MoC Forthcoming, Wishlist, and Random Speculation

[Tommaso]

Thanks for the reminder, Michael (rather bittersweet considering Digital Meme's price point...).

But before everybody only clamours for "A Page of Madness", let me throw in a few words in praise of Feuillade's "Tih Minh" which denti also mentioned. It is another serial of course, but not terribly episodic, unlike "Les Vampires", but feels more or less like one very long film, and a very captivating one on top of it. In a way it seems to be even more assured and somewhat less pulpy (which I mean in a positive sense here, though I love the pulp of "Fantomas" and "Vampires") than these earlier serials. It's constantly inventive, surprising and terribly stylish. Perhaps it's not yet restored by the French, I don't know; but if it is, I would really love to see this in an MoC Edition (or even an AE one...).Nothing against Lang, Murnau and Lubitsch, but what the world really needs is more Feuillade.

And if you do "A Page of Madness", be sure to license the In The Nursery soundtrack instead of that terrible 70s-style one which is on the Japanese re-release version from about that time. The ITN is, as usual, wonderfully entrancing stuff which fits the film and its many moods and rhythms like a glove.

[perkizitore]

Is it one of the oldest surviving Japanese silents?

Here are some of the other silent films available (in addition to the Ozu silents and the one Shimizu silent available from Criterion).

http://www.digital-meme.com/en/our_prod ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was aware of this site, but didn't think to look. It seems their oldest title is from 1924.

[denti alligator]

what the world really needs is more Feuillade.

Amen.

[Michael Kerpan]

Thanks for the reminder, Michael (rather bittersweet considering Digital Meme's price point...).

The price was not so crushing if you pre-ordered these from Digital Meme (or, even cheaper, through Amazon Japan). But the price jumped up the instant these got released.

[evillights]

My understanding about TIH MINH is that there are two versions out there — one held by Gaumont, in reasonable shape, and restored, which is what gets projected (when it gets projected); and one held by the Belgian Cinematheque, which perhaps doesn't look as nice, but which is more complete.

Obviously, these issues need to be reconciled, or at least come to some kind of magically-thought resolution (or even better, 'fully-resolved resolution') before we'd consider releasing it (were it possible).

On a side-note, it's long been my viewpoint that if a Feuillade film be released on DVD, it should essentially be accompanied by the steady beat of a single, incessant, unrelenting tom-drum. Recorded well, of course, with real ambience. No piano plinky-plonk. That said, I think the score on the Gaumont FANTÔMAS release from some time back is quite good, although I do recall it having 'digital veneer'.

[Jarpie]

Is there any chances of getting more Orson Welles, for example The Trial which is public domain? Chimes of Midnight is probably out of the question, but what about Macbeth or Othello with Filming Othello-documentary?

[tojoed]

Is there any chance that Thorold Dickinson's The Queen of Spades might be considered? I don't think it's ever been released on DVD in the UK, and the US one from Anchor Bay is out of print and hard to get hold of.
Dickinson's name would not be out of place in a Masters of Cinema catalogue.

[Dr Amicus]

Queen of Spades coming from Optimum, according to a poster at BritMovie.

[tojoed]

Thanks Doc. MoC would have been very nice, but I'll take what I can get.

[perkizitore]

Is there any chances of getting more Orson Welles, for example The Trial which is public domain? Chimes of Midnight is probably out of the question, but what about Macbeth or Othello with Filming Othello-documentary?

The Trial is out by Optimum, which is the best version available. Macbeth and Othello have been released by Second Run, but i don't know if Eureka could pursue the rights.

[Jonathan S]

The Trial is out by Optimum, which is the best version available.

I have the Optimum which is indeed a nice transfer, with interesting extras (not mentioned on the box!), but it's missing the pin-screen prologue which for me is vital (and I recall there were other changes). The earlier Warner DVD, which I also have, included the prologue but is OOP. I think we still await a definitive release, even on SD.

[Dr Amicus]

Macbeth and Othello have been released by Second Run, but i don't know if Eureka could pursue the rights.

I think you mean Second Sight...

[perkizitore]

Macbeth and Othello have been released by Second Run, but i don't know if Eureka could pursue the rights.

I think you mean Second Sight...

Oops #-o

[hangman]

The Trial is out by Optimum, which is the best version available.

