find is love, but each ends up in the hands of a killer. As always, Chabrol is interested more in the milieu which supports his characters than in the suspense, as he gives us an intimate look at ordinary lives full of boredom and vague dreams. Cinematography by the great Henri Decae. French with English subtitles. France, 1960, 105 mins. DVD $44.95

Madame Bovary Claude Chabrol The classic 19th century novel by Gustave Flaubert has been masterfully adapted to the screen by veteran filmmaker Claude Chabrol. Isabelle Huppert occupies the erotic title role of Emma Bovary, the unhappily married woman who wants more out of life. With Christophe Malavoy, Jean Yanne, Lucas Belvaux and Christiane Minazolli. DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, and includes optional French and Spanish subtitles, original theatrical trailer. French with English subtitles. France, 1991, 143 mins. DVD $37.95

This Man Must Die Claude Chabrol One of Chabrol's great Hitchcockian thrillers; a writer's young son is struck by a hit-and-run driver, and he searches for the murderer. Chance leads him to the killer's beautiful sister, whom he seduces a stalking cat and mouse game ensues which ends in a startling climax. English dubbed. DVD includes a limited edition collector's booklet with biographies & photos. France, 1970, 112 mins. DVD $37.95

Masques Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol delivers his signature, well-crafted suspense as he follows a would-be writer's investigations into a TV personality's life, which results in the revelation of shady, and possibly murderous, details. Hired to pen the biography of a pompous, smarmy game-show host (Philippe Noiret), the writer (Robin Renucci) spends three days with the celeb at his estate. As the days progress and all of the players are interviewed, unsettling secrets are uncovered by the writer, who harbors a secret of his own. In French with English subtitles. France, 1987, 100 mins. DVD $37.95

Merci Pour le Chocolat Claude Chabrol Isabelle Huppert stars in Chabrol's wickedly entertaining thriller about a wealthy heiress, her new husband, his son, a woman who may or may not be his daughter, and the tasty beverage that binds them together. "Chabrol's fifty-third feature film is also one of his most atmospheric...French cinema's definitive Comeback Kid has done it again" (Keith Reader, Sight & Sound). French with English subtitles. DVD is letterboxed, includes an introduction by director Claude Chabrol, photo gallery, the original French theatrical trailer and more. France, 2000, 97 mins. DVD $44.95

Nada Claude Chabrol This 1974 feature from the prolific and always distinctive Claude Chabrol is an engrossing, intelligent thriller that echoes Hitchcock and Bresson, as well as the political climate of its time. A terrorist group kidnaps the American ambassador to Paris and, as the authorities close in, it is clear that a peaceful resolution is not their top priority. With Fabio Testi, Mariangela Melato and Michel Duschaussoy. Also known as The Nada Gang. French with English subtitles. DVD includes the English dubbed version and a limited edition collector's booklet with biographies & photos. France, 1974, 107 mins. DVD $37.95

Pleasure Party (Une Partie de Plaisir) Claude Chabrol Claude Chabol directs this voyeuristic look at infidelity and marriage. A domineering husband, played by Paul Gegauff (who also wrote the screenplay), decides that he and his wife, played by Gegauff's ex-wife, Danielle Gegauff, should have open affairs with other lovers. His plan tragically backfires when he becomes plagued with jealousy. Includes commentaries, bios and trailers. In French with English subtitles. France, 1974, 100 mins. DVD $37.95

Story of Women Claude Chabrol An almost perfect film; Claude Chabrol bases his Venice Film Festival award-winning film on the true story of the last woman to be guillotined in France, at the onset of WWII. Isabelle Huppert delivers a stunning, riveting performance as the wife-abortionist who, despite the compromises she makes for the sake of a "better" life, is redeemed as a true individual at the end. A brilliant film from the hands of a true master. French with English subtitles. France, 1988, 112 mins. DVD $44.95

The Swindle Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's fiftieth theatrical feature proved that this master of intrigue had lost none of his touch after nearly forty years of filmmaking. Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault star as a pair of grifters who decide to take on an international money launderer in the ultimate sting. As the stakes get higher, however, their criminal partnership seems far less solid. A "deceptively light, highly enjoyable comedy thriller...Huppert and Serrault, two actors with an icy edge, are wonderfully warm and charming here: a good time is clearly being had by all" (Dave Kehr, New York Daily News). In French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 105 mins. Videocassette $37.95

Ten Days' Wonder Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol's elegant transposition of an Ellery Queen thriller a situation of mental aberration, adultery and blackmail. Featuring Orson Welles, Marlene Jobert, Michel Piccoli and Anthony Perkins, the film is notable for its plumbing the psychological depths of the Oedipal complex within the confines of a terrific thriller. In English. France, 1971, 101 mins. DVD $37.95

The Unfaithful Wife (La Femme Infidele) Claude Chabrol A classic film from Claude Chabrol that explores the effects and devastation caused by a wife's infidelity. Michel Bouquet plays a husband who discovers that his wife, played by Chabrol's real-life wife Stephane Audran, is having an affair. He tracks her lover and murders him in a fit of rage, beginning an emotional, exciting series of events. Long considered the "French Hitchcock", Chabrol delivers a first-rate psychological thriller. In French with English subtitles. DVD includes the English dubbed version and a limited edition collector's booklet with biographies & photos. France, 1968, 98 mins. DVD $37.95

Who's Got the Black Box? (La Route de Corinthe) Claude Chabrol Claude Chabrol keeps the tension building in this international thriller released the year before his classic Les Biches. An undercover NATO security man in Greece is murdered and his wife finds herself under suspicion. In order to clear her name, she must discover who is behind the blocking of American radar installations. An involving tale of intrigue from one of the leaders of the New Wave. With Jean Seberg, Maurice Ronet, Michel Bouquet and Chabrol himself in a small role. Also known as La Route de Corinthe. In French with English subtitles. France, 1967, 97 mins. DVD $37.95