(aka "Tempo di divertimento")

directed by Jacques Tati
France 1967

Jacques Tati, the choreographer of the charming, comical ballet that is Playtime, casts the endearingly clumsy Monsieur Hulot as the principal character wandering through modernist Paris. Amid the babble of English, French and German tourists, Hulot tries to reconcile the old-fashioned ways with the confusion of the encroaching age of technology.

***

Jacques Tati’s gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedies about confusion in the age of technology reached their creative apex with Playtime. For this monumental achievement, a nearly three-year-long, bank-breaking production, Tati again thrust the endearingly clumsy, resolutely old-fashioned Monsieur Hulot, along with a host of other lost souls, into a bafflingly modernist Paris. With every inch of its superwide frame crammed with hilarity and inventiveness, Playtime is a lasting testament to a modern age tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1967 - France

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Criterion (REISSUE - 2-disc) Region 1- NTSC vs. Criterion (original release - Out of Print) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL

(Criterion (REISSUE 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Distribution Criterion Collection (REISSUE- 2-disc0 Spine # 112
Region 1 - NTSC

Criterion Collection Spine # 112
Region 0 - NTSC

BFI Video Publishing
Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 2:04:20 1:59:15 Including (00:23) Criterion / Janus Film titles that are not in the BFI disc. 1:59:08 (4% PAL speedup)

Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.14 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.83:1 Cropped on all 4 sides

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.57 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.23 mb/s
 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

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

Criterion (REISSUE - 2-disc)

 

Bitrate:

Criterion

 

Bitrate:

 

BFI

 

Audio French and international (Dolby Digital 2.0) French and international (Dolby Digital 1.0)

French and international (Dolby Digital 1.0)

Subtitles English, and none English, and none English, and none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Criterion (REISSUE)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Video introduction by writer, director and performer Terry Jones (6:17)
• Cours du Soir, a 1967 short written by and starring Jacques Tati (27:39)
• Selected scene commentary by film historian Philip Kemp
• Au-delà de "Playtime," a short documentary featuring archival behind-the-scenes footage from the set
• Tati Story, a short biographical film about Tati
• “Jacques Tati in Monsieur Hulot’s Work,” a 1976 BBC Omnibus program featuring Tati
• Rare audio interview with Tati from the U.S. debut of Playtime at the 1972 San Francisco International Film Festival
• Video interview with script supervisor Sylvette Baudrot
• Alternate international soundtrack
• Liner notes with essay by Jonathan Rosenbaum

DVD Release Date: September 5th, 2006
3 tired digipak inside cardboard sleeve box
Chapters 25

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.83:1

Edition Details:
• Video introduction by writer, director and performer Terry Jones (6:17)
• Cours du Soir, a 1967 short written by and starring Jacques Tati (27:39)
• Line notes from Kent Jones

DVD Release Date: May 22nd, 2001
Keep Case
Chapters 22

Release Information:
Studio: BFI Video Publishing

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Edition Details:

• Au-dela de Playtime (6:13) - 4:3 - removable English subtitles
• Sylvette Baundrot (script-girl) on Tati and Playtime (12:11) -  4:3 - removable English subtitles
• Biography of tati (20:39)  4:3 - removable English subtitles
• Trailers for 3 Tati films (Playtime, Mr. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle)
• Sleeve notes (1 page) by Philip Kemp

DVD Release Date: September 6th, 2004
Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 16

 

 

Comments: ADDITION - Criterion - REISSUE - Region 1- NTSC - WOW - what an incredible improvement in the new REISSUED 2-disc Criterion!

Many Tati fans were very disappointed at Criterion's initial release, but it appears as though we now have the 'full 70 mm version' (not, what has been called, the shorter - international version - see cuts identified at the very bottom). So this is a vast improvement for fans - also the image is no longer severely cropped (we calculated it at about 17% in the original Criterion release). Tack onto to this the superior sharpness, loss of the greenish/steely tinge, improved subtitles, perfectly muted colors and a second disc of extras... and what  we have is Criterion proving once again their commitment to the cinematic art - fittingly appropriate for this particular Tati film. This REISSUE looks brilliant!

From the supplements we have, duplicated from the original edition - the video introduction by writer, director, and performer Terry Jones and the 1967 short film written by and starring Tati called Cours du soir (on the second disc). On top of that we have an informative selected scene commentary by film historian Philip Kemp running just over 45 minutes - I particularly enjoyed his insights. On the second disc we have Au-delà de "Playtime," a short documentary featuring archival behind-the-scenes footage from the set - it runs about 6 minutes, Tati Story (20 minutes), a short biographical film about Tati, a 1976 BBC Omnibus program - “Jacques Tati in Monsieur Hulot’s Work” (about 50 minutes), a rare audio interview with Tati from the U.S. debut of Playtime at the 1972 San Francisco International Film Festival, a 12 minute homage short video interview with script supervisor Sylvette Baudrot and a new 8-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by Jonathan Rosenbaum.

All-in-all an exciting package and one infinitely superior to the original and besting all other digital editions available (NOTE : we have compared the old Criterion with a European (FutureFilm) Nordic version HERE).

NOTE: This release is NOT pictureboxed!

