Maigret [DVD] [2016]

I always thought Rowan Atkinson was a bit of a buffoon with Mr Bean and Johnny English but he's showing a different side of him. As Maigret he is sensational. What a wonderful piece of acting. Why he only made 4 episodes is a big shame. Buy both series 1 & 2. You won't be disappointed. 10/10.

I first encontered Maigret as a teenager watching all 52 Rupert Davies BBC films. These were also shown in the late sixties by ZDF in a German version, and despite a petition to release the English version to the BBC their stock, if it exists still, has not been released. However a German DVD production company has since 2015 managed to restore in five series packs 45 episodes, which I am now awaiting from Amazon in Germany.53 years later, a retired linguist in France, the German version is no problem. I have read all the Maigret stories in original French, and own the Jean Richard and Bruno Cremer French television versions, as well as the nineties UK Gambon version. Clearly as an enthusiast it is fascinating to see the differing acting styles and interpretations. Comparisons as has often been said are odious, and a number of other actors in a variety of countries have played the role. For me the test is whether in watching one becomes absorbed by the dénouement of the plot and if one feels that the actor convinces as a Maigret. I have seen seven actors playing Maigret all enjoyable performances in their own way. While I did not feel ITV s team made the right choise in dressing Richard Harris as a semi clochard driving himself in modern France in a Peugeot 405 pronouncing the marque as a pewjoe, which was ridiculous, his performance was nevertheless of the quality one would expect from him. Davies and Richard, along with Gino Cervi in the Italian version were able to be filmed in the Paris of the sixties and seventies, evidently more cars more streets and instantly recognisable locations. The Paris I knew then and the Paris I visit frequently now has inevitably changed, and the production costs of dismantling, and disrupting areas of modern Paris would be enormous. France 3 filmed the Cremer series in a variety of locations including Czechia and Belgium for this reason and ITV used Budapest for the 12 Gambon episodes, since there are locations there which correspond to post war Paris with lesser adjustment, together with limited distant shots and riverbank shots along the Seine in Paris. Period vehicles such as the Citroen Traction used by Maigret as in the Gambon series are used in the Atkinson episodes, two more in production at this time.Budapest lends itself and having worked in 1960 s Paris and elsewhere in Europe at the time for me provides a very acceptable alternative location visually. A transposition to modern Paris with detectives in jeans, trainers, wool bonnets and chasing around at speed in modern cars would not be Maigret, and French police no longer work in képis and lounge suits outside. I received my two episodes of the Atkinson series last week, free of the inevitable ITV advertising .Just as the casting of Jean Richard, a former circus performer before acting might have been surprising over here, so the same was so with David Jason as Frost, and the casting of Rowan Atkinson as an actor also known for comedy was interesting. Rupert Davies was able to be approved by Georges Simenon himself. His son John Simenon part of the poduction company making the new series saw a Maigret in Rowan Atkinson. France 3 purchased the Atkinson episodes in advance.I find Atkinsons performance excellent in the tradition of his predecessors. Avoiding ersatz French accents the voice Atkinson uses to me is one of English actors of the period such as Dirk Bogarde, Leo Genn with in the second episode a soupcon of Michael Kitchen as Foyle. An English version uses English voices just as the Italian version mentioned is very Italian, and the German production of Donna Leon s Venetian detective Brunetti is very German.When Atkinson faces the guilty in what has been dubbed as the chansonette here in France, he has a powerful intensity stripping the character of the criminal in an analysis, being psychologist, prosecutor and priest in confessional . This quietly dominating force is also present in Bruno Cremer s version. The photography , use of clair obscure, sets, period décor and minute detail of locations are luxurious. The interraction between Maigret- Rowan Atkinson and Lucy Cohu as Mme Maigret is more convincing than in any other version I have seen, except for Gino Cervi and Andreina Pagnani . I find the British Maigret series all score ahead in music, Ron Grainer of course in the iconic opening shots of the Davies series, and the theme of the Atkinson series, perhaps a little more use possible, is as strongly atmosheric as my own preference Il respiro di Parigi sung by Amanda, on You Tube, from the Cervi series.Not only has Rowan Atkinson given Britain a new Maigret but French television is buying it, no doubt in a dubbed version . Future episodes are awaited. CD, Languedoc France.

When my husband told me he had seen a Maigret on-line starring Rowan Atkinson, I didn't believe it. The laid-back, thoughtful Maigret played by Mr. Bean ?? I had to see it. I had read all the books in the sixties and had seen at least three actors in the role including Michael Gambon, whose series I own and can recommend. But I have to say that Rowan Atkinson is the best of the four in a role he seems born to play. In the feature he says that this is a character that is much like him and he certainly understands Maigret as Simenon envisioned him. I loved every minute of these two episodes and have watched them twice so far. The surrounding cast is excellent (especially the villains, Janvier and Maigret's wife), the scenery (even though some of it is Budapest) is beautiful in blu-ray and the suspense is captivating, even when you know the ending. Maigret sets a trap and Maigret's dead man were good choices for beginning episodes because the action in the plot is good contrast to Maigret's methodical mode of solving the case. I just hope that they are going to make more..... and more....

I was happy to get another adaptation of Georges Simenon's "Maigret." Several actors have played Maigret over the years, Charles Laughton being the first, and Michael Gambon being very popular. This new adaptation has Rowan Atkinson as Maigret. Rowan is much better known as Mr. Bean, and his talents at comedy are well known. I found his performances in both episodes released so far (with two more to come in 2017) to be just excellent. Critics weren't so enthused but perhaps they couldn't adjust to Atkinson playing a serious role. His dry, often blank expressions, and dogged pursuit of the murders, reminded me of Michael Kitchen who was so fabulous in "Foyle's War." I really am happy additional episodes will be forthcoming. They have enough material, with 76 novels and 28 short stories available to producers. The villain in "Maigret's Dead Man" was John Light, who plays Hercule Flambeau, another villain, in the "Father Brown" series. He was excellent, and the supporting cast in both episodes was just superb.

