Cul-De-Sac

What are the chances two misfit thieves would happen across Rob Roy's 11th century castle (drafty in winter) and upset a happy couples life with blundering crudeness. That interloper was so annoying! To me! Not to mention the people he was torturing. His voice! And he would not stop.Roman Polanski is so good. I could not figure out how the private play was going to be a movie, I was beginning to feel a bit let down by Polanski as I've seen some of, and and very much admired, his work. Then things started to get weird. I never saw where this was going next.This is a movie all about the characters. Polanski's art is so focused on the individuals and their interactions, this becomes the only world you know while watching the film. (You put the kids to bed, shut off the phone, got something to drink are sitting in a comfortable chair and have the ability to keep your ass in one place for 90 minutes). You do that and you will experience something very new and very different.Every Polanski film I've ever seen does that in one way or another. He is a very unique director and he has made a very good film here with CUL-DE-SAC.

I've waited to see "Cul-de-sac" for many years, but it's been unreleased in the U.S., for whatever reason. Now along comes this region 1 & 4 release, & so I ordered it and I wasn't disappointed. The DVD itself is very nice, no frills but just turn off the Spanish subtitles (or don't) and it's a very nice transfer. The film itself is rather strange, sort of a comedy/thriller, with Donald Pleasance and his wife as hostages of criminal Lionel Stander, who is waiting for rescue from whatever debacle he's gotten himself into, and instead being treated to this couple's obnoxious vistors and their own uh, quirky kinks. Pleasance is a real wimp but eventually realizes that they can get the upper hand on this crook, etc... Worth seeing if you're a Polanski fan, as for others, well, I don't know that there'd be a lot of interest. I would need to watch this at least a couple more times, because it didn't quite grab me like some of Polanski's earlier work (Knife in the Water, Repulsion), but it does have a certain something to it that made it worth seeing. 4 out of 5 stars.

I've been watching movies I would not normally choose because of the self quarantine. My taste in movies , to my surprise have greatly changed. So this comes up and I see the late Francoise Dorleac is in the lead. I found it hard to watch her so young (24) so full of life and beauty then to think in only a years time she'd be dead at 25. How tragic. But in the movie I did not like her character at all. She was quite unpleasant. Cheap, flirty, arrogant and mean. A very unlikable character. Most are in this movie - highly unlikable. But the movie was good. I enjoyed it enough not to quit or fall asleep 20 minutes in. That's saying a lot.

Polanski:The Good Films:Cul-de-sacBitter MoonChinatownFranticFearless Vampire KillersThe Bad Films:Knife in the WaterRepulsionRosemarie's Baby (except for M F's behind)The TenantThe In-Between Films:TessDeath and the MaidenThe Ninth GateThe PianistOliver TwistThe Ghost WriterWhat?MacbethThe One You Did not See:PiratesWhy is that so? Why isn't, for instance, Rosemarie's Baby a good film? Well, if it was as little seen as his "pirates" and as little talked about, I might give it a more positive review but with all the hype around it compared to how little it delivers, it must be considered bad unless you manage to sell it as an allegory on how all of them that make it in society are a brotherhood of satanists since that is what you become if you strive for power. But, can you really sell that film as such and is it not just a white-trash film?Enough of that and back to Cul-de-Sac and I just burst out: What casting! What wonderful choice of filming-site! What delicious existentialism! What wonderful Francoise Dorleac!

Humorous, tragic and absurd. The best performance is given by the actor playing Richard, the wounded criminal. Francoise Dorleac as Teresa is intriguing because you can never tell what she'll do next. It reminded me a little bit of the Bunuel movie "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie". This one came first and has a darker feel to it because of the undercurrents of betrayal. Scenes stick with me and provide something to think about the day after viewing it.

