Pre-Order Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1975) (Blu-ray) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

The link below will take you directly to the product on Amazon. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

https://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Brel...65953&creativeASIN=B07C5LQ7QH&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[Anthony Dale]

Someone please, fix the absurd edit on "Timid Freda!" Surely the still-living Elly Stone can allowed be singing, "brave new fuck-you stance" instead of the mangled garbage presented in the film. A precursor to MTV, this film should have a bigger audience - it's by no means perfect, but, to have Elly Stone, Mort Shuman and Joe Masiell recreating the words and music of Brel with an incredible orchestra and the man himself, BREL, singing the haunting "Ne Me Quitte Pas." This is a purchase for me.

 

[Charles Smith]

Maybe I'll have to give this another chance. I tried to watch it only once, probably on VHS, I don't even remember now.

At that time, I had just recently learned it in order to play the piano book in a local production, and, twice in that same period of time, I saw the 25th anniversary revival at the Village Gate. I'm sorry to say this about anything, but I thought it was one of the worst instances of a filmed musical ever.

 

[Anthony Dale]

I'm sorry to say this about anything, but I thought it was one of the worst instances of a filmed musical ever.

A second chance might be in order. Going from a staged musical revue to a series of musical videos is not an easy proposal, and Brel's deep thoughts and political stances don't always translate to film, yet I think that 90% of what's on the screen is compelling.

 

[Charles Smith]

I'll do that.

 

[Anthony Dale]

I don't think that they'll do much in repair work ...

 

[PMF]

A flawed motion picture? Perhaps. But, then again, it's been years.
Either way, its a unique animal, a hands-down purchase and certainly something I suspect will be viewed in a more forgiving light.
After all, this visual record of the original interpreters performing Brel - this ever brilliant Belgian poet - will now bode well and prove to be, if not gold, a very precious gem.

 

[PMF]

A new film version is in order. Sacrilege? Not at all. Bring Elly Stone on board in a technical advisory capacity, just as Gwen Verdon and Ann Reinking had done when creating the magnificent "Fosse".