America has ColumboEngland has Sherlock HolmesBelgium has Witse and of course..Hercule PoirotSweden has WallanderNorway has Varg VeumGermany has DerrickHolland (The Netherlands) has Baantjer... ..and yes.....The GREATEST detective in France is JULES MAIGRET!It's great.The son of the mystery writer Georges Simenon has worked on this series.Maigret, to me, is the second most briliant detective, next to S.Holmes.Mister Atkinson dared to try to play this figure. He was scared to do it.But I think its brave and I respect him for it.Of course he looks way different than the character in the books but I don't mind. He's very charismatic. Great job!So buy it!By the way.The actor Bruno Cremer series about Maigret are better but besides that I hope this Atkinson series wil go on for many years to come.Also watch: Jericho with Robert Lindsay, Murder rooms with Ian Richardson, Jack the Ripper with Michael Caine.Maybe, after liking these Maigret stories, you will be interested.

Slight delay with delivery, (although dispatched promptly and vendor answered my queries very quickly and offered to send replacement) but once it had arrived it was superb. I so wish they would film new episodes!

Reçu ce film en bon état assez rapidement

Straoirdinaria l'interpretazione di Mr. Bean, alias Rowan Atkinson. DVD IMPERDIBILE.E BLUE-RAY IMPECCABILE. LO CONSIDERO UN OTTIMO ACQUISTO, apprezzato da tutta la famiglia

Zugegeben, die ersten paar Einstellungen, wenn man Rowan Atkinson als Kommissar Maigret sieht, muss man schmunzeln. Zu sehr haftet das Bild von seiner Paraderolle als Mr Bean im Gedächtnis. Schneidet er eine Grimasse? Kommt eine Tollpatschszene? Nein. Schon sehr bald reißt einen die Story mit, und man nimmt Atkinson das ernste Fach ab.Atkinson interpretiert den pfeifenrauchenden Pariser Kommissar als besonnenen, nachdenklichen Polizisten, dessen Stärke im Beobachten von menschlichen Verhaltensweisen wurzelt. Maigret studiert Mimik, Gestik und Psyche, ehe er Schlüsse zieht. Den positiven Gegenpol zur aufreibenden Arbeit findet er bei seiner klugen Frau.Bleibt immer noch die Frage: Kann das gutgehen, wenn Briten einen urfranzösischen Kriminalisten portraitieren? Wäre ja geradezu so, als würden die Franzosen Agatha Christie verfilmen. Keine Sorge, es geht gut. Das Flair, der Genius loci von Montmartre und Seine bleiben erhalten – wenngleich der Großteil der Szenen in Budapest gedreht wurde; einfach aus dem Grund, weil sich dort noch einige Lokalitäten befinden, die glaubwürdig ein Paris anno 1955 abbilden.Zu den beiden auf der DVD enthaltene Fällen: In „Die Falle“ hat es Maigret mit einem Serienfrauenmörder zu tun, der seine Opfer rund um den Montmarte nach Haarfarbe und Statur auswählt, ihnen auflauert und sie ersticht. Sigmund Freud hätte seine Freude mit diesem Fall.Bei „Ein toter Mann“ wird der Bogen weiter gespannt. Eine brutale Mordserie in Bauernhäusern in der Picardie steht im direkten Zusammenhang mit der Ermordung eines Bistroinhabers in Paris. Slowakische Saisonarbeiter, Hehlerei, ein Bahnticket u.vm. spielen eine wichtige Rolle.Beide Episoden haben eine atmosphärische Tiefe, eine spannende Handlung und überzeugende Akteure und Aktricen. „Maigret“ ist ein Fall von hoher Qualität.

Here is a new adaptation of Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret, the French police inspector who solves murders with a dogged determination reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. Several actors have played Maigret over the years, Charles Laughton being the first, with Michael Gambon's performances being very popular. Rowan Atkinson is Maigret. A surprising choice because he is better known as Mr. Bean, and while his talents at comedy are well known, this is the first serious role he has tackled. Critics were not all that enthused about his performances, perhaps unable to enjoy his playing a serious role, but I thought that he is just excellent. His dry, expressionless performances reminds me of Michael Kitchen who was so fabulous in "Foyles War." Two episodes have been filmed so far, with two more due in 2017. With 76 Simenon novels and 28 short stories, producers have plenty of material. The villain in "Maigret's Dead Man" is John Light, the equally villainous Hercule Flambeau in the "Father Brown" Series. Note: the DVD I purchased is a Region 2 DVD, not playable on US DVD players (unless you have purchased a unit that plays all regions). One assumes it will be released as a Region 1 DVD eventually.

Rowan Atkinson a relevé un défi de taille. Je suis une fan de Maigret et une fan de Bruno Crémer dans le rôle de Maigret (notamment sa carrure, son charisme et sa voix, son exceptionnelle voix...). Mais je reste très impressionnée par la puissance du jeu d'Atkinson. Une densité dans le silence, une intensité du regard, il m'a saisie aux tripes. Quant à la réalisation et la distribution, elles sont très soignées, plans magnifiques, seconds rôles très bien choisis aux jeux irréprochables, reconstitutions de quartiers et d'ambiance sans défaut... La qualité BBC. Simenon peut dormir en paix, il est parfaitement respecté et mis en valeur par cette version britannique.