Playtime (1967)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  155 Minutes (Restored Version : 124 Minutes) 

Rated: U   

Genre: Comedy

Director: Jacques Tati

Starring:  Jacques Tati, Barbara Dennek, Rita Maiden, France Rumilly, France Delahalle, Valérie Camille

IMDB Rank: 7.8/10

Part 1 Time:  N/A Minutes (Restored Version :  61 Minutes) 

Part 2 Time:  N/A Minutes (Restored Version :  63 Minutes) 

Where does the first part end? A group of American tourists load onto a bus ready to explore and experience France’s nightlife.

Final line of dialogue on the first part:  “Attention, please A to L will go to Montmartre…and M to Z will go to Montparnasse,” the guide (Jack Gauthier) speaks to the American tourists.

First line of dialogue on the second part:  While looking at a group of workers moving a glass panel Mr. Giffard (Georges Montant) speaks to Monsieur Hulot, “Pardon me, but aren’t you Mr. Hulot?”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal as the scene transitions between chapters makes the break between parts one and two quite awkward as band music plays through the scene change. This split in the film separates the events of the day from the nightlife excursions.

Which part is better? The film utilizes visual comedy using creative sound effects, minimal character dialogue, and wide screen long diagonal camera angles. Each scene has multiple gags and can sometimes be missed in the first viewing. Part two, is somewhat better due to the controlled madness of the restaurant scene which depicts one of the finest examples of a ‘mise en scène’ used in cinema.

Academy Awards:  None