1295 The Dead

[Svevan]

Those caps look a LOT better than my old R2 Network DVD (which I cannot cap on my Mac, unfortunately; unless there's a trick I don't know). Here's hoping for a comparison from someone like Beaver to verify, as my memory could be faulty. Also, the old DVD was PAL and seemed to be running at varying speeds throughout (voices would be high-pitched then semi-normal, etc), though that could be due to my over-sensitivity to PAL speed-up and nothing else.

[MoonlitKnight]

I'm positive that it's the right version (it runs a full 83 minutes); perhaps (hopefully) the one I got is just an anomaly? I purchased it in-store, and there was a post-it note on the display copy indicating that it was the corrected version, despite what the packaging and disc say.

Interesting. My new packaging definitely says 83 minutes so let's indeed hope this corrected packaging will soon be found in stores...

Eh, it's hardly the first DVD that's been released with an inaccurate running time listed on the back. :-k

[jaredsap]

Eh, it's hardly the first DVD that's been released with an inaccurate running time listed on the back. :-k

Have you been following the whole discussion? The crucial point here is that unless Lionsgate gets the corrected packaging into stores, there's no way to tell the cut from uncut editions on retailer shelves.

[MichaelB]

Those caps look a LOT better than my old R2 Network DVD (which I cannot cap on my Mac, unfortunately; unless there's a trick I don't know).

I use Snapz Pro X, but I have a professional excuse for paying for it.

[MoonlitKnight]

Eh, it's hardly the first DVD that's been released with an inaccurate running time listed on the back. :-k

Have you been following the whole discussion? The crucial point here is that unless Lionsgate gets the corrected packaging into stores, there's no way to tell the cut from uncut editions on retailer shelves.

Seeing as they supposedly recalled all copies of the botched version (it was completely unavailable at Deep Discount until 12/8), I'm willing to take the chance. :-"

[Finch]

The elegiac last film by John Huston finds the legendary director adapting a masterly short story by his favorite writer, James Joyce, into a poignant reflection on the totality of life. During a snowy winter in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Dublin, the members of an extended family convene for a night of wine, song, and celebration—but it’s not until after the festivities that Gretta (Anjelica Huston) reveals a secret to her husband (Donal McCann) that casts the entire evening in a new light. Aglow with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, and featuring a cast of stellar Irish actors, The Dead gracefully evokes the passage of time and the haunting power of memory.

Film Info
United Kingdom, United States
1987
83 minutes
Color
1.85:1
English
Spine #1295
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director of photography Fred Murphy, with 4.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
New interview with author Colum McCann on the James Joyce short story and its adaptation for the film
New 2K restoration of John Huston and the Dubliners (1987), a behind-the-scenes documentary by Lilyan Sievernich
Audio excerpts from actor Anjelica Huston’s 2014 memoir, Watch Me
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by author and film critic Michael Koresky and a 1987 piece by screenwriter Tony Huston about the making of the film

New cover by Leanne Shapton

[goblinfootballs]

Nice, I can finally replace the bootleg DVD I got in Istanbul (before the US DVD came out).

[Finch]

I did a double take when I saw the specs included a 4K and in Dolby Vision.

[Beloved Aunt]

Pretty lame special edition. Imdb and other sources let you know there's way more stuff they could have included

[Beloved Aunt]

...like these two documentaries, this one that appears to be actually about the parallels between John Huston and James Joyce: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290214/?r ... 520muertos
and this more recent one about Joyce that is narrated by Anjelica Huston herself: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7854310/?r ... 2520street
There's also a long analytical interview with Huston scholar Michel Ciment on at least one French edition of the film, and I *think* there's also an interview with Arnaud Desplechin on another.

[Beloved Aunt]

And if you wanted to go absolutely insane, imdb has a listing for some weird sounding old British TV documentary about Dublin that John Huston directed. Don't really know what the hell that exactly is though.

[yoloswegmaster]

Pretty lame special edition. Imdb and other sources let you know there's way more stuff they could have included

How do you know they didn't try to include those docs?

