Mon Oncle (1958)

Monsieur Hulot visits the technology-driven world of his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, but he can't quite fit into the surroundings.

Director:

Jacques Tati

Writers:

Jacques Lagrange (artistic collaboration), Jean L'Hôte (artistic collaboration) (as Jean L'Hote)

Stars:

Jacques Tati, Jean-Pierre Zola, Adrienne Servantie

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean-Pierre Zola	...	Charles Arpel
Adrienne Servantie	...	Madame Arpel
Lucien Frégis	...	Monsieur Pichard (as Lucien Fregis)
Betty Schneider	...	Betty, Landlord's Daughter
Jean-François Martial	...	Walter (as J.F. Martial)
Dominique Marie	...	Neighbor
Yvonne Arnaud	...	Georgette, the Housekeeper
Adelaide Danieli	...	Madame Pichard
Alain Bécourt	...	Gerard Arpel (as Alain Becourt)
Régis Fontenay	...	Braces Dealer (as Regis Fontenay)
Claude Badolle	...	Flea Market Dealer
Max Martel	...	Drunken Man
Nicolas Bataille	...	Working Man

Storyline

Monsieur Hulot's brother-in-law is the manager of a factory where plastics are manufactured. His nephew grows up in a house where everything is fully automated and the boy is raised in a similar fashion. To take away the influence of the uncle on his son, his brother-in-law gets Hulot a job in his factory.

---

Plot Keywords:

push button | ultra modern house | future technology | advanced technology | factory | 

---

Taglines:

Mr. Hulot Ventures Into Suburbia...And Disrupts...Disassembles...And Demolishes With His Very Subtle Satire

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 November 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mon Oncle

Filming Locations:

Créteil, Val-de-Marne, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Specta Films,Gray-Film,Alter Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Having been awarded the Oscar for Best Foreign Film for this film, Jacques Tati was invited to a state reception where he was introduced to French President Charles de Gaulle. As a joke and as a reference to the film, Minister of Culture André Malraux introduced him as "mon oncle". De Gaulle, not realizing who the director was or what film he had made, congratulated him on having a talented nephew.

---

Goofs

When the boys are playing their traffic prank, one of their victims steps out of a 1955 Pontiac Chieftain. In the next cut, as he goes to argue with the woman he thinks has rear-ended him, the Pontiac is replaced by the 1951 Oldsmobile 88 driven by Charles Arpel near the start of the film (and which he is still driving at this point). Even the license plate (523 AP 75) is the same.

---

Quotes

Charles Arpel: We could go to the Sexy Club.
Madame Arpel: I prefer Constantino and his nice music.

---

Crazy Credits

The opening credits appear on signs at a construction site.

---

Connections

Followed by Playtime (1967)

User Reviews

My brief review of the film

A superior sequel to 'Mr. Hulot's Holiday', it has a more solid story, funnier jokes and some things to say about the coldness of modern technology this time round. The humour does not rely on the dialogue, as there is hardly any, but it does not rely on physical humour either. Instead, the puns come from the way in which Tati sets up the shots. The mathematical precision of certain sequences, and the way that the actors are positioned within the frame, are what is amusing. The jokes are much more subtle, not hand-delivered, and therefore there should be more that can be picked up on multiple viewings. One of the funniest scenes gives a building two moving eyes, thanks to a clever set design and great lighting. The art direction is simply excellent, the music is wonderful, and the timing for every shot is just superb. Not everything is brilliant though. The continuity is a bit off at times, no thanks to some awkward jump cutting, and towards the end the jokes become a bit repetitive and tiresome. There is also little plot, but there is certainly a satisfactory amount of storyline, it being an original take on the fish-out-of-water plot line. The supporting characters are silly, but they actually benefit the film here. Characters such as the neighbour show just how out-of-touch some persons are in the technology crazed world. This film may not be for every taste, but I simply found it delightful stuff myself.