Vintage French Fare Includes a Poetic, Pristine ‘Paradise’

“Children of Paradise” (“Les Enfants du Paradis”), one of the greatest French films ever made, has finally arrived on DVD in a suitably beautiful, two-disc set from Criterion ($40).

Directed by Marcel Carne and written by his frequent screen collaborator, the poet Jacques Prevert, “Children of Paradise” is a poetic, haunting and oh-so-romantic epic drama set in Paris of the 1820s and ‘30s. Arletty plays the beautiful and worldly Garance, who is loved by four vastly different men: the sensitive mime Baptiste (the memorable Jean-Louis Barrault), the self-confident actor Frederick LeMaitre (Pierre Brasseur), the vile Lacenaire (Marcel Herrand) and the rich, powerful and possessive Edouard (Louis Salpou).

Watching this collector’s edition of “Children” is a cineaste’s paradise, thanks to a beautiful digital transfer and restored sound. The film went through a major restoration in 1991 for the laser disc; then for the DVD, Criterion made an additional 30,000 digital corrections to remove dirt and other flaws. Though in some instances “Children” shows the ravages of time, this version is likely the most pristine available since the film’s release in 1945 (1947 in the U.S.).

Disc 1 includes an astute introduction by director Terry Gilliam, who describes the film as a perfect melding of poetry and big-budget filmmaking. Film scholar Brian Stonehill provides the commentary for the first part of the film, titled “The Boulevard of Crime,” discussing details of the production. “Children of Paradise” was the most expensive French production of its time; its $1-million budget is particularly remarkable given that it was made during the German occupation. The film’s composer, Joseph Kosma, and production designer, Alexandre Trauner, both Jewish, had to do their work in hiding. The disc also shows a demonstration of the restoration.

Disc 2 includes the second part of the film; “The Man in White,” Prevert’s original film treatment; Trauner’s production designs; a production stills gallery; the original U.S. theatrical trailer; and informative commentary by film scholar Charles Affron.

Kino on Video also is in a French state of mind, offering on video ($25 each) four splendid films from the great French director Jean Renoir, including “La Chienne” from 1931. Renoir’s first sound film, it’s a remarkably adept, dark, ironic comedy starring the legendary Michel Simon as a henpecked cashier and aspiring painter who sets up a beautiful but selfish young woman (Janie Mareze) as his mistress after he rescues her from a beating by her pimp (Georges Flammand). Fritz Lang remade the film in America 14 years later as “Scarlet Street.” The video also features Renoir’s 1936 short film “A Day in the Country,” based on the 19th century story by Guy de Maupassant.

The Renoir collection also includes the brilliant 1935 “The Crime of Monsieur Lange,” penned by Prevert, and Renoir’s last film, 1969’s “The Little Theater of Jean Renoir.”

For fans of more contemporary French film, Anchor Bay has released the digital editions ($20 each) of two acclaimed comedies from director Bertrand Blier starring Gerard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere: “Going Places” and the Oscar-winning “Get Out Your Handkerchiefs.”

In the 1978 “Handkerchiefs,” Depardieu plays the well-meaning spouse of a depressed woman (Carole Laure) who can’t get pregnant. Determined to make her happy, Depardieu talks a man (Dewaere) he meets at a restaurant into being her lover. But the only man who lifts her spirits and gets her pregnant ends up being a 13-year-old boy.

In “Going Places,” from 1974, the two play drifters who roam France committing crimes and having sex. The film is far from politically correct, but Depardieu and Dewaere are perfect together.

The films are featured in wide screen and include the trailer. However, the subtitle tracks on both discs are a bear to negotiate.

Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi and Brad Renfro star in the insightful teen comedy-drama “Ghost World,” based on the comic book by Daniel Clowes. Birch and Johansson play two high school friends--social misfits--who drift apart after graduation. Buscemi plays a music-obsessed middle-aged man who is befriended by Birch’s Enid.

The DVD (MGM, $27) includes a wide-screen version of the film, deleted and alternate scenes, the trailer and a passable “making-of” featurette, but would have been improved by commentary from director Terry Zwigoff.

Deadheads will groove to the 2001 documentary “Grateful Dawg,” which arrived this week on DVD (Columbia TriStar, $25). Directed by Gillian Grisman, the film chronicles Grateful Dead guru Jerry Garcia’s friendship and partnership with mandolinist David Grisman (the director’s father). They called their music--a fusion of jazz and bluegrass--Grateful Dawg. The documentary, made of Gillian Grisman’s home movies, includes several of their live performances, rehearsals and interviews.

The DVD features production notes, trailers, bonus performances including “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” the unreleased music video of “The Thrill Is Gone” and nifty commentary by both David Grisman and his director daughter.

Seven years after she made her Osar-winning film debut as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl,” Barbra Streisand reprised the role in the disappointing sequel, “Funny Lady.” Directed by Herbert Ross, “Funny Lady” chronicles Brice’s tumultuous marriage to composer Billy Rose (James Caan). The DVD (Columbia TriStar, $25) features a lovely wide-screen transfer of the film and song highlights.

Catherine Zeta-Jones came to fame on British TV 11 years ago in the popular series “The Darling Buds of May,” based on the stories by H.E. Bates. Zeta-Jones played Mariette, the oldest daughter of the devil-may-care Larkin clan, who is married to the sweet but stuffy Charlie (Philip Franks). BFS is releasing several episodes of the light, enjoyable series on DVD ($20 each).