#72: CLAIR, René: Le Million (1931)

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CLAIR, René (France)
Le Million [1931]
Spine #72
DVD


An impoverished artist discovers he has purchased a winning lottery ticket at the very moment his creditors come to collect. The only problem is, the ticket is in the pocket of his coat. . . which he left at his girlfriend's apartment. . . who gave the coat to a man hiding from the police. . . who sells the coat to an opera singer who uses it during a performance. By turns charming and inventive, René Clair's lyrical masterpiece had a profound impact on not only the Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin, but on the American Musical as a whole.

81 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
in French
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2000

Director/Writers


Based on a play by Georges Berr and Marcel Guillemaud.
René Clair was 43 when he wrote and directed Le Million.

Other Clair films in the Collection:

#161: Under The Roofs Of Paris (1930)
#160: À Nous La Liberté (1931)
#676: I Married A Witch (1942)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Six-page wraparound featuring an essay by Elliott Stein. 

Commentary

None.

Gallery

Of production photos.
American television interview

With Clair.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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