Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4793 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-04-24
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 124 minutes

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Mono
8 Page Film Booklet
Uncut Version
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu Screens
Chapter Search

Synopsis
Originally famed for its sexual frankness, Bernardo Bertolucci's LAST TANGO IN PARIS has managed to endure due to its sophisticated storytelling and brave lead performances. Marlon Brando incorporated details from his own life into the character of Paul, the globetrotting American who finally settled into a marriage and proprietorship of a fleabag hotel in Paris. But when his wife commits suicide, Paul goes into an existential tailspin. One day, while wandering through an apartment that is available for rent, he encounters Jeanne (Maria Schneider), a lovely Parisian girl (she's 20 to Paul's 45) who is also viewing the apartment. The two become intimate and have a heated affair, carried on without names, in the apartment where they first met. While Paul clearly hopes to forget about his wife, Jeanne is simply overwhelmed by her fiance (Jean-Pierre Leaud, in a somewhat Bertolucci-satirising role), a filmmaker who wants her to be his subject and inspiration. Nothing is taboo in their relationship, but confrontation comes when Paul breaks the spell of impersonality. Brando's monologue beside his dead wife has sent many a film student into a paroxysm of pleasure in this groundbreaking erotic drama from acclaimed director Bertolucci (THE CONFORMIST, THE LAST EMPEROR).

Customer Reviews

unmatched masterclass in acting
Please abandon any pre-conceptions you have about this film straight away, it will not be what you expect. I was extremely hesitant about purchasing this dvd, not least because of the back covers description which leads you to believe this is nothing more than a softcore porn trip. In fact this film is far from sexually explicit and now appears thoroughly undeserving of the controversy it caused. It is, however, a moody, atmospheric, brilliant piece of film making. I only brought this as i was a firm Brando believer, and his performance here is astounding, the best i have seen in any picture, and i have seen a lot. He oozes a gritty sensuality no other actor has ever approached, and the closing shot as he stands on the balcony is both heartbreaking and awe inspiring. In my opinion one of the most underrated movies ever.A masterpiece. Must buy.

Watching a Car Crash
Infamous for one particular scene LTIP is Brando's greatest performance. Brando has been criticised in the past by fellow actors for scene stealing. But Brando is such a rivetting actor to watch and you can't help but be drawn to him in whatever role he plays. But only Brando could have played this role with the delicate mix of agressive bully and tender lover. It is a hugely narcisstic role made all the more fascinating by the dialogue that one assumes is improvisation from Brando as it includes some autobiographical content. It is a very ponderous and slow moving film in parts and quite depressing. But Brando keeps it moving, keeps us thinking and even though he is a hateful man we still feel for his character right to the pitiful end. Simply awesome to this tour de force. Buy it. Now.

Gives a wry smile.
Brando's performance in this film is full of vim and vigour, always bordering on the comic, especially in the scene with his dead wife. Bertolucci had begun psychoanalysis just a couple of years before and his penchant to indulge Brando seems to be a direct result of this.

In retrospect much of the film's theme could be interpreted as misogynistic, there's certainly a lot of female fear aroused as a direct result of male aggression whether by Brando or Schneider's boyfriend. In fact 30 years down the line Maria Schneider has disowned this film, citing it as 'exploitative'. Nevertheless the film was considered quite bold for its time, even if what makes audiences uncomfortable about this film now is not quite the same as what made them uncomfortable 30 years ago. After feminism, Aids and the 60's backlash that was the '80's, 'Last Tango In Paris' looks shockingly naive in its view of sexual relationships. I think a lot of women today would find the Schneider character slightly embaressing in her vapid earnestness.

You have to give it to Brando though, he does get a digit probing by Maria Schneider, now thats true dedication to his craft! I can't imagine a Grade A Hollywood actor of today such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt or Tom Hanks engaging in such thespian devotion, too much of a 'masculine' image to maintain. Which just goes to show how little risk mainstream Hollywood actors are prepared to indulge in nowadays compared to just a generation ago.