This first film adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s play about class distinctions was made in 1955 in the Vienna Rosenhügel studios, but it was only premiered five years later. Curt Bois plays the rich capitalist Puntila who only becomes somewhat agreeable when he is drunk (which he is most of the time in this film). In his inebriated state, Puntila not only gets amorously involved with three different ladies but also suggests that his daughter Eva marries his chauffeur Matti. The chauffeur, however, doesn’t really agree…

While the film is probably less biting than Brecht’s original satire, this is nevertheless a very fine film which only at first glance seems to fit into the standard comedy fare of Austrian and German cinema of the 1950s. Looking closer at its absurd humour, much of it seems more influenced by Rene Clair’s musical comedies of the early 30s, and some scenes might even provide a hint of what was to come with the disrespectful comedies of the Czech New Wave a few years later. In any case, a hilariously funny performance by Curt Bois as Puntila, and excellent direction by Cavalcanti who uses sepia-toned sequences for the Brechtian ‘choruses’ and otherwise always keeps this comedy at a fast pace. Very fine score by the great Hanns Eisler, too. Highly recommended!

Length: 92 min.
DVD Source: broadcast on German TV, 2011
DVD Format: DVD5, PAL, 4:3, AC3 2.0 (mono)
Menu: none
Video: Untouched
Audio: Untouched
Extras: none

https://nitro.download/view/D0D9679517E9830/Herr_Puntila_und_sein_Knecht_Matti_DVDR.rar

Language(s):German
Subtitles:none

The post Alberto Cavalcanti – Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti AKA Herr Puntila and his Servant Matti (1960) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Stefan (Klaus Grünberg) hitchhikes to Paris and there at a party meets Estelle (Mimsy Farmer), a beautiful but elusive American. Soon afterwards, she leaves for Ibiza and an already smitten Stefan vows to follow her, but he has to help out in a robbery to raise the cash to do so. Finally, he meets up again with Estelle and the two become lovers. In an atmosphere of easy sex, nude sunbathing and lots of drugs, Stefan\’s hold on his life begins to crumble.
More was Barbet Schroeder\’s directorial debut and it set the Iranian-born, French-national writer, director, producer and occasional actor on a fascinatingly wayward career. He has made films all over the world, often tackling \’difficult\’ subject matter (drugs here, sadomasochism in Maitresse, also available as a DVD from the BFI). Unfortunately the last decade or so has been spent making increasingly routine material in Hollywood.
More was a success in France but flopped in Britain and the US, though it\’s since picked up a cult following partly due to the Pink Floyd soundtrack. It\’s easy to see why this was: More is more \’European\’ than \’American\’ in style, with its detached, amoral viewpoint, not especially sympathetic lead character and character-led narrative. Stefan is probably even less likeable now than he was then, given the number of times he slaps Estelle, sexual politics having shifted rather a lot since 1969. Another strong contribution is made by Nestor Almendros\’ camerawork. This was his third feature as cinematographer, and the first of five collaborations (three features and two documentaries) with Schroeder. Already his classical, natural-light aesthetic is well developed, though some scenes may be a little dark on this DVD as a result. He helps establish a mood that holds the interest and overcomes the rather blank performances from the two leading actors. Almendros and Schroeder also deliver one of the cinema\’s most notable LSD-trip scenes, very different from the grainy 16mm used in Easy Rider (1969) but just as effective.

https://nitro.download/view/CF1DD5C345AA7B7/More.1969.720p.BluRay.x264-CiNEFiLE.part1.rar
https://nitro.download/view/7AFEAB721BC893D/More.1969.720p.BluRay.x264-CiNEFiLE.part2.rar
https://nitro.download/view/081B93490D1D252/More.1969.720p.BluRay.x264-CiNEFiLE.part3.rar
https://nitro.download/view/B2C0DADCD89EBAD/More.1969.720p.BluRay.x264-CiNEFiLE.part4.rar

no pass

The post Barbet Schroeder – More (1969) (HD) first appeared on Cinema of the World.