I have the Optimum which is indeed a nice transfer, with interesting extras (not mentioned on the box!), but it's missing the pin-screen prologue which for me is vital (and I recall there were other changes). The earlier Warner DVD, which I also have, included the prologue but is OOP. I think we still await a definitive release, even on SD.

Its mainly the pinscreen as noted, its been discussed quite a bit at the thread(s) for the title. As for the definitive of it I believe its the french version (well closest one to the idea). In any case Welles titles are pretty elusive so I wouldn't cross my fingers on this one.

Edit: Ah looks like there were other changes but anyways these would be it? I think.

The Studio Canal disc is great, though it may be out of print.

I believe the UK R2 Optimum Releasing disc uses that same Studio Canal transfer and is generally very good all round. I've posted screencaptures here including the bonus features menu capture (as Optimum failed to mention on the cover that this release carried a 30 minute Documentary and a 23 minute Interview with the DOP). As far as the film goes, the Optimum disc is apparently missing the short 'Parable of Law' opening sequence,

This is the 1984 re-edit (by Welles himself?) Not only it omits the Alexeieff's pin-screen introduction, it's also reedited. E.g. after K. meets his cousin Irmie, he is seen visiting Elsa Martinelli (in the original version he goes back to see the Advocate and meets Bloch there). Another omission is Paola Mori's "I'm not used to fresh air".

The Canal Plus 2-disc set from France includes both versions but for some reason the 1963 version features totally unidiomatic "videofied" opening and closing credits. So in order to watch this film in its original state with the top-notch quality of this release one needs to do some computer editing on this set:

1. The original scrolling titles from Disc 2,
2. The Alexeieff opening through the last scene from Disc 1,
3. The closing (Welles reading the credits off-screen) from Disc 2.

What a mess.

BTW, as an experiment in YouTube "Annotations" feature, I attempted to reconstruct the deleted scene with Katina Paxinou (read the clip info on YouTube for the gory details).

[ellipsis7]

Having just glimpsed the superb new BFI Blu of THE LEOPARD, and lost in admiration over their RED DESERT Blu, please will MoC give serious thought to rereleasing LA NOTTE and ROCCO AND HIS BROTHERS on Blu (and IL GRIDO & BELLISSIMA for that matter)?....

[DanV]

Is there a chance to see published some recent and relevant Asian films? For instance, other films by Kurosawa Kiyoshi (Barren Illusions, Cure, License to Live) Koreeda Hirokazu (hoping especially for Distance and Maboroshi no Hikari) and Hou Hsiao-Hsien; even more obscure titles such as Harmful Insect (2001) would be appreciated.

[Peacock]

Nick, is The Burmese Harp still forthcoming, or should I just spring for the Criterion?

[peerpee]

It will be coming out - not sure when though. Sorry I can't be more specific.

[James]

How about Chantal Akerman's stuff? With the Eclipse release, it's getting very tempting to just get that, but I know that when and if you folks release it, there will be some great features.

[peerpee]

Nothing specific to report. Speaking as a punter, I'd go for the Eclipse set, we're going to be a while.

[Finch]

When can we expect the April titles to be announced (since the final two Pialats have been moved to March)?

Ozu films like What Did The Lady Forget? would be great to see in MoC's collection. And if more classical Hollywood is not out of the question, I'd vote for more Dieterle and, if you were able to licence this, Anthony Mann's Reign of Terror (who holds the UK rights for the Mann? Universal?).

[peerpee]

We normally announce stuff 2 months before release, so the fact that the March titles are announced, means we're quite ahead of ourselves!

Having said that, we have a surprise February title to announce soon (to make up for the disappointment of MAN HUNT being pulled). We'll announce it on Twitter in a few weeks.

[Ben Cheshire]

I hope its a blu of a vintage film!

[tajmahal]

We normally announce stuff 2 months before release, so the fact that the March titles are announced, means we're quite ahead of ourselves!

Having said that, we have a surprise February title to announce soon (to make up for the disappointment of MAN HUNT being pulled). We'll announce it on Twitter in a few weeks.

Nick, that didn't take you long to organize the first of two budget Naruse boxsets. [-o<

[Peacock]

Ah finally... Eros + Massacre!


But seriously, Nick will we be seeing any more Japanese films in 2010 from you guys?
And is it impossible to get hold of ATG titles like the one above?