Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953)

Directed by Jacques Tati. Starring Jacques Tati, Nathalie Pascaud, André Dubois, Louis Perrault, Micheline Rolla, Raymond Carl, Lucien Frégis, Valentine Camax.

First outing for Tati’s Monsieur Hulot character, a lurching, pipe-smoking doofus in a crushed hat, clumsy but affable. Shoestring story illustrates his seaside holiday and the various disasters and embarrassments that befall him, the hotel staff, and other vacationers. With a nearly non-stop parade of sight gags, slapstick, and misunderstandings, it’s a loving tribute to the silent comedy of a bygone era (dialogue is both limited and generally inconsequential); also sneaks in a number of affectionate criticisms of French culture, class, and politics. A charming trifle, but rarely more than that—his misadventures are often amusing, but rarely gut-busting. Re-cut and extended a few times over the years, including an addition made twenty-five years after its release for a kayak gag inspired by Jaws. The English-language version was dubbed entirely by Christopher Lee!

76/100