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(aka "Les Vacances de M. Hulot" or "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday" or "Mr. Hulot's Holiday" or "Le vacanze di Monsieur Hulot" )

 

directed by Jacques Tati
France 1953

 

The film that brought Jacques Tati international acclaim also launched his on-screen alter ego: the courteous, well-meaning, eternally accident prone Monsieur Hulot with whom Tati would from now on be inseparably associated. As with Jour de fête, the film is set in a sleepy French coastal resort which is seasonally disrupted by holidaymakers in energetic pursuit of fun. At the centre of the chaos is the eccentric Hulot, struggling at all times to maintain appearances, but somehow entirely divorced from his immediate surroundings. There is little plot in Tati s beautifully orchestrated ballet of comic action: it s a series of incidents, a seamless succession of gently mocking studies of human absurdity.

***

Pipe-smoking Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati’s endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tati’s wildly funny satire of vacationers determined to enjoy themselves includes a series of precisely choreographed sight gags involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers. The first entry in the Hulot series is a masterpiece of gentle slapstick.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 28th, 1953

Reviews       More Reviews       DVD Reviews

Comparison:

The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL vs. Future Films - Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI (Dual Format) - Region 'B' Blu-ray

Big thanks to Per-Olof Strandberg and for the DVD Screen Caps!

 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

The Criterion Collection

Region 0 - NTSC

BFI
Region 2 - PAL
Future Films
Region 2 - PAL
BFI (Dual format)
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray

The BFI individual DVD release is also available the The Jacques Tati Collection which includes Jour de fête / Les Vacances de M. Hulot / Mon Oncle / Playtime and Parade.

(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews)

Criterion (without any extras) also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lève (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.

Runtime 1:26:58 1:23:33 1:23:11 (4% PAL speedup) 1:28:10.708 / 1:38:47.541 (original release version)
Video

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.2 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Disc Size: 44,346,735,211 bytes

Original Cut Feature Size: 21,212,547,072 bytes

Shorter Cut Feature Size: 22,860,638,208 bytes

Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Audio French (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono), English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)

French (Dolby Digital 1.0)

French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB

Original Release: LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English, None English, None Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and None ( NO ENGLISH ! ) English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: The Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Video introduction by filmmaker Terry Jones (Monty Python)
• Rene Clement's 1963 short film, Soigne ton gauche, starring Jacques Tati
• Optional English language soundtrack, created by Jacques Tati
• New and improved English subtitle soundtrack

DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 21

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with film-maker Richard Lester (35:39)
• Original trailer and trailers for Mon Oncle and Playtime
• Insert with notes and director's biography by film historian Philip Kemp

 

DVD Release Date: November 29th, 2004
Keep Case (Individual Release)/Slim Case (Box Set Edition)

Chapters 18

Release Information:
Studio: Future Films

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Jacques Tati short films:
• Soigne Ton Gauche (1936) (11:53)
• L'Ecole des Facteurs (1947) (14:25)
• Cours du Soir (1967) (26:30)

DVD Release Date: November, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

 

Disc Size: 44,346,735,211 bytes

Original Cut Feature Size: 21,212,547,072 bytes

Shorter Cut Feature Size: 22,860,638,208 bytes

Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

 

Edition Details:
On the included DVD:

• Interview with film-maker Richard Lester (35:39)
• Original trailer
• Insert with notes and director's biography by film historian Philip Kemp

 

Blu-ray Release Date: November 29th, 2010

Chapters 18

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

NOTE: Criterion's Complete Jacques Tati Blu-ray Collection is compared/reviewed HERE!

