443-445 La ronde, Le plaisir, The Earrings of Madame de...

[arsonfilms]

The source novel? Well, I'd been on the fence on this one (just because its a top-tier price and only one disc) but I think the novel put me over the edge. Has anyone read it?

[domino harvey]

Sigh. Resistance is futile. I'm waving the white flag and admitting I'll be picking up all three of these titles regardless of my earlier reservations. You win again, Criterion.

[souvenir]

The source novel? Well, I'd been on the fence on this one (just because its a top-tier price and only one disc) but I think the novel put me over the edge. Has anyone read it?

I haven't read it, but it might be worth mentioning that the novel was written by the same woman who wrote dialogue for Louis Malle's The Lovers. She's featured in a short interview on that film's disc.

[Antoine Doinel]

Wait -- is it an excerpt from the novel or the complete novel that's included? That description isn't very clear.

[domino harvey]

Wait -- is it an excerpt from the novel or the complete novel that's included? That description isn't very clear.

I had trouble deciding at first, but "an excerpt" means it's only excerpting one thing, "excerpts" would mean both. But yeah, that sentence construction horrible is.

EDIT: Actually, it should be an entirely new sentence for the bit about the book, otherwise it's saying that the booklet contains the source novel... did everyone at Criterion with proof-reading skills go on vacation this month?

[kaujot]

Well, we know at least Madame de... is a digipak.

[PillowRock]

Wait -- is it an excerpt from the novel or the complete novel that's included? That description isn't very clear.

I would have sworn that the extras on the British DVD used the word "novella", not "novel" ..... and the edition of the book on Amazon is listed as 80 pages for the entire book.

So it could very easily be the entire thing. It hardly seems worth it to excerpt it.

[Tom Peeping]

Yes, "Madame de" is a short novel. There's absolutely no way Criterion only comes with excerpts. It is a quiet classic written with superb wit and lightness (if slightly dated, but it does have its charm) by Vilmorin. This release sounds fantastic and the Criterion DVD will replace my disappointing Second Sight at once. Same for the two others.

[HerrSchreck]

Still doesnt get them offa the hook for the sublime Libelei... which has been wonderfully restored and gleams with icy white sun reflecting off snow..

[Stefan Andersson]

A 95 minute LA RONDE? Seems odd. I´m pretty sure my VHS, sourced from Janus Films, runs around 111 mins. Why shouldn´t Criterion use that material? And omitting the Philippe/Signoret scene would break the roundelay, if I don´t misremember.

However, a late 70´s article or review in Sight & Sound mentions that Ophuls actually cut one pairing/meeting in LA RONDE, apparently to preserve the interior-sets-only style of the film.

[mario gauci]

I sincerely hope that 97-minute running-time listed for LA RONDE (1950) on the official "Criterion Collection" website is wong; I say this because, until a few days ago, I had owned a copy of the 110-minute version of the film recorded off Italian TV - which I've recently erased in anticipation of the upcoming DVD!!

[peerpee]

That's Second *Sight* you're dissing, not our good friends Second Run.

[HerrSchreck]

More Palazzola than Kline-- those Palazzola supervised, Garvin operated transfers are museum exhibits on fine telecine.

Palazzola was Kline's mentor, anyhoo. But I find her transfers far more respectful of the extant materials and their vintage, whereas Kline is a little too "into" the job, if you know what I mean. He seems to like to leave a mark on his transfers, whereas Palazzola seeks out the directors/dp's mark, recreate it, and leave it at that... rather than reinvent the thing as a modern, digital, Thing of Beauty.

But there are talented operators & supervisors anonymously producing equally beautiful output at Universal, Paramount, not to mention some beautiful work being done on the photochemical restorations coming out of Bologna/Ritrovata/del Commune.

Agreed os Les Enfants Terrible-- it gleams with vintage luminosity.

[Jonathan S]

And omitting the Philippe/Signoret scene would break the roundelay, if I don´t misremember.

No no the 95 minute doesnt omit that - it 's complete. If you cut it you would destroy the film. The longer version seems to just add bits and pieces here and there particularly scenes with Walbrook.

That would presumably rule out including the extra scenes as a supplement then.

I'm fascinated to hear about this longer version of La Ronde, especially as the Walbrook scenes are my favourites. (I've always found him rather sexy, even before I knew he was gay himself! I love the irony of a gay man presiding over the roundelay of heterosexual unions!)

Do any UK members know if this longer version was ever shown on British TV? I bought my VHS (of the shorter cut) in the early 1980s, so never watched the TV screenings.

[Jonathan S]

Thanks David, though I can see only references to Oz and Italian TV screenings, plus (possibly) a Janus tape. If the longer version doesn't come out from either Criterion or Second Sight, I hope I can trade with someone for a copy.

You're certainly not alone in not realising you had it. When the query of this longer cut came up earlier, nobody seemed to know anything about it (and I came to the conclusion it had been confused with the remake or even Lola Montes - both 110 minutes too!)

[Stefan Andersson]

davidhare: what is the source for the statement that a 95-min. LA RONDE is Ophuls´s preferred cut?

A 110-min. LA RONDE could be the 1989 restoration listed on Imdb.

British Board of Film Censors lists two video decisions for LA RONDE, one in Nov. 2007 (=Second Sight I assume), one in the early 90´s (=BFI/Connoisseur Video I assume). Both run 88 mins and some seconds. The Connoisseur VHS is listed at 89 mins on UK Amazon. On US Amazon I can´t find the VHS with the Janus Films print (VHS probably from Home Vision or Republic, whoever handled the Home Vision library on VHS), but an outfit called Commercial Pictures did a VHS of LA RONDE with approx. the same runtime.

