Product Description

In René Clair's irrepressibly romantic portrait of the crowded tenements of Paris, a street singer and a gangster vie for the love of a beautiful young woman. This witty exploration of love and human foibles, told primarily through song, captures the flamboyant atmosphere of the city with sophisticated visuals and groundbreaking use of the new technology of movie sound. An international sensation upon its release, Under the Roofs of Paris is an exhilarating celebration of filmmaking and one of France's most beloved cinematic exports.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37971 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2002-09-24
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Customer Reviews

ALBERT AND LOUIS AND FRED AND POLA
Rene Clair's 1930 SOUS LES TOITS DE PARIS, a mostly-mimed musical, is about about two pals -- Albert and Louis -- who make a wager in the rain "under a Paris roof" (hence the title) to see who will go with pretty Pola. But alas she goes off with Fred! A series of complications way too complex to detail here ensue as the four characters mix and match until one is left alone singing in the rain on a Paris street.

This film, made silent and then dubbed with French dialog and music, is done with grace and charm in spite its melodramatic plot. Albert's calm detachment seems to insulate him from all danger and sorrow, while Fred seems to get away with numerous nefarious deeds. I liked this film and its dreamlike images and poetic story.

Difficult to follow, but interesting.
This is a film from the transitional period between silents and sound. The film was shot without sound, then later dubbed. The result is a movie that is predominantly visual and this assists greatly if you have bought the V.H.S. version, because the subtitles are all over the place. Some dialogue has no subtitles whatsoever, some has titles for part of a conversation, and (maddeningly!) other parts have a subtitle half or even a quarter visible at the bottom of the screen. This is not the fault of Rene Clair however, who presents us with some great images of the streets of Paris, its low-life, and a peek inside the rented rooms of the poor people. The sound too is pretty good when you consider its original format, and the pretty but simple music conveys Clair's own enthusiasm to the listener.
The plot is somewhat incidental, but difficult to follow since it seems two near-identical men dressed in almost the same clothes are rolling dice to see who gets a girl. They are thwarted by a tough Parisian thief who looks uncannily like Basil Fawlty! But this does not really matter, just look at the sights and sounds of 1920s Paris, lovingly recreated in the film studio and see why Clair went on to become such a successful Hollywood director.

Clair's first talkie is also one of his best.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"Under the Roofs of Paris" released as "Sous les toits de Paris" in France is Rene Clair's first film with sound in it.

The film is about two men in love with the same woman. when one is falsely accused of a crime and sent to jail, the other takes advantage of the situation to make it worse.

It is another of the musical comedies released by Rene Clair, three of which (including this one) are currently available on the Criterion Collection.

The print quality is not perfect which is to be expected of a film nearly 75 years old. But as always, Criterion does an excellent restoration. This one having been done under the supervision of the French.

There are some great special features also.

"Paris qui dort" (Paris Alseep), Clair's first film is included. It is a silent film about a scientist who used a ray gun to 'freeze' every person in Paris. Only some people in an airplane and the night watchman in the top of the Eiffel Tower are unaffected.
There is also a interview with the director and a trailer.

This is a great release and both films on here are worth watching