Editorial Review

An irresistible and guilty pleasure, this anthology based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe is a rare opportunity to see three of the biggest names in 1960s European film direction working in the short form. The results are uneven, but so what? They're also plain outrageous. Roger Vadim's Read more

Features

• Color
• Letterboxed
• Widescreen
• NTSC

Reviews (20)

Vadim Revisited
There seems to be a consensus among critics, even amateur critics, regarding the horror trilogy "Spirits of the Dead."The prevailing view elevates Fellini's segment of the film (and sometimes Malle's) while denigrating Vadim's "Metzengerstein" as some relatively trivial hackwork.That mindset, widely disseminated, amounts to a conspiracy of bad taste.In fact, Vadim's little film is a masterpiece, easily the finest part of "Spirits of the Dead."On the simplest level, the trilogy was intended as a homage to the genius of Edgar Allan Poe; and certainly Vadim's "Metzengerstein" --a beautiful evocation of medieval fairy tale blended with DeSadean eroticism--comes closest to fulfilling that ideal.In contrast, Malle's "William Wilson" and Fellini's "Toby Dammit" are worlds away from Poe.Indeed, Malle's version of Poe is terribly marred by an emphatic artiness that could only be appreciated by film school undergraduates.For example, there's the suicidal plunge of Malle's anti-hero (Alain Delon) from a bell tower; presented over and over again from a multitude of angles, no celluloid descent into hell has ever been more ponderous.And Fellini's "Toby Dammit" undercuts horror by a heavy-handed satire of the Italian Academy Awards, which seems to belong in the pages of "Figaro."Vadim, however, has created something as irresistible as a dream: a rainswept castle in Brittany where a fantasticallybeautiful but cruel princess (Jane Fonda) struggles in vain against boredom, fate, and her murdered love's reincarnation; that reincarnation being nothing less than a huge, intractable stallion, such as medieval warriors would ride!
Some people just don't get It........................
I disagree with all these reviews about spirits of the dead dvd. Every single story on here are all pieces of art.............I disagree that toby dammit is fellin's great piece of work..Give Me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!People just don't have any taste. Alain Deloin,Jane Fonda, Bridgett Bardott all contribute to this great piece of Art................Don't listen to the rest of the stupid reviews on the fellin's one being the only good story. If you Enjoy Vintage and Aprreciate Edgar Allan Poe This is for you overall that is One of the main reasons to buy this Movie........Bon Voyage...........

Butchered Masterwork
As originally conceived by Fellini, the Toby Dammitt segment was, imho, the greatest work he ever committed to film.Taut, lean, stylish and very effective.I saw the film when it was first released and am fortunate enough to have this segment on an old beta tape.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - French    3. Horror / Sci-Fi / Fantasy    4. International    5. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Letterboxed
• Original recording remastered
• NTSC

Reviews (5)

almost perfect
This movie is taylor-made for its main actress. Plot, speed, scene-cutting, co-actors and -actresses, everything perfectly matches the looks and skills of Brigitte Bardot. Unfortunately the star herself is out of tune: Brigitte, clearly uninspired, only acts on her routine.
One of Bardot's best
"La bride sur le cou" ("Please Not Now!") is a pure joy to watch. Brigitte is sexy beyond compare, the plot is amusing (and sometimes very funny), and the story has some unexpected comical moments (e.g., the "kitchen" at the hotel). The most satisfying Bardot available.
(Though it's only a matter of time before CONTEMPT is issued.)I don't know why it's so hard to get a sex goddess into a great movie.Billy Wilder managed it with Marilyn.Poor Brigitte spent her early years on film saddled with empty froth and scripts aimed more at third-rate philosophy than genuine drama.If not great, at least there's nothing in the way here of getting the full measure of this charming actress.It's amazing how far a few seconds of nudity and a surpisingly joyfull riverdance through La Bamba goes to make the whole deal worthwhile. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - French    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

An irresistible and guilty pleasure, this anthology based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe is a rare opportunity to see three of the biggest names in 1960s European film direction working in the short form. The results are uneven, but so what? They're also plain outrageous. Roger Vadim's Read more

