Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, Les (1953)

Director:

Jacques Tati

Writers:

Henri Marquet (dialogue)
Henri Marquet (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 June 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's laugh-vacation time as Jacques Tati romps through the most gloriously mad lark ever to tickle the ribs of young and old alike!

Plot:

Monsieur Hulot comes to a beachside hotel for a vacation, where he accidentally (but good-naturedly) causes havoc.

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star | Brittany | Very Little Dialogue | Beach | Classic Car

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jacques Tati	...	Monsieur Hulot
Nathalie Pascaud	...	Martine
Micheline Rolla	...	The Aunt (as Michèle Rolla)
Valentine Camax	...	Englishwoman
Louis Perrault	...	Fred
André Dubois	...	Commandant
Lucien Frégis	...	Hotel Proprietor (as Lucien Fregis)
Raymond Carl	...	Waiter
René Lacourt	...	Strolling Man
Marguerite Gérard	...	Strolling Woman

Also Known As:

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (UK)
Mr. Hulot's Holiday (USA)
Férias do Sr. Hulot, As (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Dårfinkspensionatet (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Ferien des Monsieur Hulot, Die (West Germany) [de]
Festlige feriedage (Denmark) [da]
Hr. Hulots Ferie (Denmark) (DVD box title) [da]
Hulot úr nyaral (Hungary) [hu]
Riemuloma Rivieralla (Finland) [fi]
Semestersabotören (Sweden) [sv]
Vacaciones del señor Hulot, Las (Spain) [es]
Vacanze di Monsieur Hulot, Le (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

114 min | Finland:100 min (1955) | Singapore:96 min | Sweden:95 min | USA:85 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Hotel de la Plage - 37 rue Commandant Charcot, Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, Loire-Atlantique, France

Company:

Cady Films

Trivia:

In English version, Christopher Lee dubbed the entire film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#1.1)" (1988)

Gentle, funny comedy of errors

Mr Hulot goes to the seaside and madness ensues.

This is a funny funny film. Whether you see it in English or French makes no difference since the entire story is told visually, so much so that the dialog, what little there is, is not needed.

The laughs, when the come, are the sort to double you over with pain and tears in your eyes. Its wonderfully funny.

The problem that some people will have with the film is its pacing and plot. Actually there is no plot, its simply a collection of events while Hulot stays at the seaside resort. The pacing is leisurely with laughs coming after scenes of quiet beauty, and slice of life moments that seem to lead nowhere. Its like a week at the beach and moves at its own pace.

Despite what some may consider flaws THE FILM WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH. Which is all that matters. And even if you're someone like me who likes, but doesn't really love the film, you'll find yourself wanting to see this again simply to see what you missed and to marvel at the artistry (How did they do the floating paint can?)

7 out of 10.