Billy Wilder's 1963 romantic comedy that reteams the stars of his 1960 THE APARTMENT gets a sparkling 4K restoration on Blu-ray from Eureka.
Nestor Patou (Jack Lemmon) is a Parisian policeman who ends up being fired when he inadvertently causes the arrest of his boss in a raid on a brothel. At a nearby bar he meets prostitute Irma (Shirley MacLaine).
Nestor beats up her pimp but ends up becoming her pimp himself. However, he doesn't like the idea of her seeing other men so he poses as an English Lord who is her one and only client. Needless to say, complications ensue.
A cheerful, colourful movie that because of its subject matter was banned by US television networks for many years, IRMA LA DOUCE is a showcase for a number of talents at the top of their game.
Marilyn Monroe was originally intended to play Irma but after her death MacLaine was cast and ended up getting an Oscar nomination. Wilder and co-screenwriter I A L Diamond deliver a script that's bouncy, witty, and full of smartly observed snippets of dialogue.
Eureka's Blu-ray offers us two commentary tracks, one by film historian Joseph McBride and a new one by film historian Kat Ellinger. There's also a new talking head piece from Neil Sinyard.
Billy Wilder's IRMA LA DOUCE is out on Blu-ray from Eureka on Monday 18th March 2019
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