Site created 12/15/97. |
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review added: 5/1/00
The Twelve Chairs
1970 (2000) - CBS
FOX/Gaumont (Image)
review by Todd Doogan of
The Digital Bits
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Film
Rating: A
Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras): B/B/D
Specs and Features
94 mins, G, letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), single-sided,
single-layered, Snapper case packaging, theatrical trailer,
film-themed menu screens, scene access (16 chapters), languages:
English (DD 1.0 mono), subtitles: English |
"I hate people I
dont like."
Former Russian aristocrat Vorobyaninov (Ron Moody) is summoned by
his mother-in-law on her deathbed and told that her treasure of
jewels was sewn up into the seat of a dining room chair, part of a
set crafted by Hamms of London. The time is post-revolution USSR,
and its a new peoples republic. The set held twelve, and
at this point (now that his home is basically a retirement community
and all the furniture was seized by the government to occupy museums
all across the country) the chairs could be anywhere. Vorobyaninov
needs the jewels to start his life over again (it pretty much sucks
going from haughty aristocrat to a lowly office clerk in the Bureau
of Licenses and Records), but hes got some competitors. Theres
Father Fyodor (Dom DeLuise), who abused his position as a priest to
gain the knowledge when the lady cleansed her soul and told him
about the jewels. And theres Ostap Bender (Frank Langella), a
con-man who joins up with Vorobyaninov willing to split the money in
half in exchange for not turning him in to the "people".
Fueled by greed (and with time being no friend), the three men chase
the chairs all across the frozen landscape of Russia and back again,
only to find that the old adage is true: "Hope for the best,
expect the worst."
The Twelve Chairs isnt
your typical Mel Brooks film, and thats not a bad thing by any
stretch. Its definitely got his signature moments, like when
Vorobyaninov forgives his dying mother-in-law and gently cups her
face in his hands to kiss her forehead... forgetting that he has a
ink stamp in his hand (he thus sends her out "Cancelled on
August 17, 1927"). Thats funny stuff and very Brooksian.
But the great thing is that the film isnt always funny. There
are actually some deep, heart-felt moments in here that just make it
a much more well rounded film. And I think every one of his fans out
there (let alone fans of any sort of comedy) will find this to be
both engaging and entertaining. Dont worry, the film itself is
a spoof of a work of Russian Literature (so he didnt stray too
far from his spoofing path), and is based on the novel of the same
name by Ilf and Petrov. As is the norm for Brooks' cannon, the
acting is top shelf, with DeLuise stealing the show and Mel Brooks
making his usual cameo as Tikon, a former servant of Vorobyaninov,
who injects enough silly humor to satisfy any Brooks fan.
On disc, this film looks great, despite its non-anamorphic
presentation. Youd never guess it was made in 1970. There are
some NTSC problems like edging and moiré (especially evident
in the opening credits and on lace drapes) and a few moments of
muddy grain (never minding the horrid looking CBS/Fox logo as the
disc boots up). But for all its minor faults, I have to say that
picture is very crisp and the colors are true. Audio-wise, you get a
Dolby Digital mono track that sounds as good as you would expect for
mono. It does its job, and there really is no need for any more.
The only extra is a trailer that looks rather beat up, but what are
you gonna do? I wouldnt have minded a commentary, only because
the film is so rarely seen. And it would be interesting to hear what
Mel had to say about it 30 years later. Then again, Brooks has never
really been too engaging as a commentator on laserdisc and DVD, so
it's not a big disappointment.
Mel Brooks knows his comedy and with this one, he shows that he
knows how to pull your heartstrings as well. If you havent
seen The Twelve Chairs, youre
missing out on a well-made and entertaining movie. This is a disc
that absolutely belongs in everyones collection of Brooks on
DVD.
Todd Doogan
todddoogan@thedigitalbits.com |
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