Waltz of the Toreadors

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Based on the bittersweet stage comedy by Jean Anouilh, Waltz of the Toreadors is graced by the superb performance of Peter Sellers as a celebrated British Army general whose retirement, just prior to the outbreak of World War I, leads to a midlife crisis that's both comedically rich and dramatically compelling. Faced with the horrifying prospect of retirement with his wealthy, shrewish, hypochondriac wife (Margaret Leighton), he finds himself lost in the fond memory of his platonic affair, 17 years earlier, with the beautiful French girl Ghislaine (Dany Robin), whom he has never forgotten. When Ghislane surprisingly reappears with a desire to consummate their past relationship, the general must postpone their rendezvous and suddenly finds himself competing with his young aide, who has managed to steal Ghislaine's heart during the general's brief absence.

This tale of a bruised male ego, the vanishing of youth, and the delightful persistence of amorous impulse allows Sellers to pursue a brilliant combination of light comedy and emotional depth. The actor's appearance in a chubby bodysuit and aging makeup completes the picture to flawless effect, but as played by Sellers, this frisky hero is far from past his prime. Shifting gracefully from fuming frustration to mischievous romance, Sellers (with an assist from director John Guillermin) succeeds in giving the film the crucial balance of humor and sadness that Anouilh intended. A pure delight right up to its hopefully upbeat ending, Waltz of the Toreadors is the kind of literate, clever, revealing look at human behavior that never goes out of style. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The immortal Peter Sellers is hilarious as a pompous retired general who still has a taste for the ladies in French playwright Jean Anouilh's philosophical farce. A lusty comedy of manners, "Waltz of the Toreadors" tempers its treatment of an old rake's delusions with generous dollops of wit and compassion.

Customer Reviews:

Sufficient wit at the expense of imagination........2005-02-23

Based quite loosely upon a play of the same name by Jean Anouilh, this film has been designed not merely as a showcase for the oversize comedic talent of Peter Sellers, but also, due to excessive producer interference, as a sex farce where character predominates over language, after the manner of a well-wrought and linear work of theatre. A droll script by Wolf Mankowitz transposes the action from post World War II France to early 20th century Sussex, arranging the characters in the story-propelled manner of the playwright, whose intensive exploration of the spirit becomes increasingly prominent as the work runs its course, greatly assisted by sensitive performances from Sellers, as the libidinous General Leo Fitzjohn, and by Margaret Leighton as Emily, his suffering wife. The plot spirals about the freshly retired General Fitzjohn and his longwhile Gallic inamorata, Ghislaine (Dany Robin) who have, as seen in a series of flashbacks, never been able to complete their love, but who are apparently finally going to be able to do so; that is, if a series of latter-day obstacles might be overcome. The picture is directed smoothly by John Guillermin, and there are excellent performances from Cyril Cusack as Dr. Grogan, the General's best friend, and John Fraser as a naive subaltern assigned to Fitzjohn, while a magnificent score is contributed by Richard Addinsell, one of his best for the screen, notable for its unreserved use of a minor key to accompany romantic and comic events. Unlike his Absurdist contemporaries, Anouilh never abandoned a sense of existential despair throughout his dramas, and this production succeeds in creating tension between Fitzjohn's sense of loss of place and his ability to forge forward after his natural urges, as evidenced by the delicious ending.

One of the best movies ever made.......2001-07-14

In my humble opinion this is one of the best movies ever made.

Of course it is a funny movie - Peter Sellers is a genius, but this picture is art, and literature as well. The story, the casting, all excellent.

Waltz of the Toreadors is a brilliant metaphor for this story - man without God, stuck in a dizzying dance of his own passions and fears. Life can be wonderful, and yet troubling and depressing. This movie explores the great question - what is the meaning of life? Is it "the urge - because life without the urge is unthinkable." Can the soul be satisfied? This is a serious movie, yet wholly entertaining and funny. The theme is for adults, although the movie is clean with regard to language.

I recommend this movie to you.

A very satisfying film.......2000-09-03

A very enjoyable film. It's both a comedy and a drama. Peter Sellers gives a wonderful performance which binds the film together. It was adapted from a play by Jean Anouilh (remember Becket?), and it's a very enjoyable film. But I have a single caveat - there are some early parts of the film where you may be disappointed by the dramatic nature of the plot, but if you just keep watching, you'll find a film that's both funny and moving - and there aren't many of those! I think the ending must be the most touching of any of Sellers' films.

Waltz of the Toreadors [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]

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Waltz of the Toreadors [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]
Director: John Guillermin
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Interactive Menu

ASIN: B000CR3H1K

Product Description

Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: English Dolby Digital 2.0 German Dolby Digital 2.0 Synopsis: Fitzjohn (Peter Sellers) is a retired general who is miserable at home with his shrewish wife Emily (Margaret Leighton). He dreams of younger days when he enjoyed the platonic company of the beautiful Ghislaine (Dany Robin). After many years, she shows up at his door and expresses her desire to take their relationship beyond the platonic level. When his plans are temporarily postponed, he leaves her in care of his right hand man. His aid and Ghislaine fall in love, prompting Fitzjohn to begin court-martial proceedings against his unfaithful aide. When the lineage of his aide is discovered, he tries to halt the trial in this ironic comedy taken from the play by Jean Anouilh. Extras: Interactive Menu

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Waltz of the Toreadors [Import]
Director: John Guillermin
Manufacturer: LW Editora Ltd., Brasil
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

NTSC Region 0 (all regions)
Brazilian import
Booklet and liner notes in Portuguese
Audio in English
Letterbox

ASIN: B000PR1ORQ

Product Description

Plot Synopsis: This is the end of a glorious military career: General Leo Fitzjohn retires to his Sussex manor where he will write his memoirs. Unfortunately, his private life is a disaster: a confirmed womanizer, Leo has infuriated his wife Emily, now a shrewish and hypochondriac woman, all the more bitter as she still loves him. The General has two plain-looking daughters he dislikes and an attractive French mistress, Ghislaine, with whom he has had a platonic affair for seventeen years. When Ghislaine resurfaces, determined to complete her love with him and to get rid of Emily, Leo is at a loss what to do...

Average customer rating:

Waltz of the Toreadors [Import]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Average customer rating:

Sufficient wit at the expense of imagination.
One of the best movies ever made
A very satisfying film

Waltz of the Toreadors [Region 2]
Starring: Peter Sellers , Dany Robin , Margaret Leighton , John Fraser , and Cyril Cusack
Director: John Guillermin
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00006L9UZ

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Customer Reviews:

Sufficient wit at the expense of imagination........2005-02-23

One of the best movies ever made.......2001-07-14

In my humble opinion this is one of the best movies ever made.

Of course it is a funny movie - Peter Sellers is a genius, but this picture is art, and literature as well. The story, the casting, all excellent.

I recommend this movie to you.

A very satisfying film.......2000-09-03

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