Has Anybody Seen...?

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

LES CARNETS DU MAJOR THOMPSON (1955-57). Aside from showings at London's NFT for a Sturges / Buchanan season, this film seems to be very elusive. In addition there are at least two different language versions as well as different edits. I only just found out that the film was popular in France, this against the almost unanimous scorn it seems to attract from those who were disappointed either in Sturges or the differences from the book.

[Jonathan]

I haven't seen the French version but a few years ago I did watch the shorter English-language edition of about 80 minutes. It was a mediocre video transfer of a 16mm print but, even allowing for that, the film was worse than I feared! Despite finding plenty fun in DIDDLEBOCK and BASHFUL BEND, I think the only moment I laughed in this one was right at the end (perhaps mainly from relief).

If a restoration of the French version appeared, I'd give it another go. But one of the film's problems is Martine Carol, whose hollow presence was arguably effective in LOLA MONTES (Ophuls reportedly told Peter Ustinov, "the worse she is, the better it is for us") but sadly the same does not apply to this Sturges comedy.

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

Oh, dear! However, it was the French version which did well, so maybe we've been undersold. Not seen Noel-Noel in anything yet, as hard to find subtitled works, and keying his name in brings up the wrong stuff!