Rating: 
Summary: A Love Letter About Film
Review: Hollywood keeps making films that, since "Sunset Boulevard," see filmmaking as some kind of gothic tragedy. "La Nuit Americaine" sees it as a struggle towards just making a film done, inspite of all kinds of problems. There is no question here however that love, sex, egos, alcoholism, and the rest are all part of just trying to make a film; still, it strangely comes together through a totally humane, generous and, when it serves, a self depricating genius of film making (Truffaut). Why else would Spielberg cast him as he does in CE3K? Also, note that the film begins with Georges Delerue's musical optical track. Great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: A Love Letter About Film
Review: Hollywood keeps making films that, since "Sunset Boulevard," see filmmaking as some kind of gothic tragedy. "La Nuit Americaine" sees it as a struggle towards just making a film done, inspite of all kinds of problems. There is no question here however that love, sex, egos, alcoholism, and the rest are all part of just trying to make a film; still, it strangely comes together through a totally humane, generous and, when it serves, a self depricating genius of film making (Truffaut). Why else would Spielberg cast him as he does in CE3K? Also, note that the film begins with Georges Delerue's musical optical track. Great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: In defense of this film
Review: I can understand some film lovers may not like dubbed films. That is understandable, but this is a well done dubbed film compared to others. In fact it may enhance this film because the dialogue would be harder to follow if it was subtitled. It is not fair to be giving this film one star ratings because you don't like dubbed films. This is a wonderful film and you should be grateful it is still available at all to the American public in any form.
Rating: 
Summary: Truffaut IS timeless!
Review: I can't express how bad I feel about this movie not being available in the subtitled version. They are depriving us of one of the best films of all time, by one of the best directors. NOT FAIR Not only that, but the version they DO offer is so horribly dubbed and what about that price!!!! I am completely against this type of crimes. PLEASE release it in the subtitled version, and please readable subtitles with good translation. And if at all possible CRITERION please take note!
Rating: 
Summary: The best film about filmmaking...
Review: If you have any interest in filmmaking, just buy this film. Don't even debate the question. Day for Night is the best film about filmmaking there is. We have Truffaut playing a thinly veiled characterization of himself. Of course, Jean-Pierre Leaud is there as well as an immature actor. Plus, Jacqueline Bisset at her most beautiful. The film captures the French's love of film - from the way that Truffaut collects film books to the way that Leaud spends every possible moment going to the movies. The best line of dialogue is when Truffaut says "When I begin, I try to make the best picture possible. Half-way through, I just try to finish." Anyone who has ever worked on a film set will see that some things are eternal - the way all actors are children, and all the drama that develops. More than anything else, the film captures the sad quality of making and losing a family. A film crew comes together for about a month, spend all their time together, become very close, and leave for the next project. No wonder no one in show business is normal. I watched the dubbed version of this film. I usually prefer subtitles, but in this instance the dubbing was perfectly acceptable.
Rating:
Summary: The best film about filmmaking...
Review: If you have any interest in filmmaking, just buy this film. Don't even debate the question. Day for Night is the best film about filmmaking there is. We have Truffaut playing a thinly veiled characterization of himself. Of course, Jean-Pierre Leaud is there as well as an immature actor. Plus, Jacqueline Bisset at her most beautiful. The film captures the French's love of film - from the way that Truffaut collects film books to the way that Leaud spends every possible moment going to the movies. The best line of dialogue is when Truffaut says "When I begin, I try to make the best picture possible. Half-way through, I just try to finish." Anyone who has ever worked on a film set will see that some things are eternal - the way all actors are children, and all the drama that develops. More than anything else, the film captures the sad quality of making and losing a family. A film crew comes together for about a month, spend all their time together, become very close, and leave for the next project. No wonder no one in show business is normal. I watched the dubbed version of this film. I usually prefer subtitles, but in this instance the dubbing was perfectly acceptable.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this now, while you still can.
