Gasp

Respiratory double feature

À bout de souffle (Breathless)

(1960)

Breathless

(1983)

Hadn't seen the original when the remake came out. Was living in West Virginia when the remake came out. In a small town, 20+ miles of mountain road from the nearest movie theater. Standards, perhaps, compromised. Loved the remake. Loved Kaprisky. Loved the shower scene.

Saw the original a few years later. Thought it was OK. Had it on a VHS tape for years. Never watched it again. Thought it was overrated.

Golly.

I still think the shower scene of the remake is pretty damned good, and I think the remake is not bad as a remake--particularly when they stay very close to the original.

Nor am I ready to canonize Godard. But here he pretty much defines seductive doom. Empty, but damned good looking. I would argue that Seberg's uneven French is a legitimate part of Patricia's characterization, but even if not, who cares? And Belmondo? Who would want to be Bogart when he's already Belmondo?