Children of Paradise [Region 2]
starring: Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir, María Casares
directed by: Marcel Carné
directed by: Marcel Carné
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A tragic French epic considered a classic romantic film, Children of Paradise takes as its setting a theater troupe in Paris during the 19th century, but was actually filmed during the last years of World War II. In the troupe, a mime (Jean-Louis Barrault) falls in love with an actress in the company, but must vie for her affections with others, including a thief, an actor, and an influential count. When the actress is accused of theft, the mime exonerates her with a bravura performance for the prefect.Eventually, though, the actress must flee Paris under protection of the count after being mixed up in a crime with the thief, leaving the smitten mime heartbroken. In the intervening years, both become involved with others, the actress with the count and the mime with the daughter of the theater owner, eventually having a child. Both couples are unhappy, and although the mime rises above the poverty-stricken neighborhood where he has honed his trade and becomes wildly successful, he still pines away for the love of his life. Eventually the two lovers are meant to meet again, but their storybook ending may yet elude them. The film boasts a picaresque squalor drawn from the time in which it was set, highlighting the tenacious romance at its core. Children of Paradise has a melancholy feeling both authentic and immediate, a romance with moments of pure magic. --Robert Lane
A tragic French epic considered a classic romantic film, Children of Paradise takes as its setting a theater troupe in Paris during the 19th century, but was actually filmed during the last years of World War II. In the troupe, a mime (Jean-Louis Barrault) falls in love with an actress in the company, but must vie for her affections with others, including a thief, an actor, and an influential count. When the actress is accused of theft, the mime exonerates her with a bravura performance for the prefect.Eventually, though, the actress must flee Paris under protection of the count after being mixed up in a crime with the thief, leaving the smitten mime heartbroken. In the intervening years, both become involved with others, the actress with the count and the mime with the daughter of the theater owner, eventually having a child. Both couples are unhappy, and although the mime rises above the poverty-stricken neighborhood where he has honed his trade and becomes wildly successful, he still pines away for the love of his life. Eventually the two lovers are meant to meet again, but their storybook ending may yet elude them. The film boasts a picaresque squalor drawn from the time in which it was set, highlighting the tenacious romance at its core. Children of Paradise has a melancholy feeling both authentic and immediate, a romance with moments of pure magic. --Robert Lane
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A masterpiece!
Not only is this film a mastepiece of French classical movie making, especially during the hard times of the German occupation, but also the remastered edition is absolutely well done, much better than the old editions I saw in the cinema in France.They have really enhanced image and sound to levels never observed before.
Rating: - One of my favorite films!
This movie is a gigantic, successful production on the order of "Gone with the Wind" --- but completely, totally different.There's no Clark Gable, and no Vivien Leigh.But there is a story here, which in the end strikes me as much more compelling, much more revealing of the nature of human love.
The entrancing story of "The Children of Paradise" is filmed in the theaters --- and, especially "Crime Boulevard" in front of the theaters. The main female character is Garance (Arletty), ... Read More
Rating: 
- Most overrated film in history?
I'm sorry, but this film has little to recommend: it's way too long, terribly over-acted, has French mimes, and one especially can't care at all for the fate of the self-centered characters. I kept hoping someone would simply murder all the main characters in a fit of bored rage! and bad mimes bring out the homicidal rage in nearly all Americans, with good reason.
It's gets a star for the crowd scenes, very well faked, not staged looking like the comparable Gone with the Wind (also a ... Read More
Rating: - The Children of Paradise
This truly is a wonderful film. Beautiful filming and amazing performances. It is a particular must see for anyone interested in mime, Jean-Louis Barrault is an absolute genius.
Rating: - Rife with Style and Substance...
I can't say much that hasn't already been said. It's considered among the great films of all time, and this Criterion DVD is quite fine. My problem is that most of the disc 2 extras were written; it's universal acclaim could certainly used one of our many great film historians to tell us a bit more about the making of this sublime film. Director Marcel Carné worked under horrible circumstances, filming as the Germans were invading Paris. The turn of the century period flavor is beautifully captured, ... Read More
- A masterpiece!Not only is this film a mastepiece of French classical movie making, especially during the hard times of the German occupation, but also the remastered edition is absolutely well done, much better than the old editions I saw in the cinema in France.They have really enhanced image and sound to levels never observed before.
- One of my favorite films!This movie is a gigantic, successful production on the order of "Gone with the Wind" --- but completely, totally different.There's no Clark Gable, and no Vivien Leigh.But there is a story here, which in the end strikes me as much more compelling, much more revealing of the nature of human love.
The entrancing story of "The Children of Paradise" is filmed in the theaters --- and, especially "Crime Boulevard" in front of the theaters. The main female character is Garance (Arletty), ... Read More
- Most overrated film in history?I'm sorry, but this film has little to recommend: it's way too long, terribly over-acted, has French mimes, and one especially can't care at all for the fate of the self-centered characters. I kept hoping someone would simply murder all the main characters in a fit of bored rage! and bad mimes bring out the homicidal rage in nearly all Americans, with good reason.
It's gets a star for the crowd scenes, very well faked, not staged looking like the comparable Gone with the Wind (also a ... Read More
- The Children of ParadiseThis truly is a wonderful film. Beautiful filming and amazing performances. It is a particular must see for anyone interested in mime, Jean-Louis Barrault is an absolute genius.
- Rife with Style and Substance...I can't say much that hasn't already been said. It's considered among the great films of all time, and this Criterion DVD is quite fine. My problem is that most of the disc 2 extras were written; it's universal acclaim could certainly used one of our many great film historians to tell us a bit more about the making of this sublime film. Director Marcel Carné worked under horrible circumstances, filming as the Germans were invading Paris. The turn of the century period flavor is beautifully captured, ... Read More