[Felix]

Thanks David, though I can see only references to Oz and Italian TV screenings, plus (possibly) a Janus tape. If the longer version doesn't come out from either Criterion or Second Sight, I hope I can trade with someone for a copy.

You're certainly not alone in not realising you had it. When the query of this longer cut came up earlier, nobody seemed to know anything about it (and I came to the conclusion it had been confused with the remake or even Lola Montes - both 110 minutes too!)

My tape is truncated and ends at the point where they say "so the carousel ends in less than two hours and I tell you my friends", presumably close to the end (I have yet to watch it I'm afraid). It was broadcast on BBC2 as part of their Classic French Cinema season, goodness knows when. Time up till that point is 88-89minutes based on the tape counter, suggesting it was the 88 minute version, and I doubt they would have access to two different prints at different times (???).

On the subject of BBC screenings, the version they showed of the German Liebelei back in 1988 was not quite as good as a version going round on the grey market, taped from TV, which in turn does not look as good as the caps Schreck posted elsewhere. Serviceable and German however and it will do for the time being.

[Michael]

Madame de... is the most exciting Criterion release since Vampyr. It was my #1 favorite film for years before I joined this forum a decade ago but my love for it somehow faded over the years. I can't wait to see if it could re-spark my love. It was the most exquisite film I ever saw long ago. My professor projected the film and I was completely transfixed and enthralled by the piercing beauty of everything.

[Florinaldo]

The Second Sight editions commit the cardinal sin of forced English subtitles. Which makes the purchase of the Criterion editions almost mandatory to any Ophuls lover who understands French and does not need the distraction.

BFI seems to also favor forced subs, in their Melvilles for example and in Tristana. I cannot understand the motivation behind that (a question of rights?).

At least Criterion and MoC leave that choice to the viewer.

[Tommaso]

BFI seems to also favor forced subs, in their Melvilles for example and in Tristana. I cannot understand the motivation behind that (a question of rights?).

Almost certainly a question of rights, or rather of how much the company wants to pay. The BFI also often used subbed theatrical prints for their discs ("La terra trema" being a particularly awful example) in their early days, but to be fair it must be said that in the last two or three years they completely(?) abandoned this practice and are now almost always on a par with MoC and CC with their current releases. And like CC, they make up for their earlier crimes by re-releasing some discs.

[bigP]

Madame de... is the most exciting Criterion release since Vampyr. It was my #1 favorite film for years before I joined this forum a decade ago but my love for it somehow faded over the years. I can't wait to see if it could re-spark my love.

Michael, I'm over a decade behind you. I saw Madame De... for the first time only 3 days ago, but it really is magnificent. The camera sweeping around the two lovers as they waltz through time on the dance floor is, for want of a better word (that I don't think i will find), Majestic (to say the least). Vittorio de Sica being cast as Donati was inspired; he has a combination of regality and boyishness about him which allows him to fall into this character body and soul, never allowing us to doubt that this man could be of such position and aristocracy, yet still develop (what is essentially) an overpowering schoolboy crush (I particularly love the scene with his arrival in France, using the baggage handler to create some attention for him so he can distract Danielle Darrieux to take notice and lock eyes).

I hope the Criterion release does re-spark your love, it's a masterful film and proudly among the greatest I have seen.

[Michael]

(I particularly love the scene with his arrival in France, using the baggage handler to create some attention for him so he can distract Danielle Darrieux to take notice and lock eyes)

Oh I love that scene too. I'm so looking forward to revaluating Madame de... next month. The film never gives up whispering through my mind, I never forget the night I first saw the film - at a very tiny theater in Greenwich Village, a date with a guy. Afterward we ended up in a fight. He was blasting the film for being too stylish - the style over substance bullshit, you know. Even though it was the most ravishingly stylish film I saw at that time, I was still emotionally destroyed by the film, I thought it was the most saddest story, the most saddest film of all. You just have to scrape off the thick veneer of the lush surface - cinematography and all, to find the beating heart. We went to a cafe, I think it was Pink Tea Cup, we sat down and I was still so completely dazed by what I saw that I couldn't find anything else to talk about other than Madame de... Our date was ruined immediately because the film consumed me for the night (and many days and a few years after), my companion hating the film didn't help at all. I left orange sweet potato pie untouched and my date behind (he was very rude, demanding attention). Walking back home alone (with a quick stop at Spike), my heart kept waltzing, tears finally released. Madame de.. was a revelation and it was one of the best film-going experiences of my life time. A stinky tiny theater transforming into the grand Viennese ball room, romance perfuming everywhere, heartbreak, lies, diamond hearts.

Madame de.. is the only Ophuls film I've seen. How does it stand against the rest of Ophuls' filmography?

[Danny Burk]

I hate to admit that I've never seen even one, but everything I've read here seems to indicate that they are very much to my taste. Can't wait to see the upcoming Criterions, and I ordered LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN yesterday from Amazon.uk. Which of the others would you guys consider essential?

[tojoed]

I hate to admit that I've never seen even one, but everything I've read here seems to indicate that they are very much to my taste. Can't wait to see the upcoming Criterions, and I ordered LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN yesterday from Amazon.uk. Which of the others would you guys consider essential?

I would say Libelei, Signora di Tutti, Caught and The Reckless Moment are essential Ophuls. Some might add Lola Montes, his final film, but I've always found it a sad failure. There are good DVDs of all of them except Libelei, I think. Lola Montes is coming soon from Second Sight in the UK, and probably Criterion as well, so you will be able to see what you think.

[Michael]

I hate to admit that I've never seen even one, but everything I've read here seems to indicate that they are very much to my taste. Can't wait to see the upcoming Criterions, and I ordered LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN yesterday from Amazon.uk. Which of the others would you guys consider essential?

Danny, based on reading your posts throughout the forum, there is no question that you will LOVE Madame De...