25 Vampyr

[peerpee]

Just to point out here -- the two deleted scenes are also in the Casper Tybjerg piece, so the Criterion edition will have them.

MoC will be presenting the deleted scenes separately, in addition to the Tybjerg piece.

[colinr0380]

Darn it, I'm being pushed towards getting both editions now!

- Full-length audio commentary featuring Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro talking about one of his favourite films.

Sounds interesting, I hope one of his favourite films is Vampyr!

[Zazou dans le Metro]

Until one knows what Del Toro has to say about the film, it seems stupid to dismiss his thoughts out of hand. (Or have people heard him comment at length on other classic films already?)

I have heard him on radio and found him an overbearing bore second only to his facile films. Snobbish and dismissive enough?
(I would have preferred David Rudkin's take on the film but of course he's not a marquee name).

I probably will still get it though since MoC and Second Run are the only people that bring out the anal obsessive in me. And, Foggy, of course I can not listen to it but just the thought of him lurking in the woodwork gives me the jitters ( more than his or his protegés' films could).

[Tommaso]

These two deleted scenes are just slightly longer variants of bits that are in the film already (e.g. the final stabbing of the vampyre); actually these bits were all in the French (?) release version and were not re-instated into the Koerber version because Koerber apparently wanted to leave the German version intact, i.e. he wanted to re-instate the German version as it was released after it was mutilated by the censor. So it's not like we're getting anything completely unseen. But it's of course a good idea to include these variants.

Whether it's one or two discs has still not been cleared up, but I'd say: the film itself is about 70 mins, and unless the documentaries are really long, I see no reason to put all the material on two discs. On the other hand, the same would have been true for "Nosferatu".

[domino harvey]

the Del Toro commentary will be a selling point for many, anything MOC can do to get more people to buy this and still maintain the integrity of the release (It's not like it's included instead of Rayns' commentary) is a good thing. I think it's pretty obvious that the MOC is the way to go, particularly for offering a documentary about the "star" rather than a printed interview.

[HerrSchreck]

Agreed. The deGunz is a major selling point for me also. Probably the most interesting extra between the two editions (the programme and resto-writeup, so long available, give proof to how little production info worth taalking/writing about remains.... Even My Metier sort've dabbles a bit in the film for a few then moves on. ). Much of the academe on this film has completely blooped over this mystery man, without whom the film would not have existed. And Dreyer uses his cinematic naivete and slight self-consciousness to great effect, plugging it directly into the essence of the Alan Grey character. As Grey was to the world of shadows, DeGunzberg seemed to be to the world of the cinema.

One of those films that either is so beloved that it damn near constitutes a religion for the fanatical viewer, or crewcut-flattops the viewer as it whooshes over his head as he expected a variant on Dracula or a Universal gem in general. I know hardcore cineastes who cannot tolerate the slow gentle drift of the film, and the dreamy melancholia (so much the epitome of French Impressionism foggy gloom, of the Epstein/Kirsanoff stripe) bounces right off them. They think it's the most plodding thing ever made (with predictable kudos to the dancing shadows and the ww1 vet with the blasted face in the first act).

Wnderfulness that this film is getting the love it has so long needed. That old horrid wretched hideous awful terrible-- and very often watched-- Image disc will finally take a jump into the river do double duty as a life saver for a big flatfish..

[Kinsayder]

These two deleted scenes are just slightly longer variants of bits that are in the film already (e.g. the final stabbing of the vampyre); actually these bits were all in the French (?) release version and were not re-instated into the Koerber version because Koerber apparently wanted to leave the German version intact, i.e. he wanted to re-instate the German version as it was released after it was mutilated by the censor.

Koerber's explanation for not integrating the deleted scenes:

...the surviving prints of the French version have the scenes that never made it to the German screens, but it is impossible to re-insert them into the German version, because the continuity of images and sounds is different in the two versions. Thus it was decided to keep the versions as found, but to preserve the French ending on a separate reel, so that the differences can be studied.

[HerrSchreck]

Regarding the enormous challenges creating image-audio correspondences in the editing room, which were legion (taken from the original Vampyr thread, which, has not been merged--as is typical-- with the dvd release thread for CC or Moc... but contains a lot of excellent information (thats being rehashed here as if for the first time):

NO niether, it was directtoair. Acouple of months ago. And, for once it didn't look cropped. Some shots look like first gen, and this was intriguing, but frankly the Englishh language muttreings bother me (another dub) and the elisions and fog-laden shots are not good. And the black backed subs were Definitely not Shephard. (but WHAT?)
Obviously we need to wait for the real palooka.