Features

• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (20)

Vadim Revisited
There seems to be a consensus among critics, even amateur critics, regarding the horror trilogy "Spirits of the Dead."The prevailing view elevates Fellini's segment of the film (and sometimes Malle's) while denigrating Vadim's "Metzengerstein" as some relatively trivial hackwork.That mindset, widely disseminated, amounts to a conspiracy of bad taste.In fact, Vadim's little film is a masterpiece, easily the finest part of "Spirits of the Dead."On the simplest level, the trilogy was intended as a homage to the genius of Edgar Allan Poe; and certainly Vadim's "Metzengerstein" --a beautiful evocation of medieval fairy tale blended with DeSadean eroticism--comes closest to fulfilling that ideal.In contrast, Malle's "William Wilson" and Fellini's "Toby Dammit" are worlds away from Poe.Indeed, Malle's version of Poe is terribly marred by an emphatic artiness that could only be appreciated by film school undergraduates.For example, there's the suicidal plunge of Malle's anti-hero (Alain Delon) from a bell tower; presented over and over again from a multitude of angles, no celluloid descent into hell has ever been more ponderous.And Fellini's "Toby Dammit" undercuts horror by a heavy-handed satire of the Italian Academy Awards, which seems to belong in the pages of "Figaro."Vadim, however, has created something as irresistible as a dream: a rainswept castle in Brittany where a fantasticallybeautiful but cruel princess (Jane Fonda) struggles in vain against boredom, fate, and her murdered love's reincarnation; that reincarnation being nothing less than a huge, intractable stallion, such as medieval warriors would ride!
Some people just don't get It........................
I disagree with all these reviews about spirits of the dead dvd. Every single story on here are all pieces of art.............I disagree that toby dammit is fellin's great piece of work..Give Me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!People just don't have any taste. Alain Deloin,Jane Fonda, Bridgett Bardott all contribute to this great piece of Art................Don't listen to the rest of the stupid reviews on the fellin's one being the only good story. If you Enjoy Vintage and Aprreciate Edgar Allan Poe This is for you overall that is One of the main reasons to buy this Movie........Bon Voyage...........

Butchered Masterwork
As originally conceived by Fellini, the Toby Dammitt segment was, imho, the greatest work he ever committed to film.Taut, lean, stylish and very effective.I saw the film when it was first released and am fortunate enough to have this segment on an old beta tape.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - French   

Features

• Color
• Original recording reissued
• Subtitled
• NTSC

Reviews (4)

Awesome
If you look at this movie, you will see the amazing and very clear projection of what happens when in a relationship one partner views the other as a "thing", a "posession", an "object" rather than providing care and love. We can learn from this movie decades later in that in relationships we all need a real connection, an internal love that in which the two characters found (Renee and Maxime). They connected, since they were both viewed as "objects" by the one who controlled them and viewed them this way. Both attempted to escape the control they were under and in doing so wound up being blackmailed by the controller. What a great movie to show how power and control and the fear of losing it, will stop at nothing to destroy anothers kindred spirit. Although the ending was not a typical "happily ever after" ending, it dipicts real life, and real people who manipulate others to keep themselves on top.

Just Deserts
This is a French film. It was produced and directed by French, stars mostly French and is, of course, in French. The English subtitles are optional.Being French, it naturally has a cavalier and "French" attitude towards many things. Fidelity, commitment, honesty, marriage and such are purely optional. Lechery and revenge are not. That is the crux of the story.
Slow But Interesting Morality Tale
I couldn't get into this movie at first. It is the kind of film you must watch with no distractions to catch the subleties and nuances that are its strength. Otherwise, it feels very slow moving, verging on dull. But if you stick with it, you acclimate to the pace and this tale of adultery, betrayal and revenge manages a nice balance of stylization and realism. It manages to ask a very basic question about the universal dillemma: monogamy in marriage and it's pitfalls. Or strengths, depending on how you interpret its message.
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Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - French    3. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    4. Movie