Admired actor with an instinctive presence and austere looks
One of the greatest performances in the history of film was given by Claude Laydu, in the title role of Robert Bresson's Journal d'un Curé de Campagne (Diary of a Country Priest, 1951). As a young, sickly priest unable to resolve the problems of his small parish, and assailed by self-doubt, Laydu, who has died aged 84, brought his own spirituality, instinctive presence and intense ascetic looks to the role. His portrayal prompted Jean Tulard to write in his Dictionary of Film that "no other actor deserves to go to heaven as much as Laydu".
This is even more remarkable given that Bresson declared that "Art is transformation. Acting can only get in the way", and that he called his actors "models" whom he trained to remove all traces of theatricality and to speak in a monotonic manner. Bresson chose the 23-year-old from among many candidates,...
One of the greatest performances in the history of film was given by Claude Laydu, in the title role of Robert Bresson's Journal d'un Curé de Campagne (Diary of a Country Priest, 1951). As a young, sickly priest unable to resolve the problems of his small parish, and assailed by self-doubt, Laydu, who has died aged 84, brought his own spirituality, instinctive presence and intense ascetic looks to the role. His portrayal prompted Jean Tulard to write in his Dictionary of Film that "no other actor deserves to go to heaven as much as Laydu".
This is even more remarkable given that Bresson declared that "Art is transformation. Acting can only get in the way", and that he called his actors "models" whom he trained to remove all traces of theatricality and to speak in a monotonic manner. Bresson chose the 23-year-old from among many candidates,...
- 8/11/2011
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
There was that long stretch between 1987's Full Metal Jacket and 1999's Eyes Wide Shut where Stanley Kubrick was missing in action. The master filmmaker was passionate enough about a little Frenchman going by the name of Napoleon that he devoted years to a film project that never came to fruition. Taschen books who've already put out a couple of books honoring the legend, have put out the unthinkable: a limited edition collection of books (including the original screenplay) just in time for Xmas. - There was that long stretch between 1987's Full Metal Jacket and 1999's Eyes Wide Shut where Stanley Kubrick was missing in action. The master filmmaker was passionate enough about a little Frenchman going by the name of Napoleon that he devoted years to a film project that never came to fruition. Taschen books who've already put out a couple of books honoring the legend, have...
- 12/13/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Philip French takes delivery of a 22lb history of Napoleon, Kubrick's 'film that never was' and finds a fascinating exploration of historical film-making
A boxed book landed on my doorstep the other day, too big to go down a rubbish chute let alone through any conceivable letter box. The book's size (12x15x5in and weighing 22lb) made me think of the Rosetta Stone which is appropriate because its provenance is Napoleonic and it's in three languages (English, German, French). The outer, leather-bound volume is a facsimile of Raymond Guyot's gigantic Napoléon (Paris, 1921), but upon untying the leather cords, one discovers the inside has been carved out to contain the eight assorted volumes of Stanley Kubrick: The Film that Never Was, edited by the Paris-based American film scholar Alison Castle, designed by the French partnership M/M (Paris), and published by Taschen at a breathtaking £450. You feel the book...
A boxed book landed on my doorstep the other day, too big to go down a rubbish chute let alone through any conceivable letter box. The book's size (12x15x5in and weighing 22lb) made me think of the Rosetta Stone which is appropriate because its provenance is Napoleonic and it's in three languages (English, German, French). The outer, leather-bound volume is a facsimile of Raymond Guyot's gigantic Napoléon (Paris, 1921), but upon untying the leather cords, one discovers the inside has been carved out to contain the eight assorted volumes of Stanley Kubrick: The Film that Never Was, edited by the Paris-based American film scholar Alison Castle, designed by the French partnership M/M (Paris), and published by Taschen at a breathtaking £450. You feel the book...
- 12/13/2009
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
- My coffee table is already cluttered enough with Taschen and now, Jeffrey Wells had to point to something that Kubrick fans such as myself will want to splurge on. It's called Stanley Kubrick, the Napoleon Film and looks at the Kubrick's creative process in terms of how he went about researching his subject. Let's just say it was extensive. So damn you to Wells, to the Kubricks and to Taschen for this future pinch in my wallet. The book which will set you several criterion collection discs back is apparently only available here is the Amazon pre-order info. This book features the greatest film never made. It features Kubrick's unfilmed masterpiece. Tucked inside of a carved-out book, all the elements from Stanley Kubrick's archives that readers need to imagine what his unmade film about the emperor might have been like, including a fascimile of the script; a unique art object,
- 2/27/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
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