I don't know if you know but the film had 3 versions dubbed in 3 languages-- German French & English. All dubbed later on in the studio. Nothing was recorded on location, so you probably heard the original Eng release dialog. The editing problems were legion: they created one master neg for images, then inserted shots of actors speaking their lines in 3 languages and constructed corresponding prints. But as there was one score with one length, which had to be synched to action on the screen (another challenge to the Steiner claim to 1932-Mickey Mousing fame)... problem was music & dialog were on the same optical track... the score was of one length... but speaking same lines in different languages takes different amount of tiime, which would cause music to run to different points within the same scene... causing music cues to arrive (shadows dancing, backwards digging, shadows creeping, simple sound effects) too soon, late, etc. Big problem. They even took to, on the French print, or post-prod edits, inserting black stock & empty spots because the score had been recorded & nothing else could be done to keep the thing in synch.

Dreyer apparently preferred the German over the other two, btw.

[Sheriff Chambers]

I’ve been reading the forum for some years and have finally registered – this is my first post.

The upcoming release of Vampyr is very exciting news. I saw Koerber’s restoration at the London Film Festival back in 1999 and thought it looked pretty good given its troubled history. This is an incredibly important film in so many respects and I’m sure Nick and all at MoC have done a great job.

The extras on the MoC disc sound intriguing, but I must say that (like some others) I’m a little surprised about the inclusion of a Del Toro commentary – it just seems a little odd for Vampyr – this is a film that certainly warrants a scholarly treatment. But we do have Rayns. Will Vampyr really shift more units with a Del Toro track as others have suggested? Most buyers will make a decision based on the film. In the case of Vampyr, the film's reputation is probably stronger than some of us might feel - don't forget the horror fans. And perhaps Del Toro’s commentary will be a revelation!

Anyway, just thought I’d add my thoughts.

[sidehacker]

I actually sort of expected that MoC would get Ray Carney to do something for their release. I mean, it be a pretty big slap in Criterion's face (or the exact opposite of it...) and he seemed to be on friendly enough terms to be willing to work with Wrigley and Co. I don't care either way, but I thought it would have created quite a stir in the community.

[a.khan]

I think we have to stop bitching about the del Toro commentary. We're lucky to be getting "Vampyr" on DVD in the first place; and from two separate, excellent DVD labels. (Only a couple of weeks ago we were all waiting with bated breath for any news.)

The MoC package looks fantastic in every way: Nick and co. have preempted any imbalance by including Rayns' commentary. The del Toro commentary should be welcomed -- I'm not a fan of this filmmaker, but as another member has said, he deserves a fair hearing. Will be interesting to hear what he has to say. If it's shit, then don't let the remote near it again. Bottom line, it's another extra feature in an already packed-to-gills DVD. Instead of nitpicking we should be celebrating MoC for what may well end up being the DVD Release of 2008. =D>

[jt]

Quick Question, how do people pronounce this, vampire or vam-peer ?

Also, mark me down as one of those people who are looking forward to the delToro commentary. It may be the best commentary of all time, it may be the worst but I'll be waiting to hear it before passing judgement. Unless anyone here knows the man or has heard him talk at length on silent cinema, why are they even guessing at what it might be like? We have absolutely no frame of reference without hearing the finished article.

edit: spelling

[Tommaso]

Quick Question, how do people pronounce this, vamire or vam-peer ?

Vam-peer (but pronounce the 'a' like in 'hard'). The spelling "Vampyr" is unusual/ archaic in German (should be "Vampir"); and it isn't the French spelling either ("vampyre"). A nice touch creating a little 'occult mystery atmosphere' from the beginning; reminds me a little of the (mis-)spelling of "Magick".

[Ledos]

Dreyer may also have chosen to spell it 'vampyr' since that's the word for 'vampire' in his native language Danish.

[ellipsis7]

Isn't it 'Wampyr' auf Deutsch?...

[denti alligator]

Isn't it 'Wampyr' auf Deutsch?...

No, since it's basically a loan word from French. There are a few "V" words in German that aren't pronounced like "F"s.

[Gigi M.]

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Full-length audio commentary featuring Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro talking about one of his favourite films.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when did del Toro win an Oscar?
Maybe MoC would want to change this typo.

[stephan73]

It should indeed be Oscar nominated director, instead of Oscar winning director!

[domino harvey]

Or they could invite Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro to record a commentary track.

[HerrSchreck]

Guys.. please don't steal Del Toro's bandwith.

Thanks/cheers.

[Awesome Welles]

Vampyr page is now live and the stills look pretty nice.

[wowser]

Fantastic: looks full of features. When will the trailer be up?

[HerrSchreck]

Vampyr page is now live and the stills look pretty nice.

I confess I never thought of the film as "truly terrifying", but whatevah.

[wowser]

MoC must be very pleased to see this occupies the No. 8 slot of World Cinema pre-releases on Amazon.co.uk.

[peerpee]

A slew of grabs from the finished MoC VAMPYR DVD (out August 25th):