[Beloved Aunt]

I don't!

[beamish14]

One of my most-wanted LionsGate acquisitions. So glad it has John Huston and the Dubliners

[cdnchris]

I recall my English teacher in high school putting this film on, though can't really recall why (maybe we read the story or were learning about Joyce). But he would intentionally do things to frustrate his students, and I swear delighted in showing film adaptations that would bore everyone in the room because he would always make a statement before putting the movie on how boring we were all going to find it with a smirk. Joke was on him, though: I had already seen it and liked it.

Still props to my geography teacher who showed the last half of The Usual Suspects because he had to return it that afternoon.

[Maltic]

Another one from my most wanted top 10 (when the year began).

...like these two documentaries, this one that appears to be actually about the parallels between John Huston and James Joyce: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290214/?r ... 520muertos
and this more recent one about Joyce that is narrated by Anjelica Huston herself: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7854310/?r ... 2520street

Such narrated docs are usually a waste of time and space, in my opinion.

[jbeall]

Years ago--we're talking almost twenty years now--I emailed Jon Mulvaney (if that even is his real name) to suggest that Criterion acquire La Haine and The Dead. A day or so later, he responded that they were planning on releasing both of those titles (along with a couple others I'd asked about). Then, La Haine was announced a month later, so I assumed that The Dead would be coming out rather promptly, too. Imagine my dismay when Lionsgate released it instead.

At any rate, I'm absolutely thrilled that this film, which is one of my favorite literary adaptations, will be in the collection.

[hearthesilence]

They should've included Gabriel Byrne and Dr. Luke Gibbons's extended introduction at MoMA's 2011 screening. Not only was it long, you could hear a woman in the back audibly express her displeasure when they discuss the plot without any care of spoilers.

[beamish14]

It’s truly amazing that this was mostly filmed in disused warehouses in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.

[jazzo]

I recall my English teacher in high school putting this film on, though can't really recall why (maybe we read the story or were learning about Joyce). But he would intentionally do things to frustrate his students, and I swear delighted in showing film adaptations that would bore everyone in the room because he would always make a statement before putting the movie on how boring we were all going to find it with a smirk. Joke was on him, though: I had already seen it and liked it.

Still props to my geography teacher who showed the last half of The Usual Suspects because he had to return it that afternoon.

Chris, did you have Mr. Kelley, too?

[ryannichols7]

I've wanted to see this for years, happy to now wait for a brand new Criterion 4K! do wish we had a little more extras wise but alas

hey now that we have Huston's last film, can we have a certain other director's last film....that happens to star Huston....

[Beloved Aunt]

I think it would take a lot of Eclair-type tinkering/piss to really fundamentally alter this film's wonderful unique visual scheme, but the clip on Criterion's website is looking a little too yellow...No?

[hearthesilence]

I think it would take a lot of Eclair-type tinkering/piss to really fundamentally alter this film's wonderful unique visual scheme, but the clip on Criterion's website is looking a little too yellow...No?

It's been 14 years so who knows if my memory's accurate, but when I saw that 35mm print at MoMA, it had a similar color palette - it wasn't blooming with color, it looked appropriately old like a book yellowed with age surrounded by an all-wood house that had grown dark brown. The print might've had a little more saturation, and while it definitely was not bright, it might've looked less dark. Otherwise that clip doesn't leap out as revisionism. But...it's been 14 years.

[Beloved Aunt]

Haha yeah I haven't seen this film (or read the story either) for about the same length of time, if not longer. I remember it being very warm-looking, lots of browns and golden lamplight. The particular scene on the website may just naturally not be a part of that. I dunno!

[denti alligator]

A friend of mine (not a cinema lover, to be sure), but a big Joyce lover, said he liked the film, but only objected to Aunt Julia's song being made pathetic where in the story it's excellent but ignored. I honestly don't remember how that's done (it's been at least 20 years since I watched this), but I imagine "excellent but ignored" would not be easy without voice-over narration of some sort, which simply wouldn't work. I though that it would be a nice touch to include the story, which is PD, but I guess everyone who cares has it.