It’s Jean Paul Belmondo trying to get a bank full of gold in Northern Africa before the Germans in the WWII action-comedy The Vultures. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Films
The Vultures is the right kind of darkly comedic action war film. Part heist films, part gold lust dark comedy, and all Jean-Paul Belmondo. The star vehicle showcases the Belmondo at his later era best as a French Legionnaire in WW2 North Africa fighting Germans, a philandering Banker, the Banker’s wife, and his fellow Legionnaire for billions in gold.
One of this reviewer’s cinematic catnip is comedic-flavored war films. Kelly’s Heroes, M*A*S*H, Stalag 17, The Great Escape, and Three Kings are all nimble on their feet, comedic (and often darkly so – especially M*A*S*H) explorations of the ridiculousness of war. The Vultures’ setup is perfectly crazy as Belmondo’s brash Sargent Pierre Augagneur finds himself, along with other Legionnaires, with gold for the taking. Not even the Germans stand in their way of the fortune, but the stick-in-the-mud Adjudant Edouard Mahuzard (the perfectly cast Michel Constantin). Quickly, the problems pile up for Augagneur, and drastic problems call for drastic solutions when 10,000 KG of gold is on the line.
Make no mistake, the film does go dark rather quickly as Augagneur does just about anything for the gold, including teaming up with a German. This is where Belmondo’s supreme charm and superstar power come into play. Even during the most repugnant of double or triple crosses, the star’s character remains ever the hero (more anti-hero, of course) that you’re rooting to get away with the daring heist. The screenplay by Michel Audiard and Pierre Siniac is tailor-made for Belmondo, playing to the star’s greatest strengths.
Director Henri Verneuil keeps everything moving along with a brisk, lean style that juggles some of the trickier scenes (including a truly shocking moment with a tank) with a surprising deft touch. Many an action comedy can never find the right stylistic tone and is either skewed to the action or to the comedy. Verneuil, working with cinematographer Jacques Saulnier, finds the right stylish blend of action and comedy to make The Vultures really soar (pun very much intended).
The Transfers
The transfer, possibly an all-new (from the looks of it), is an excellently sourced transfer of the Jacques Saulnier shot film. There isn’t a scratch or blemish throughout the runtime of the film. The clean, sharp image’s colors and the Tunisian desert shot arid photography pop in this French WW2 action comedy. This is another winning French genre film from Kino Lorber.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Howard S. Berger
Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Howard S. Berger begins with their credentials before diving into the fact that this was the last collaboration between Belmondo and director Henri Verneuil. Some of the details include a discussion of the great poster art for the film; a discussion of European use of “dialogue by” credits, much like Michel Audiard, who specializes in just that; the issues that Audiard has with the film; the career and personal history of director Henri Verneuil, including his very successful Scillian Clan; a great Delon vs Belmondo and how they were very different stars and why Delon was so successful in the US; a larger discussion of the work and career of Jean Paul Belmondo – where he was in his career when this was made, and why he never made English language films (or crossed the Atlantic), the various directors he worked with, Belmondo’s love of Westerns and why he never did one, the later years, et. al.; how Belmondo’s career was similar to Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise, and how by examples this is illustrated; the stunt work in the film and done by Belmondo both here and throughout his career; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a discussion throughout about the various locations that the production used; a discussion of the real life French Foreign Legion and WW2 in Northern Africa; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for The Vultures (2:49); The Hunter Will Get You (2:28); Le Professionnel (2:12); The Outsider (2:43); Half a Chance (2:17); Mille Milliards De Dollars (2:35);
The Final Thought
The Vultures is another winner for Kino Lorber, who continues to release wonderful editions of French genre films. Highest Possible Recommendations!!
It’s Jean Paul Belmondo trying to get a bank full of gold in Northern Africa before the Germans in the WWII action-comedy The Vultures. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Films
The Vultures is the right kind of darkly comedic action war film. Part heist films, part gold lust dark comedy, and all Jean-Paul Belmondo. The star vehicle showcases the Belmondo at his later era best as a French Legionnaire in WW2 North Africa fighting Germans, a philandering Banker, the Banker’s wife, and his fellow Legionnaire for billions in gold.
One of this reviewer’s cinematic catnip is comedic-flavored war films. Kelly’s Heroes, M*A*S*H, Stalag 17, The Great Escape, and Three Kings are all nimble on their feet, comedic (and often darkly so – especially M*A*S*H) explorations of the ridiculousness of war. The Vultures’ setup is perfectly crazy as Belmondo’s brash Sargent Pierre Augagneur finds himself, along with other Legionnaires, with gold for the taking. Not even the Germans stand in their way of the fortune, but the stick-in-the-mud Adjudant Edouard Mahuzard (the perfectly cast Michel Constantin). Quickly, the problems pile up for Augagneur, and drastic problems call for drastic solutions when 10,000 KG of gold is on the line.
Make no mistake, the film does go dark rather quickly as Augagneur does just about anything for the gold, including teaming up with a German. This is where Belmondo’s supreme charm and superstar power come into play. Even during the most repugnant of double or triple crosses, the star’s character remains ever the hero (more anti-hero, of course) that you’re rooting to get away with the daring heist. The screenplay by Michel Audiard and Pierre Siniac is tailor-made for Belmondo, playing to the star’s greatest strengths.
Director Henri Verneuil keeps everything moving along with a brisk, lean style that juggles some of the trickier scenes (including a truly shocking moment with a tank) with a surprising deft touch. Many an action comedy can never find the right stylistic tone and is either skewed to the action or to the comedy. Verneuil, working with cinematographer Jacques Saulnier, finds the right stylish blend of action and comedy to make The Vultures really soar (pun very much intended).
The Transfers
The transfer, possibly an all-new (from the looks of it), is an excellently sourced transfer of the Jacques Saulnier shot film. There isn’t a scratch or blemish throughout the runtime of the film. The clean, sharp image’s colors and the Tunisian desert shot arid photography pop in this French WW2 action comedy. This is another winning French genre film from Kino Lorber.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Howard S. Berger begins with their credentials before diving into the fact that this was the last collaboration between Belmondo and director Henri Verneuil. Some of the details include a discussion of the great poster art for the film; a discussion of European use of “dialogue by” credits, much like Michel Audiard, who specializes in just that; the issues that Audiard has with the film; the career and personal history of director Henri Verneuil, including his very successful Scillian Clan; a great Delon vs Belmondo and how they were very different stars and why Delon was so successful in the US; a larger discussion of the work and career of Jean Paul Belmondo – where he was in his career when this was made, and why he never made English language films (or crossed the Atlantic), the various directors he worked with, Belmondo’s love of Westerns and why he never did one, the later years, et. al.; how Belmondo’s career was similar to Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise, and how by examples this is illustrated; the stunt work in the film and done by Belmondo both here and throughout his career; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a discussion throughout about the various locations that the production used; a discussion of the real life French Foreign Legion and WW2 in Northern Africa; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for The Vultures (2:49); The Hunter Will Get You (2:28); Le Professionnel (2:12); The Outsider (2:43); Half a Chance (2:17); Mille Milliards De Dollars (2:35);
The Final Thought
The Vultures is another winner for Kino Lorber, who continues to release wonderful editions of French genre films. Highest Possible Recommendations!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray Edition of The Vultures is out now.
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