Start the Revolution Without Me
List Price:
Our Price: $19.97
You Save: $0.01 (0%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $15.97 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Billie Whitelaw, Donald Sutherland, Gene Wilder, Hugh Griffith, Jack MacGowranBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-01
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: 27520
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Start the Revolution Without Me
DVD Review: Ignore the nay Sayers, this movie is genius comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
I first remember seeing this film at age 6. I remember it because not fully understanding history, I thought this was a film about the American Revolution and the climax featured American patriots sacking a palace of George III.
I'm surprised there are so many negative reviews of film here on Amazon. The only people I've ever met whom even remember this film remember it because it's one of their favorites.
The plot: Two sets of twin brothers are switched at birth just before the French Revolution. One set is raised in the opulence of the aristocracy while the other set are raised as peasants.
1789, the rich brothers are sent to infiltrate Louis XIV palace and take part in an overly elaborate coup. The poor set are reluctant members of the French revolutionaries. After a mix up, the peasants become guests is Louis XIV's palace where they are not only out of place at balls and dinners, but fighting for their lives to survive this overly elaborate coup. In the climax the brothers flee with their girlfriends as the uprising peasants storm the palace in a battle royal.
Why this works:
High production quality: Photography, costume design, set direction, and editing are usually pushed aside in most comedies since the focus is on the actors and the jokes they tell. `Start the Revolution Without Me' is brilliantly shot on location to a production degree that dwarfs most recent 18th century films and take full advantage of it's beautiful setting.
Orson Wells' narration: I'd never have guessed that Orson Wells could be so funny. And in fact he isn't. He narrates throughout as if `Start the Revolution Without Me' were a serious historical piece. This is what's so funny. EVERY scene is introduced with the phrase "1789" the way only Wells can. After 10 times this really starts to get funny.
Corsican brothers ham it up: Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland really go over board playing the overly evil and psychotic Corsican twins. Wilder carries his hawk Thor with him at all times. When anyone brings up the fact that Thor is dead Wilder flies into violent fits. They consider themselves invincible gods.
Ridiculously elaborate coup plot: Most of the character interaction revolves around a plot for the Corsican brothers to assassinate Louis XIV. However all the characters keep switching sides so much it becomes ludicrous. At a costume ball so many secrete notes are passed that the dance floor overflows with them. The coup is headed by a villain "Escargot" who like Orson Wells takes this absurd plot very seriously.
Peasant brothers are the only sane people: The peasant brothers also played brilliantly by Wilder and Sutherland act like we would if we lived in `Start the Revolution Without Me'. They observe that the inmates are running the asylum and its best to escape this entire ordeal post hast.
In conclusion, `Start the Revolution Without Me' is film making at its best. An adventure farce with plenty of good humor and truly genius story telling.
The critics here on Amazon are being way to harsh, saying that it does not compare to Alexander Dumas or other great literary works. This is a kin to saying that `The Naked Gun' was not as good of a portrayal of terrorism as James Bond. They are to wayyyy different things.
Description of Start the Revolution Without Me
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Rating: PgGene Wilder and Donald Sutherland play two sets of identical twins who are mismatched at birth shortly before the French Revolution. One pair is reared as royalty; the other is raised as the children of peasants. The plot in this film by Bud Yorkin is a wonderful mishmash of Dumas, Victor Hugo, and Molière, with the peasant brothers joining the revolutionaries while their bizarrely foppish siblings eat cake and ignore the events around them. Wilder and Sutherland are joined by a who's who of British comedy stars, including Billie Whitelaw, Hugh Griffith, and Victor Spinetti (and a cameo by Orson Welles)--yet this film flopped upon release, only to become a cult item among college students of the period. --Marshall Fine
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumMOSTEL,ZERO; Release date: 2000-04-18; DVD
Best price: $34.93
What's Up DocWarner Brothers; Release date: 2010-11-09; DVD
Best price: $6.02
Price in other shops:
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (Amazon.com Exclusive)Release date: 2010-01-11; DVD
Best price: $19.98
RhinocerosKino International; Release date: 2003-04-01; DVD
Best price: $16.71
Price in other shops:
The Producers (Deluxe Edition)Deluxe; Release date: 2005-12-13; DVD
Best price: $6.66
Price in other shops:
The World's Greatest LoverFox; Release date: 2006-04-04; DVD
Best price: $7.24
Price in other shops:
The Frisco KidWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-02-14; DVD
Best price: $4.23
Price in other shops:
Silver StreakFox; Release date: 2004-12-14; DVD
Best price: $4.04
Price in other shops:
Hanky PankyCOL; Release date: 2002-09-24; DVD
Best price: $7.74
Price in other shops:
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter BrotherFox; Release date: 2006-04-04; DVD
Best price: $7.16
Price in other shops: