Éric Rohmer on DVD and BD

[criterionsnob]

My set arrived and I had to share a few pictures.

What a thing of beauty this is in person! A few discs were dislodged in transit, but no scratches. I'm looking forward to this set giving me years of viewing pleasure.

[EddieLarkin]

A Tale of Springtime, The Green Ray and Rendez-vous in Paris are also 1.66:1 in the set, though I wouldn't know if they are right. Are there any resources for what the correct aspect ratios are?

[GaryC]

A Tale of Springtime, The Green Ray and Rendez-vous in Paris are also 1.66:1 in the set, though I wouldn't know if they are right. Are there any resources for what the correct aspect ratios are?

I've only ever seen A Tale of Springtime in 1.66:1, which was shot in 35mm. According to the film can when it was shown at University, The Green Ray (shot in 16mm) should be 1.37:1, but I did see it in 1.66:1 in the cinema. If I remember rightly, I did see Rendez-vous in Paris (another 16mm-shot film) in 1.66:1 in the cinema but the Artificial Eye DVD is 4:3. The film can for The Aviator's Wife (also 16mm-originated) said 1.37:1, so that's the ratio I projected in, also at University.

All the Nestor Almendros-shot features are 1.37:1 except Pauline at the Beach, which is indeed 1.66:1 - as per the filmography in his book A Man with a Camera.

The Lady and the Duke is the widest Rohmer feature - shot digitally, intended for 1.85:1.

The Tree, The Mayor and the Mediatheque, which I saw tonight, was shot in 16mm and the DCP was in 1.37:1 and that did look correct.

[StevenJ0001]

My set arrived and I had to share a few pictures.

What a thing of beauty this is in person! A few discs were dislodged in transit, but no scratches. I'm looking forward to this set giving me years of viewing pleasure.

Wow, great pics! Though one of them gave me a bad case of "Late Mizoguchi" envy. The eBay prices for that are through the roof these days.

Thanks all for the aspect ratio info. It sure is a complicated situation. Not sure if I'll bother tracking down DVDs for the ones incorrectly presented on Blu or just grin and bear it.

[RossyG]

I saw the BFI's restoration of The Green Ray on digital at the Duke of York's, Brighton, and it seemed to be around 1.66:1.

[Zot!]

Green Ray's aspect looks comfortable throughout. I think Aviator's Wife re-framing was the only one I felt was a little unpleasant. The set is a hodge-podge of transfers that were most likely prepared at different times and different people, and I'm guessing Potemkine was in a take-it-or-leave-it situation. Personally, I'm very glad they took it, as these are the definitive home video presentations of these films, unless you can't live without the expected OAR for a handful. There a few Japanese BDs out there, but I've not seen any reviews, and I would expect they came from the same transfers. I think there is a Japanese BD of Triple Agent...so there is that exception, I suppose.

[StevenJ0001]

I think there is a Japanese BD of Triple Agent...so there is that exception, I suppose.

Interesting--though I would guess its sans English subtitles.

[nick]

I’ve been weighing the Potemkine set as well and trying to determine which aspect ratios are incorrect. Since most of Rohmer’s films were produced by Les films du losange I decided to consult their website catalog and most of the technical stats for Rohmer’s films are listed. There are some differences to what has been previously mentioned in this thread: for example the catalogue lists Pauline at the Beach at 1.33:1. I like many of you have only ever seen it at 1.66:1.

Here is the information from Losange’s catalogue:

The Sign of Leo (1.66:1)
The Bakery Girl of Monceau (1.33:1)
Suzanne’s Career (1.33:1)
La Collectionneuse (1.33:1)
My Night at Maud’s (1.33:1)
Claire’s Knee (1.33:1)
Love in the Afternoon (1.33:1)
The Marquise de O (1.33:1)
Perceval (1.33:1)
The Aviator’s Wife (1.33:1)
A Good Marriage (1.33:1)
Pauline at the Beach (1.33:1)
Full Moon in Paris (1.33:1)
The Green Ray (1.33:1)
Four Adventures of Reinette & Marabelle (Aspect ratio not listed)
Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1.33:1)
A Tale of Springtime (1.33:1)
A Tale of Winter (1.33:1)
The Tree, The Mayor, and the Mediatheque (1.66:1)
Rendezvous in Paris (1.66:1)
A Summer’s Tale (1.33:1)
An Autumn Tale (1.33:1)

I don’t see the final three listed on their site.

If anyone wants to see this information for themselves here is the link

[Murdoch]

The set is once again marked down, this time to 141.96 euros at the much more reliable Amazon.es

[rwaits]

Thanks a lot. I finally bit.

I was surprised to see that upon making it through checkout, the set itself showed as 117 in my cart, plus 23 shipping to bring the set up to 141 TOTAL ($154 shipped to U.S.). I can't wait to finally drown myself in this set.

[EddieLarkin]

I too felt it was time, so I picked up both this and the Epstein set for £155. I imagine many people paid that much for the Rohmer set by itself when it first came out so I'm happy.

[Zot!]

Thanks a lot. I finally bit.

I was surprised to see that upon making it through checkout, the set itself showed as 117 in my cart

subtracts VAT (Value Added Tax) Beware, you could be taxed for import fees however.

[Cronenfly]

Down to €136.14 on Amazon Italy. With tax deducted/shipping added, it came out about €10 cheaper for me than on Spain, which helps make up for the $15 I lost on my credit card refund from France thanks to shifting exchange rates. \:D/

[Murdoch]

Got my set today in pristine condition! I was surprised since the box looked like it had been ripped apart by a shark. There's plenty of discussion on the packaging already and it is strenuous to get the discs out so I wound up transferring all of them to an empty CD binder. Thankfully each individual case is so slim even those discs that had popped out of their holder were undamaged despite the several thousand miles of travel. The shipping was stressful since Amazon.fr never updates the tracking info, but I can't complain that much for spending 130 euros on this magnificent set

[jwd5275]

The Marquise of O and Full Moon In Paris coming from Film Movement.

[Cronenfly]

They seem likely to be DVD only, like Big World Pictures' Four Seasons releases, which is too bad, but it's nice to see them getting some North American representation all the same.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

As long as the image is restored and the subtitles are removable on Marquise, I'm all for it! I know a number of German lit devotees who can finally see it so there's good in that as well.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

The Rozier set, absolutely

This is the Potemkine Films set, correct? Does it have English subtitles?

[domino harvey]

Yes, all features are subtitled, the extras are not. It's region free too I think

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Thanks, domino. I'll just order them together since I have the chance. Let's see how they package this order!

Edit: And I just learned that one of my favorite late Rohmer efforts Triple Agent is dvd only

[domino harvey]

We have a thread for the Rozier box here. My screencap images were broken so I've re-upped them. Be sure to weigh in there on the films once they arrive! What I wouldn't give to see Du côté d'Orouët for the first time again...

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I had no idea we had a thread on it - even after I searched! Wow, that's incredibly intriguing. I have to say I'm twice as glad that I ordered it now. I'll have to carve out some Rozier time tout suite once the set arrives. If the set in my order arrives in good shape as I fear the size of the Rohmer box - which I forgot was so bulky - might attract some truly egregious UPS handling.

[rwaits]

My Rohmer set arrived today, battered to hell. In addition to every corner being bashed in, it looks as if someone took a box cutter and gouged across all the spines and book. Ugh... I could cry.

I'm debating whether its worth hassling with a replacement. Has anyone received this item in decent condition (in the US) from Amazon.es ?

On a side note, this is 0521 / 5000. Not sure if that's any indication of how much stock remains for this title.

[Zot!]

Sorry to hear that rwaits. Read earlier in this thread for what intervention to take. My second set was sent in good shape from Amazon.fr if it makes you feel any better. Unless the numbering is going in reverse as they deplete sets, it means nothing, mine is mid-4000s and I got it on release.

[schlafen]

My Rohmer set arrived today, battered to hell. In addition to every corner being bashed in, it looks as if someone took a box cutter and gouged across all the spines and book. Ugh... I could cry.

I'm debating whether its worth hassling with a replacement. Has anyone received this item in decent condition (in the US) from Amazon.es ?

On a side note, this is 0521 / 5000. Not sure if that's any indication of how much stock remains for this title.

I'm so sorry that your Rohmer set arrived in such a poor state; I received mine from Amazon.es yesterday (I live in Texas) in perfect condition. I would definitely contact Amazon.es and request a replacement copy.