1966's Roman Polanski film, "Cul de sac" just got recognized by Criterion and the result is as well as expected. Donald Pleasence, Lionel Stander and Francoise Dorleac star in a film of unstable people. The film was made at just the right time in Polanski's career when it had been on the shelf and after "Repulsion" (1965) Polanski was able to pull it together. Written by Polanski and long-time collaborator Gerard Brach who worked with Dario Argento on his "Phantom of the Opera", one can not help but admire the creative talent at work, much better than "Repulsion"'s limited means, more perplexing than entertaining, but quite a good film nonetheless. Criterion did a good job as usual. I hope no one forgets the creativity that went into early Polanski films as they admire his later work. Though Polanski's world is a dark world and "Cul de sac" is no exception.

dead end on some cut off island in northern England_a totally funny crazy trip_Donald is funny and a bit out of place_Francoise Dorleac is just sexy great tres belle_plenty of eggs and plenty of vodka

I had never heard of this movie until I saw it at amazon, and it starred Donald Pleasence and Lionel Stander. What a magnificent story, part drama part comedy, uncomfortable sometimes, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this movie. Pleasence is not the strong figure I was used to seeing. Here he is a cuckhold with a young wife who holds him in contempt, and into this mix stumble a dim witted gangster. Tension, drama and hilarity ensues, along with a great castle and bleak coast, and the making of is as entertaining as the movie, revealing a lot about the movie making process and hilarious stories about Lionel Stander.

Bought this rather as a point of comparison with my recent experience of walking to Lindisfarne as the final stage of St Cuthbert's Way. In terms of Polanski's development this is a fairly early work but the edge is very much there, humour quickly switching into violence. Pleasance gives a tour-de-force unhinged performance. Distortion and misapprehension are the names of the game, reflected in the foreshortening of the causeway's position vis-a-vis the castle. And a car gets caught in the tide! Brilliant.

One for Roman Polanski fans. 1966 quirky comedy about 2 gangsters on the run. Looking for shelter they find a castle with an odd couple who they take as hostages. Filmed entirely in black and white, which keeps the film atmospheric, as the director wanted it to be. Donald Pleasence, stars along with Lionel Stander, Jack MacGowran and Francoise Dorleac

This is one of those great "Art" films - a term I don't like much, but which has to be applied here. It's about time this got a good DVD release and ODEON have done us proud. Beautiful B/W 1.78.1 photography, Crystal clear picture. The sound leaves just a little bit to be desired, but that is mainly due to Plesence's tendency to mumble hysterically (which of course is his character),and Dorleac's occasional impenetrable accent, neither of which spoiled a moment of this film's pleasures. What performences Pleasence and Stander give! Both probably deliver the best performences of their careers, and I just marvelled at them both. Dorleac is so just right as the (odd) young trophy wife, and adds her madness to the plot, as well as her rather perfect nude body. It doesn't seem a moment too long at 107' and made me want to watch "REPULSION" again. Highly recomended to everyone who likes slightly different, non mainstream cinema (I hope those words don't limit an audience to film buffs only). Oh, Jack MacGowran is pretty good too!!. There are extras too, but I haven't watched them.

I won't try to improve on Film Buff's review but will tell you how good the Criterion release is. The remastering has brought out more detail and coupled with deep blacks this is the best i've ever seen it, noise, scratches etc. have been removed so that it looks lovely even though the film itself is disturbing. It's 1.66:1 with English LPCM 1.0 and extras are :-Two gangsters and an island - a video about the problems making the film with Director, producers and cinematographer. 24 mins.The Nomad - an interview with Polanski. 28 mins.Two trailers - 6 mins.Last but not least an informative 16 page booklet about the film by David Thompson.I love this film and miss Françoise Dorleac who died far too young.

It has been 30 years since I first saw this film, yet it still rates as one of my all time favourites. Forget about special effects and daredevil stunts-you won't see either of those in Cul-De-Sac. It's a strange film which highlights the devastating effect that unexpected events can have on human relationships. At first glance it's a black comedy, but running throughout the film are dark menacing undercurrents which maintain the attention of the audience. All of the leading acters are good, but Donald Pleasance, as the bumbling, insecure host to his unwelcome guests is outstanding. In my opinion his best performance ever. Polanski's quirky direction has never been bettered, and the exterior photography is spectacular. Brilliant.