Pierre Etaix (1961-1971)

[bigshot]

I just got my copy of this in the mail from Amazon and popped it on to watch a short and take a quick look at the features. This looks like it might be the biggest discovery of the year. Comparisons with Jacques Tati, Jerry Lewis and Buster Keaton are correct. This guy is fantastic.

I did a little googling and found out the reason I've never heard of Etaix is because he returned to the circus to be a clown in the early 70s, and since then, his films have been tied up in legal limbo. But a group of cinephiles, including Woody Allen, David Lynch and Martin Scorcese circulated a petition demanding that the films be restored and released again.

I only watched about a half hour of this set and I'm already sold on it. I can't wait until the weekend when I can dive in and really devour all this great stuff.

[Scottie]

I just received my copy today, as well. I can't wait to dig into it.

He reminds me a lot of Chaplin and Keaton. I'm a HUGE Chaplin fan and I have the Keaton Collection to also watch soon, too.

[Brad1963]

Mine arrived yesterday, I watched The Suitor last night and will watch Yoyo tonight. My plan is to watch a film a night through Friday and watch the shorts this weekend. So far I'm loving it, there is so much going on in every scene, and he is wonderful. There is Tati, Keaton, Chaplin and Lewis influence.

[bigshot]

I watched Land of Milk and Honey last night. Egad! All of the foolishness of society that Tati goes after in a gentle and ironic way Etaix goes after with a sledgehammer. It's an extra sharp dose of irony. I can totally understand why it alienated him from audiences. It's a hard film to watch. I'm glad I saw it, but I probably won't be coming back to that one anytime soon.

[bigshot]

WOW! I watched Yoyo last night and was floored. This guy not only is better than Tati, this film is on a par with the best of Chaplin and Keaton. I never thought it would be possible. This is my most important bluray purchase ever.

[jsz1002]

Any reason why "Rupture" and "Happy Anniversary" have lossy audio? The packaging states: "New digital masters of the 2010 restorations of Rupture, Happy Anniversary, The Suitor, Yoyo, As Long as You’ve Got Your Health, Feeling Good, Le grand amour, and Land of Milk and Honey with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray edition."

[Sifox211]

I've only watched the first disk so far but this set is a revelation: what a beautiful combination of wit and charm! Etaix certainly deserves to have a much higher reputation and be as well known as Tati.

From The Suitor and Yoyo Etaix comes across as winningly charming, with a warm and gentle wit not at all dulling his razor sharp observations. The visual gags are splendid too - my favourite is in Yoyo

[Show spoiler]when you first see what appears to be a portrait of the main character, then he moves and you realise it is a mirror.

[bigshot]

I rank Yoyo up there with Keaton and Chaplin's best

[145gtw]

Currently $28 on Amazon. Pretty decent price for this set.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by 145gtw

Currently $28 on Amazon. Pretty decent price for this set.

That is a nice price. How is this set packaged. Similar to the Tati/Cassevetes/Von Sternberg sets? Don't quite trust Amazon packaging, though.

[gregmtl92]

Originally Posted by bonehica

That is a nice price. How is this set packaged. Similar to the Tati/Cassevetes/Von Sternberg sets? Don't quite trust Amazon packaging, though.

It's a DigiPack, like Breathless for instance.

[145gtw]

Originally Posted by bonehica

That is a nice price. How is this set packaged. Similar to the Tati/Cassevetes/Von Sternberg sets? Don't quite trust Amazon packaging, though.

It’s a digipack similar to Amarcord, Sansho the Bailiff and The Earrings of Madame De.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by gregmtl92

It's a DigiPack, like Breathless for instance.

Originally Posted by 145gtw

It’s a digipack similar to Amarcord, Sansho the Bailiff and The Earrings of Madame De.

Thanks! Order placed!