Antoine de Saint-Exupery Movies
Academy Award-winning composer Rachel Portman and librettist Nicholas Wright have transformed Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's enchanting fable into an opera, which is captured on this DVD release. In The Little Prince, a military pilot crash lands in Northern Africa and is rescued by a young boy who happens to be a prince, and shows him many wonders as the pilot attempts to make his way back to civilization. Rachel Portman: The Little Prince records a production staged by the BBC featuring Joseph McManners, Maired Carlin, Willard White, and a 38-voice children's choir. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Oscar-winning short-film director Wil Vinton (Closed Mondays) brings author Antoine de Saint-Exupery's beloved children's tale to life through the art of clay animation. When a pilot is forced to land deep in the desert, he soon makes the acquaintance of a friendly but mysterious visitor known as The Little Prince. As the pilot spends the following days repairing the engine of his airplane, the Little Prince entertains his newfound friend with tales of his faraway home planet and his intergalactic quest to find an elusive and unique flower. After taming a wild desert fox, the young space traveler discovers an important lesson in matters of the heart hidden deep within the velvet peddles of a common rose. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson
Stanley Donen directed this lugubrious musical fantasy based on the classic Antoine de Saint-Exupery children's parable, featuring a musical score by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe -- their first film score since Gigi. The simple story concerns a French aviator (Richard Kiley) who crashes his airplane in the middle of the Sahara desert and comes upon a young blonde prince (Steven Warner) from another planet. The Little Prince tells the pilot that he is inspecting the universe and stays in the desert long enough to convey to the pilot his impressions of the earth and stories of other planets he has visited. In a supporting role as a serpent that the Little Prince met amongst his travels in the universe, Bob Fosse stops the show with a slithery dance routine. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiley, Steven Warner, (more)
- 1937
Courier Sud (Southern Carrier) dramatizes the exploits of a French commercial airline, making the treacherous run from Paris to Africa and back. Much of the drama takes place on solid ground, as pilot Jacques (Pierre Richard-Willm) tries to rekindle a romance with old flame Genevieve (Jany Holt), now married to a prominent foreign ambassador (Charles Vanel). Planning a illicit tryst with Genevieve, Jacques persuades his pal Hubert (Alexandre Rignault) to substitute for him during the weekly flight to Africa. Sure enough, Hubert crash-lands in the desert, forcing a guilt-stricken Jacques to vainly attempt a rescue. To make a long story short, those left alive do not live happily ever after. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Vanel, Jany Holt, (more)
- 1936
This interesting early docu-drama offers a complete chronicle of the history of aviation from prehistoric times through the mid 1930s. Though the film was finished by 1935, it was not released until much later. H.G. Wells assisted on the first drafts of the script. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this French drama, a daring young woman falls in love with a strange inventor. She is quite the adventuress and has five handsome young pilots teach her to fly. They are contemptuous of the mousy inventor until the impetuous lass takes off by herself in a plane to set a record and ends up lost in a terrible storm. To save her, all of the rivals team up and begin their desperate search. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annabella, Valentine Camax, (more)
- 1933
This suspense drama was based on a novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Riviere (John Barrymore), who operates an air delivery service, is fanatical in his dedication to service, putting prompt delivery before the safety of his men or his fleet after receiving a contract to help transport the mail. Riviere's risk-taking earns him the contempt of his pilots, including Jules (Clark Gable), who, despite his misgivings, does his best to satisfy Riviere's punishing schedule. When Jules is lost after a dangerous mission, Riviere has to tell his wife (Helen Hayes) that her husband has died, but despite losing another pilot (William Gargan), Riviere responds by demanding that more pilots be called up to ensure that the letters will be delivered on time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Barrymore, Helen Hayes, (more)
