#160: CLAIR, René: À Nous La Liberté (1931)

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CLAIR, René (France)
À Nous La Liberté [1931]
Spine #160
DVD


One of the all-time comedy classics, René Clair's À Nous la Liberté tells the story of Émile, an escaped convict who becomes a wealthy industrialist. Unfortunately, his past returns (in the form of old jail pal Louis) to upset his carefully laid plans. Featuring lighthearted wit, tremendous visual innovation, and masterful manipulation of sound, À Nous la Liberté is both a potent indictment of mechanized modern society and an uproarious comic delight.

83 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
in French
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2002
Director/Writer


René Clair was 33 when he wrote and directed À Nous la Liberté.


Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Six-page wraparound featuring an essay by Michael Atkinson.

Commentary

None.

Deleted scenes

Entr’acte (1924)

The classic Surrealist short by Clair and artist Francis Picabia.
Video interview

With Madame Bronja Clair.
Film historian

David Robinson on the plagiarism lawsuit against Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times (1936) {Spine #543}.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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