The love story of Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier des Grieux is a lyric tragedy of ... more
innocence corrupted in the pleasure-seeking world of Paris in the early 18th century. the several pas de deux are among the highlights of Manon, and in them Kenneth MacM...
The equally extraordinary highly successful and award-winning sequel to Jean De Florette ... more
based on the classic novel by Marcel Pagnol. The timeless story continues with the late Jean de Florette's daughter Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) now grown up into a beautiful and free-spirited young shepherdess on her father's Provence farm. But when she finally learns the tragic truth behind her father's death Manon plots her revenge on the dim-witted Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and the scheming Le Papet (Yves Montand). A visual feast containing masterly performances leading to a heart-stopping and totally unexpected conclusion Manon Des Sources - together with Jean De Florette - are universally acclaimed as the best French films of the past three decades.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
Production Year: 1992 - Music / Performing Arts - Director: Derek Bailey - Original Language: Italian - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Edita Gruberova, Giorgio Zancanaro, Neil Shicoff, Carlo Rizzi
Production Year: 1985 - Music / Performing Arts - Director: Peter Hall - Classification: Exempt - Starring: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, Barry McCauley, Marie McLaughlin, Maria Ewing
please the eyes more than the ears. It has much, though, to offer newcomers to the genre of opera, and to all fans of both Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazón. (For greater enjoyment, those familiar with them, however, are advised to banish thoughts of the enchanting vocal performances on record of Victoria de los Angeles and Henri Legay with Pierre Monteux conducting the Orchestre du Theatre National de L'Ópera-Comique.) Four stars.
=
DVD Notes:
Jules Massenet
(1842-1912)
MANON
Opéra-comique in 5 acts and 6 tableaux
Libretto: Henri Mailhac & Philippe Gille,
after Abbé Prévost's 'L'Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'
DTS Surround Sound
Language: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Catalan
Number of discs: 2
Virgin Classics (EMI)
DVD Release Date: 21 ...
Advantages: Even more emotional and an excellent continuation of the story Disadvantages: Darker than the first film
.
Personally though, I think this has more emotion, a better pace, and a twist that really puts the icing on the gateau, and perfectly finishes what is a truly wonderful story. The two films really are French cinema classics, and I'd thoroughly recommend them to viewers of any age, with or without any interest in foreign films.
The cheapest price you can buy this for online is £5.95, from www.dvd.co.uk. You can buy the two films together as a set for £11.97 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Directed by: Claude Berri
Starring:
Yves Montard ? César Soubeyran
Daniel Auteuil ? Ugolin
Emanuelle Béart ? Manon
Elisabeth Depardieu ? Manon's mother
Running time : 113 minutes
Classification : PG (although it does have some violence and nudity)
My Rating: 5 stars ...
Advantages: Another stunning film from Claude Berri Disadvantages: Subtitles - other than that none.
...I'm hoping you're picking this up from where my Jean de Florette review left off. If not then shame on you, you're doing exactly the same thing I did, which was to watch Manon des Sources before having seen Jean de Florette. Hehe :P
In my defence though this was because I was studying Manon des Sources for my French coursework and we simply didn't have time to watch Jean de Florette first. If you do do this, it's preferable to have a rough idea of what happened in the first film, though it won't hinder your understanding of the film terribly if you don't know what happened in the first one. You'll pick up the rough gist of what happened as you go along.
So going on the assumption that you haven't read my Jean de Florette review (and just to make sure you were paying attention if you have :P) - a brief history of how this film ...
Massenet's tragic tale of corrupted innocence, danced by Jennifer Penney and Anthony Powell as Manon and Des Grieux. Performed by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden; directed by Norman Morice. The Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House is conducted by Ashley Lawrence.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER MUSIC VISION; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
22/03/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
8573 84201 2
Barcode
0685738420124
Choreographer
Kenneth MacMillan
Director of Photography
Kenneth MacMillan
Languages
Main Language
English
Professional reviews
Review
"...With performances of this calibre... MANON remains an irresistible combination of immorality, opulence, suffering and tears." (Financial Times, )
DVD Description
Kenneth MacMillan's spectacular work for the Royal Ballet, "Manon" tells the tragic story of a young student who falls under the spell of a beautiful, but immoral woman. Performed in 1982 at London's Royal Opera House Convent Garden, Jennifer Penney dances beautifully in the title role to Jules Massenet's lyrical score.
Compare Manon (DVD) to other similar Musicals & Music Films »