User Reviews

... and I DO mean magical. But then why not, the script is the work of Jacques Prevert who enjoyed nothing more than dabbling in fantasy - see: Les Portes de la nuit, Les Visiteurs du soir if you don't believe me - and the direction is by his kid brother, Pierre. This was the third and last time the brothers worked together and Voyage Surprise is a worthy follow up to Adieu, Leonard, three years earlier. With the possible exception of Martine Carol - who featured in the odd soft-porn like Caroline Cherie and later played Lola Montes for Ophuls - virtually the entire cast is unknown outside France and that is the world outside France's loss because every last eccentric is worth ten Tom Cruises. If I told you the plot you wouldn't believe it (as I wouldn't if you told it to me) so suffice it to say that an old man realizes a lifelong ambition to host a 'Mystery Tour' in a custom-built bus that might have been designed by the guests at the Mad Hatter's tea party to transport the denizens of Wonderland through the looking glass and into the 'real' world of 1947. That should be sufficient to tell you if this is your kind of movie or not; if 'yes' then you'll Delight in its myriad wonders, if 'no' get well soon.

Having to wait in at home today for some electrical repairs to be done,I took a look at the French titles I had waiting to be viewed. Knowing his brother Jacques's incredible work with auteur Marcel Carne,I booked a ticket for Pierre's surprise voyage.

View on the film:

The third and final time he would work with his brother Jacques, co-writer/director Pierre Prevert & cinematographer Jean Bourgoin travel with a fuelled optimism from post- WWII France, gazed at in a dazzling kaleidoscope symphony of classical music and sweeping tracking shots following the passengers on their journey. Rolling into the surreal, Pierre gives each pit stop the travellers make humorous stylish flourishes flowing from the ramshackle, rickety bus ride, to a cheeky escapade to the SOS Hurricane bedroom in the old Verdeau's whorehouse. Adapting Andre Gillois and Jean Nohain's novel for their last team-up, (joined by co-writer Claude Accursi) brothers Pierre and Jacques Prevert unveil an absolutely magical mystery tour. Drawing each traveller with refined poetic dialogue, which along with being playfully comedic,also reflects the excitement of freedom in France. Spinning the wheel to various destinations, the writers heighten each visit with a striking fantasy twist, which makes set-pieces such as the priest unintentionally hyping the voyage, and a soaring performance from the gang being mistaken for a theatrical troupe, as they all step aboard for a voyage surprise.