 - Gary W. Tooze

*******

The original Criterion is the shorter - international - version of the film and the BFI is the 'full 70 mm version' - same as the Nordic Future Film compared HERE. So most of the comments are the same - the BFI has a greenish tinge but the Criterion (as well as being the shorter film) is heavily cropped on all 4 sides. The Criterion is sharper with better contrast but I think the integrity of the film is heavily worn by being the "condensed version' AND by being so heavily cropped (about 17%) . Trouble with the Nordic version is there were no English subtitles. This make the BFI version the only one I am aware of that is correctly done for English audiences (subtitled extras). The BFI extras are very complete and I rate them higher than I do the Criterions. The Criterion subtitles seem superior and more complete (although lets remember the film has hardly any dialogue at all), but we are going with the BFI release as a recommendation in this comparison.

 - Gary W. Tooze

Criterion has indicated a 'sometime next year' re-release, presumably (hopefully) in a new transfer.

*******

PLAYTIME - With the new 70mm and 35mm restored prints of the film finally making the rounds across the country, everyone can finally see how great this film is and how great it looks. A new DVD is sure to follow, as these copies are history. On that sound mix, it seems Tati did an 8-track soundmaster, but the film is a 5.0 mix with all the sound coming from behind the screen, meaning a five-speaker configuration that includes traveling dialogue and sound to the extreme. Whether he intended special 8-track playback (ala Cinerama) is unclear at this time. DTS seems to have exclusively restored the soundtrack and that's great. Hopefully, if Criterion does issue the film on DVD as it seems they will, it will have the DTS option. The new film is 127 minutes, though initial cuts may have run longer. There will be more to say when the DVD arrives, no matter which company issues it.

Nicholas Sheffo of http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/

 

Criterion - REISSUE package

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DVD Menus

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Criterion (REISSUE 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

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Criterion (REISSUE 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - Disc 2

 



(Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

 

Subtitle Sample

 

NOTE: Not exact frame!

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)


 

Screen Captures

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

MISSING FROM CRITERION - for more see below

 

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE ORIGINAL CRITERION ?

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

(Criterion - REISSUE 2-disc - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

ADDED From Per-Olof Strandberg:

 

The original Criterion disc is cut by approx. 6-8 minutes (pal speed-up) and also cropped by 17% of the original frame (Gary's comment). The shortening is also made very rough handed! Who on earth want this DVD!
I know that this film has had several versions, but still....
The original Criterion DVD misses the following scenes (nine):

1)  On the original Criterion disc at time 6:48. AIRPORT. The reporters are following "the short" man. The cut is a continuity cut. They have cut from the one scene with "the short man" directly to the next, so that we are following a straight story. The original cut drops the man, and at short after a "false" Hulot appear in the picture. Because the film has only static , with actually no leading characters in it,  this cut destroys the feeling of many persons doing something at the same time. Also Tati has implant several false Huolot's in the film, and this takes away one!

MISSING FROM ORIGINAL CRITERION APPROX. 10 SECONDS. See below;

Criterion original - Left - BFI - Right

 

2)  On the original Criterion Disc at 17:33. OFFICE. A rough cut, where Hulot is waiting for the director. The original Hulot appearance to a empty picture, first his shadow and the himself playing with his pipe. In the Criterion disc this is cut with no rhythm, suddenly from the middle. 

(see picture below left).

MISSING 10 SECONDS


 

3) On the original Criterion disc at time 17:38. OFFICE. Direct after the last cut, there is shortened the scene. In the longer version Hulot walks to the chair, test, and estimate it before he sits. The original Criterion version is cut, when he already sits, and for speeding the rhythm, the directors comes in at the same time (see middle picture).

MISSING 10 SECONDS


 

4) On the original Criterion disc at 19:16. OFFICE. When waiting for the director, Hulot walks around in the office. Before he comes to the window where there are busses, we se a refection off him in the window. The Criterion version has cut this away.

(see picture below right)

MISSING 8 SECONDS

 

 

5)  On the original Criterion disc at 22.47. OFFICE.  Hulot search for the director. This scene has been shortened in the Criterion version, and it's the only place that you can find a different cut in these versions. The Criterion has a short scene were Hulot is running that misses from the longer version. (see large captures above HERE)

MISSING FROM THE ORIGINAL CRITERION VERSION APPROX. 94 SECONDS

 

6)  On the original Criterion disc at 24:12. EXHIBITION. Here's a very forced jump-cut. The Criterion version have taken away 19 seconds from the middle of a scene. You see in the examples, that in the Criterion cut the man has an black jacket, and suddenly he is changed with a man that has a brown jacket. The examples from the Criterion disc are the two following frames. (see pictures below right)

MISSING 19 SECONDS

 

 

7)  On the original Criterion disc at 24:16. EXHIBITION. Directly after the last cut, there are missing a scene where a man demonstrate a chair for Hulot. ( see left picture below)

MISSING 34 SECONDS


 

8)  On the original Criterion disc at 25:42. TRAVEL AGENCY / STREET.  There's a scene where a group of women walks out from the buss. One woman stops at a poster. In the originalCriterion version the scene starts in the middle, and the first 12 seconds are missing. (see right picture below)

MISSING 12 SECONDS

 

 

9)  There are longer end music in the Future film version.

 

Because all the cuts are in the first 26 minutes, they seems very forced, and quickly made.

 

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DVD Box Covers

Distribution Criterion Collection (REISSUE- 2-disc0 Spine # 112
Region 1 - NTSC

Criterion Collection Spine # 112
Region 0 - NTSC

BFI Video Publishing
Region 2 - PAL

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Criterion (REISSUE)

Sound:

-
Extras: Criterion (REISSUE)
Menu: Criterion (REISSUE)




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1775 Rowntree Court

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L4W 4V3    CANADA

Many Thanks...Playtime DVD Review Jacques Tati Playtime DVD Review Jacques Tati Playtime DVD Review