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Irma La Douce [1963]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Irma La Douce reunited The Apartment team of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine with director Billy Wilder in an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name which had been a hit in Paris, London and New York. The screen transfer by Wilder and his colleague--writer IAL Diamond--however, omits the show's songs, relegating them to a background score refashioned by Andre Previn with some additional themes of his own. Background here is a complimentary term, for whatever qualms one might entertain as to this move, the two sets of themes are skilfully woven together by Previn and emerge as a witty and lyrical aural delight in their own right which is given due prominence on the soundtrack.

Wilder is no rush to tell prostitute Irma's story: her affair with Lemmon being the pivot of the tale as he takes on the disguise of an English Lord. Lemmon and MacLaine beautifully play their mutual attraction under Wilder's deft direction with the slapstick never allowed to get out of hand. Many will recognise Wilder's touch in his handling of the scene where Lemmon as a policeman is carted off in a van full of voracious prostitutes from the bunks-in-the-train sequence in Some Like It Hot. The handsome production, designed by Alexander Tranner--with the occasional view of the Seine thrown in for good measure--and the Panavision photography by Joseph La Shelle are further assets.

On the DVD: The DVD contains a longer than usual theatrical trailer, half shot as a cartoon with characters closely resembling those Pink Panther figures who emerged at the same time from the Mirisch Brothers, a pair prominent in sustaining the unique success of United Artists, whose name was deleted, in favour of the MGM logo, in the early 1960s. It's too bad that the music on this DVD transfer sometimes strikes a coarse note particularly over the extended opening credits. --Adrian Edwards


Don't think this is "Irma La Douce" the musical,because it isn't!.
Review date: 2007-07-30 Rating: 4 out of 10

Billy Wilder had the wonderful idea of transferring "Irma La Douce" the musical, to the screen.The only problem was,that when he started to make it, he thought(rather oddly)that the songs slowed down the action!
So what did he do?Tighten up the script,drop an odd song or two?NO,he just ditched ALL the sung lyrics,and used the remaining music as background.
So if you think this is the musical, you are going to be sadly disappointed.
As the reviewer above had said it's a great comedy,but NOT the musical that many people were(and are looking) for.

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Reviews


Delightful screwball comedy - no pun intended
Review date: 2002-01-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

A delicious treat for the lover of classic comedy, this movie abounds with quirky characters and witty dialogue. Lemmon and MacLaine are in top form, infusing their characters with charm and joie de vivre. Wilder's script is solid, the mis-en-scene is evocative of Toulouse Lautrec crossed with 'Guys and Dolls', and the comic pacing is as masterful as we've come to expect of Wilder's films. It is an all-around satisfying comedy experience.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Herschel Bernardi
Jack Lemmon
Lou Jacobi
Shirley MacLaine
Bruce Yarnell

Creators:
Jack Lemmon (Primary Contributor)
Shirley MacLaine (Primary Contributor)
Billy Wilder (Producer)
Billy Wilder (Writer)
Alexandre Trauner (Producer)
Doane Harrison (Producer)
Edward L. Alperson (Producer)
Alexandre Breffort (Writer)
I.A.L. Diamond (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070007404
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-11-26
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 137 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1963-06-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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