Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1975)

This film is of interest because it captures two of the original performers of the original version of the Off-Broadway revue, and because Jacques Brel appears in it. But wow, it couldn't be more 70s. The show is not improved by the faux-surrealism or the "hippie children" running around like escapees from "Pippin" or "Godspell". Elly Stone, who brought Jacques Brel's songs to the US, has an intensely irritating voice but is still compelling. Mort Shuman, another original cast member (I believe he also did some of the translations), is quite good. For some reason they dropped the second female role, and the second male role is played by Joe Masiell rather than the original Shawn Elliott, whom I would have been interested to see. Masiell has an excellent voice but his mannerisms are a little over the top.The best part of the film is also the worst: Jacques Brel himself, singing one of his most famous songs, "Ne Me Quitte Pas". It starts out with a closeup of his eyes. The camera pulls back, and you see him simply sitting at a table, singing the song. He's stunning. You think to yourself, "What a great chance to see him at the height of his powers! How smart of them to let him just sit and sing!" And then the camera starts moving in, slowly but relentlessly, to just a closeup of his eyes ... and STAYS THERE for the rest of the song! What idiot directed THAT?? Truly a case of the sublime turning into the ridiculous.

While this is not the best presentation of Jacques Brel's songs, for those who have access to nothing better it will have to suffice. Best is go directly to Brel CDs and DVDs and enjoy him in French. Next best is to attend an excellent theatrical production such as Jacques Brel is Alive an Well" directed by Gordon Greenberg at the Zipper Theatre in New York which opened March 2006. It even outdoes the original 1968 production, retaining the European flavor of the songs, and pleases even the French.After that, there's this sometimes silly, confusing and dated movie with Mort Shuman, American songwriter, who together with Eric Blau did the adaptations of the songs for this show. His performance is worth seeing, especially of Jacky.But the most interesting thing about this show for a hardcore Brel fan like myself is the appearance of Jacques in February of 1974. After this film was made Jacques learned navigation, bought his yacht the Askoy, and took off for a round -the -world -yachting trip. He was no longer living in Paris. By October of the same year he received his lung cancer diagnosis . He was no longer "well".So this movie, which opens with him in audience puffing on a cigarette, confronted by an Addams family type ghoulish character is Jacques last film appearance and somehow premonitory. His glorious performance of Ne Me Quitte Pas is worth the price of the DVD.

No hyperbole here: this was simply the worst cinematic experience of my life. And yes, I've seen Manos: Hands of Fate.I was talked into seeing this by an older "child of the 60s" friend who absolutely loves Brel and this movie. While she went into raptures at every song, I cringed in my seat. I know that many people enjoy this movie, but if you're not already a fan of Brel you should probably avoid this like unanesthetized rectal surgery.At a basic level, Brel's music is simply not for me. His melodies are at once meandering and repetitive. Harmonic progressions are almost non-existent. I can't recall a single non- diatonic tone in any of his songs. This, coupled with the excruciatingly banal and monkey- wrenched rhyme scheme, was just too much to bear.While his songs may evoke nostalgia in others, I was reminded of John Ashcroft's "Let the Eagle Soar". The low point of the movie came when I realized that I would prefer Ashcroft's performance to any of the songs presented here.And the performances....yikes. Elly Stone, poor dear, simply cannot match pitch. Her voice is sharp, strained and impossible to listen to. Joe Masiell is a bit better, but his jackhammer vibrato ruins any sustained tone he attempts. Mort Shuman and Brel himself were my favorites as they were merely boring.1/2 hour in, I wanted to gouge out my eyes so I could use them to stuff my ears. After an hour, I was seriously considering chewing off a limb so I would have an excuse to leave the theater. Even one week later, I'm still having post-traumatic flashbacks to the horror that was this movie. I'm sure that most fans will say I'm missing the point -- that the social commentary and "soul" are the reason to see this film. My feeling is that unless you already love Brel, French cabaret and/or surrealist cinema, you'll likely be in too much pain to perceive a point, soul or anything but your throbbing migraine and urge to flee.

I love this film because I loved the music... Jacques Brel is a talented songwriter... he writes with much emotion and feeling. I wish this film was available on Video or broadcasted again on television. I have not seen it for over a decade.Hopefully, it will be revived soon or made available to the public...As long as someone listens to his music... Jacques Brel is still Alive and Well and Living in Paris.