Review: If you're thinking about it at all, you should buy this DVD as soon as possible, because it looks likely to go out of print. I read a news article this week saying that the estate of Truffaut has sued Warner Bros. to stop making this DVD. Apparently Warner had the rights to the film for 30 years, which ended May 24, 2003. Warner released this DVD in the US on March 18, 2003, and the Truffaut heirs say this was knowingly done to get in before the deadline. Apparently excess stocks of books and movies are usually allowed to be sold even after rights have been lost. However, the Truffaut estate claims Warner released this DVD so close to the expiration of their rights that they are abusing this. They want a large amount of money and for the DVD to be pulled from stores, because they say Truffaut and his estate never got much if any money from Warner Bros. However this gets resolved, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this well made DVD, which finally offers the film in the original French, just quietly disappear from the market at some point soon. If you want it, pick it up now, before it's going for $100 at ebay.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this now, while you still can.
Review: If you're thinking about it at all, you should pick up this DVD in any store that still carries it. It has recently gone out of print.
I read a news article in July saying that the estate of Truffaut sued Warner Bros. to stop making this DVD. Apparently Warner had the rights to the film for 30 years, which ended May 24, 2003. Warner released this DVD in the US on March 18, 2003, and the Truffaut heirs say this was knowingly done to get in before the deadline. Apparently excess stocks of books and movies are usually allowed to be sold even after rights have been lost. However, the Truffaut estate claims Warner released this DVD so close to the expiration of their rights that they are abusing this. They want a large amount of money and for the DVD to be pulled from stores, because they say Truffaut and his estate never got much if any money from Warner Bros.
As a result, this well made DVD, which for the first time offers the film in the original French, has quietly disappeared from the market. I've seen copies still on the shelves in stores in my area. If you want it, pick it up now, before it's going for $100 at ebay.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER VOTE FOR A SUBTITLED VERSION
Review: In giving a star rating, I'm torn between rating the film itself and rating the video in its dubbed state. So lest anyone criticize me for "giving it one star just because of the dubbing"... I am not a cinema expert by any means, but I have seen the subtitled version and I have seen the dubbed version, and the subtitled version is much funnier and more enjoyable. So you have to read a little, so what? I am curious why they chose to release the dubbed version on video and not the subtitled one. Probably thinking that, since it is such an immediate and enjoyable movie about movies, it might actually sell to English-speaking audiences as a "Player"-esque comedy, romp, etc. I can understand this, but can we please please see a release with subtitles? I know a lot of information gets lost in the subtitling, so it's far from perfect either, but at least it's not actively disturbing, like when hackneyed American voices with little (or the wrong) feeling come out of mouths that are moving completely differently. Also, I like hearing the language be spoken. I like the sound of French voices in French movies. It's what the movie is supposed to sound like. Just as westerns sound right with American voices. Maybe I'm weird, but I can barely watch the subtitled version. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend it (2 stars perhaps). But the movie itself is wonderful! Don't buy the video, but do go see it in the theater if you get the chance.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER VOTE FOR A SUBTITLED VERSION
Review: In giving a star rating, I'm torn between rating the film itself and rating the video in its dubbed state. So lest anyone criticize me for "giving it one star just because of the dubbing"... I am not a cinema expert by any means, but I have seen the subtitled version and I have seen the dubbed version, and the subtitled version is much funnier and more enjoyable. So you have to read a little, so what? I am curious why they chose to release the dubbed version on video and not the subtitled one. Probably thinking that, since it is such an immediate and enjoyable movie about movies, it might actually sell to English-speaking audiences as a "Player"-esque comedy, romp, etc. I can understand this, but can we please please see a release with subtitles? I know a lot of information gets lost in the subtitling, so it's far from perfect either, but at least it's not actively disturbing, like when hackneyed American voices with little (or the wrong) feeling come out of mouths that are moving completely differently. Also, I like hearing the language be spoken. I like the sound of French voices in French movies. It's what the movie is supposed to sound like. Just as westerns sound right with American voices. Maybe I'm weird, but I can barely watch the subtitled version. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend it (2 stars perhaps). But the movie itself is wonderful! Don't buy the video, but do go see it in the theater if you get the chance.
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