Things To Come R2

[yoshimori]

Anyone seen the new r2uk 2-disc "restored" Things to Come?

I couldn't find any sign of it at DVDBeaver. The stills here at DVDFreak suggests something better-looking than the Image disc, but ...

[tryavna]

It caught my eye recently, too, and I've just ordered it from BensonsWorld, which seems to have the best deal right now (considering that they're still not charging for overseas delivery). But I was refraining from talking about it until I had it in hand. The extras have been overseen by Nick Cooper, who is one of the top experts on the film and runs a very good website about the movie. According to him, all known existing footage has been compiled for a running time that is longer than the Image disc (taking PAL speed-up into account). All that, plus the fact that Network's other recent special editions (League of Gentlemen and Hell Drivers) have been getting good reviews, leads to hope that this will be the definitive edition we've been hoping for.

But I'll provide more feedback when I finally get it -- hopefully by next weekend.

[foggy eyes]

I've had a look at it, and it appears to be the best transfer I've seen yet. There's an excellent booklet stuffed in the middle of the case, but unfortunately I can't comment on the extras yet (Tryavna, you'll probably have it in your hands before I get round to that!).

[meanwhile]

The Ralph Richardson/Russell Harty interview is fun. Richardson simply won't allow himself to be interviewed and, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, starts asking Harty the questions. If anyone knows of them, it reminded me of the classic Gerard Hoffnung/Charles Richardson interviews. ("What can I do for you?")

[tryavna]

DVD Savant has reviewed the Network release.

My copy finally arrived today. (I wonder if the postal strike delayed its shipment...?) I haven't done more than simply glance at it yet, but I immediately agree with Foggy Eyes that it's easily the best transfer of the film I've ever seen. The total running time (in PAL) is 1:32:45, so it's definitely longer than Image's cut, though since I haven't watched it yet I don't know where the extra material is. The "Extended Edition" on disc 2 runs 2:14:15; the extra 41 minutes are made up of stills and captions, like the Metropolis restoration. I haven't delved into the other extras, but the 24-page booklet looks very interesting, and the first five minutes of Nick Cooper's commentary sounds promising.

I'd also like to say that I don't immediately find the audio quality quite as disappointing as Savant and other reviewers seem to. The soundtrack does sound tinny and hollow, but it doesn't sound any worse in its own way than other Korda films from the 1930s that have found their way to DVD (Network's The Man Who Could Work Miracles, MGM's Rembrandt, etc.). As anyone who studies British cinema knows, British audio recording technology always lagged behind that of Hollywood. Even HVe's British titles sounded weak (Man of Aran, Rocking Horse Winner, etc.).