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - (November 2010) - To clarify - this BFI Blu-ray package is 'Dual Format' meaning it also has the film on DVD disc included in the purchase. Also the Blu-ray contains two version of Mr. Hulot's Holiday. Tati's second feature was released in Paris February 27th, 1953. First in 1962 and later on in 1978, Tati worked on his films again. He re-edited it, removed some shots, lengthened some others, re-orchestrated the score and re-mixed the sound. The original elements were damaged and weakened by the repeated re-editing process. Using a photochemical restoration and digital tools the original film has been brought back up a viewable quality. BFI have included both of these versions of the film in 1080P. The disc is dual-layered and both films, the longer original version and shorter edited release both cover over 20 Gig of space and look quite similar. These are NOT seamlessly branched together but are two separate versions with the original looking slightly weaker. Regardless, these represent a significant upgrade from all previously released DVDs - especially in the areas of detail and contrast.

BFI have given linear PCM 2.0 channel mono audio at over 2300 Kbps for both versions but the original does not offer the 'international language' DUB (not in lossless) that is available on the other cut. There are optional English subtitles available and my Momitsu confirms that the Blu-ray disc is region 'B'-locked.

There are no supplements on the Blu-ray disc but the included DVD has the 35-minute interview with film-maker Richard Lester and an original trailer (that both appeared on the last BFI DVD edition). There is also liner notes, extensively illustrated, booklet - featuring essays and film notes.

Well, Mr. Hulot's Holiday looks and sounds great and it's interesting to have the 'original' available to see where the changes were made. Tati fans won't want to pass this up - it's an impressive upgrade! 

 - Gary W. Tooze

***

ADDITION BFI DVD: The 2004 BFI edition of Les Vacances de M. Hulot has recently been rereleased as part of their Jacques Tati Collection along with Jour de fête / Les Vacances de M. Hulot / Mon Oncle / Playtime and Parade. The only changes that the BFI made with this version is the keep case has been turned into a slim case and the individual booklets have been collected into one and some new artwork added to it. The image is identical to both the Criterion and Future Films editions, but has more information on all four sides than eother of the other two releases. Although the audio here is Dolby Digital 1.0, rather than the 2.0 found in the Future Films release, I doubt that the former sounds significantly better as the audio here is typically quite good. For those looking for English subtitles, you won't find them on this Finish release, but they are the only subs to be found in the BFI edition. The real difference between the three releases comes in terms of the extras. While we get three Tati shorts from the Future release, and several valuable extras with the Criterion, the BFI has trailers for three of films, a typically invaluable booklet, and a fascinating interview with Richard Lester about his love of the film. If you're only interested in picking up this film and none of Tati's others, then the choice would come down between the BFI and the Criterion. I'd pick the BFI for image, but the Criterion for the extras. If, however, you want to purchase either of the two Tati sets, then doubt that you could go wrong with with either one. I suppose that the choice ultimately will come down to whether you need the English subs on the BFI release, the sum total of extras on both sets (mighty impressive for both, I might add!), what you'd prefer for your fifth film (the BFI has Parade, while the Future Films release has Trafic). Definitely recommended.

 - Brian Montgomery

Picture:
I have never seen this movie in a cinema with so sharp and clean picture like this both DVD's have. Fine job here! It seems that they are made from the same material, they are almost identical. The Criterion seems to be slightly cropped compared to the Future Film DVD, but it's on the acceptable level. There are some print damage and scratches, but they don't disturb at all.

DRAW

Sound:
Both DVD's have excellent, clean and dynamic sound. Criterion has 1.0 mono, when the Nordic has 2.0 mono. The Criterion disc contains also an optional English Dub.

Extras:
Even tough the Nordic disc has more short films than the Criterion version, these short films can be found separately in the other Jacques Tati Criterion DVD's. The Criterion also includes short film notes and a introduction by Terry Jones.

 Per-Olof Strandberg

 



 Menus
(The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
 

 

 

 

 

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 


 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW  TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

Subtitle Sample BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) BFI (original release) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) BFI (original release) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) BFI (original release) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

SCENE  NOT

IN  ORIGINAL


 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) BFI (original release) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 110) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) Future Films - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) BFI (original release) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Criterion (Blu-ray if you consider it has 2 versions)

 
DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

The Criterion Collection

Region 0 - NTSC

BFI
Region 2 - PAL
Future Films
Region 2 - PAL
BFI (Dual format)
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray

 

 




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