MovieChat Forums > Gran Casino Discussion > New release at the end of June

New release at the end of June

posted 19 years ago by frank_boothe
3 replies | jump to latest

This film is being released on dvd in the US on June 28 by Vanguard. It's wonderful to see more of Buñuels work getting released on dvd. Unfortunately, Vanguard has put out some pretty poor transfers in the past, and by most accounts (including himself), this is not the greatest of films.

So, the dilemma is whether to pick up a mediocre film by a great director to support a company that may release more of his films in the future (although likely with poor transfers), or to avoid doing so, which may not lead to some films being released that otherwise could (and should) be released.

What's a Buñuel fan to do?
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wow bob wow

[–] CounterPaul 16 years ago

Through the grace of my public library I was able to take this one in - while nothing overly "surreal" happens, Gran Casino is a wonderful film - I found the musical numbers very delightful!

"POWER TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUNISH BAD CINEMA!!!"

[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

I am agree with CounterPaul. Gran Casino without any doubt is Buñuel's lesser work. However it is NOT as bad as many people says (Mostly people who haven't seen it).
By saying that "Gran Casino" is the weakest work by Buñuel I am not implying that it's a tedious, boring or dull film. That's not the case. I am just comparing it with the rest of his works that goes from good to excellent.

Gran Casino is an entertaining little flick, beautifully photographed, with a great cast and a decent directing (Buñuel's directing skills seems were a bit rusty since he directed his previous film about 15 years before). Besides the musical numbers are remarkable: Jorge Negrete (originally an opera singer) and Libertad Lamarque really knew how to sing with passion.
Many directors would be proud of a film like Gran Casino, but for Buñuel standards it's a weak work. However I enjoyed it for what it is: A light drama made as vehicle for two of the main stars in latin-america at the time. And the movie that rescued Buñuel from the shadows.

BTW If you are gonna buy the DVD. I highly recommend you Lionsgate version. It comes with The Young One (shot 13 years after Gran Casino). But believe it or not GC looks and sounds better than The Young One.
Besides the audio commentary by the film historian Philip Kemp it's priceless. The best audio commentary ever made for any Buñuel film.

[–] p_gruendler 12 years ago

I wonder if Bunuel and John Ford ever had lunch. They were both in Old Mexico making movies at the same time ... All Ford flicks are "musical" in the purest cinematic sense ...