1029 Husbands

Discuss releases by Criterion and the films on them. Threads may contain spoilers!
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justeleblanc
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:05 pm
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#51 Post by justeleblanc » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:58 am

fred wrote:
souvenir wrote:According to their website, it's a 154 min. cut.
This sort of detail isn't their forte. I'd presume that they're wrong until proven otherwise by the actual screening.
Such as the Joan the Maid screenings.

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souvenir
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 12:20 pm

#52 Post by souvenir » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:17 pm

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. IMDB lists 138 minutes as the original release time and 131 minutes as a "TV version: Sony Pictures Television print." What was shown at the Museum of the Moving Image was definitely closer to 131 than 138, so not even the original release time if IMDB is accurate, much less the 154 minutes they advertised.

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souvenir
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#53 Post by souvenir » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:52 pm

I've just run across YouTube videos for Cassavetes, Falk, and Gazzara on the Dick Cavett Show. It also includes the original commercials and is divided into four parts. It's so chaotic I can hardly believe it actually aired. (Part 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Steven H
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:30 pm
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#54 Post by Steven H » Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:03 pm

souvenir wrote:I've just run across YouTube videos for Cassavetes, Falk, and Gazzara on the Dick Cavett Show. It also includes the original commercials and is divided into four parts. It's so chaotic I can hardly believe it actually aired. (Part 1, 2, 3, 4)
This is incredible. Thanks a million for posting.

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King Prendergast
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#55 Post by King Prendergast » Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:17 pm

Steven H wrote:
souvenir wrote:I've just run across YouTube videos for Cassavetes, Falk, and Gazzara on the Dick Cavett Show ...
This is incredible. Thanks a million for posting.
thats been up for awhile. a legendary appearance discussed in every JC bio. when he turns serious and talks about being yourself in a world full of phonies is a great moment

capt.arnos grove
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:32 am

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#56 Post by capt.arnos grove » Thu May 28, 2009 11:26 am

So it appears this is getting a release by Sony Pictures. Any more info?

I hope it is the long/154min cut. Though it is region 1 it appears.

Any links to where I could buy the German/European DVD?

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Ashirg
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:10 am
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#57 Post by Ashirg » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:51 am

Special features include a commentary with Cassavetes biographer Marshall Fine, as well as interviews with Gazzara, producer Al Ruban (Faces) and cinematographer Victor Kemper (Dog Day Afternoon).

Running Time: 141 minutes

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Person
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:00 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#58 Post by Person » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:48 am

Ashirg wrote:Special features include a commentary with Cassavetes biographer Marshall Fine, as well as interviews with Gazzara, producer Al Ruban (Faces) and cinematographer Victor Kemper (Dog Day Afternoon).

Running Time: 141 minutes
Woah! That's awesome! I was expecting a lazy-ass bare bones. Good times!


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Person
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:00 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#60 Post by Person » Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:00 pm

Gazzara looks a bit Irish (in the best possible sense) on the cover! Other than that, it's a fairly plain but thankfully innocuous design. The elusive 154-minute cut would have been cool, but I'm not disappointed about it not being presented here.

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criterionsnob
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#61 Post by criterionsnob » Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:50 am


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Person
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:00 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#62 Post by Person » Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:04 pm

Looks very good. I'm so glad that this is finally in a good edition. Wonderful film.

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greggster59
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:37 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#63 Post by greggster59 » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:50 pm


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The Elegant Dandy Fop
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:25 am
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#64 Post by The Elegant Dandy Fop » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:11 am

Just saw this today for the first time. What an amazing movie! The transfer was beautiful and despite the fact I'm about half the age of the characters in this film, it still resonated with me. When you see this with the Dick Cavett interview, you doubt if the dialogue was even scripted. The way they talk, act, and love each other seems so real.

This has surpassed The Killing of a Chinese Bookie as my favorite Cassavetes film.

Now if only Love Streams can get a DVD release.

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der_Artur
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#65 Post by der_Artur » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:49 am

The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:Now if only Love Streams can get a DVD release.
It got one.

Or do you mean R1?

langdonboom
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:59 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#66 Post by langdonboom » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:02 pm

It worked! It only took 5 years, but this must've had some effect on the DVD coming out, right?

Now the question is WHICH VERSION is it? It does claim to have restored footage but has anybody seen it yet? Is the puking/farting scene back in?

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Matango
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#67 Post by Matango » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:43 am

Yes, the puking/farting is indeed in there, as is the interminable singing around the table scene that precedes it.

langdonboom
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:59 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#68 Post by langdonboom » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:52 am

Matango wrote:Yes, the puking/farting is indeed in there, as is the interminable singing around the table scene that precedes it.
You say interminable as if it were a bad thing?

That's great to know its restored, thanks.

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MoonlitKnight
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:44 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#69 Post by MoonlitKnight » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:59 pm

der_Artur wrote:
The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:Now if only Love Streams can get a DVD release.
It got one.

Or do you mean R1?
I don't think he'd bring it up if he didn't mean R1. 8-[

Dr. Geek
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#70 Post by Dr. Geek » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:57 pm

Just a heads-up for anyone else awaiting for their DVD to arrive or interested in buying the DVD:

Their is no booklet packaged inside. I emailed Sony's customer support and was told that the film was not issued with a booklet.

Failed opportunity by Sony there . . .

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tavernier
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:18 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#71 Post by tavernier » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:06 pm

When was the last time Sony included a booklet in one of its releases?

Dr. Geek
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#72 Post by Dr. Geek » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:40 pm

tavernier wrote:When was the last time Sony included a booklet in one of its releases?
Ha! Honestly, I don't know, having not bought a Sony DVD in a very long time.

Just thought I'd point it out for anyone wondering.

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pemmican
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Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#73 Post by pemmican » Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:03 am

You know, it's funny - I rushed out to buy this ON THE DAY OF ITS RELEASE. That night, I speed-searched through it and compared it with my bootleg: does it have all the puking and farting and horrible bodily sounds? Does it have "Buddy Can You Spare A Dime?" Why is it a few minutes LONGER than my bootleg, which I'd presumed complete?

I couldn't answer the last question, but it did seem to be all there. Phew.

But here's the funny part: I haven't actually watched it yet! I apparently raced out to get it on that day JUST SO I COULD SEE IF IT WAS THE RIGHT VERSION (and so I could start raising a stink if it wasn't). That was enough.

I saw it in March 2007. I don't need to look at it again so soon!

A.

razumovsky
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:52 pm

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#74 Post by razumovsky » Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:56 pm

I have just noticed that Wild Side are bringing this out in France http://www.dvdclassik.com/news/husbands ... -wild-side" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The edition includes the full, 2h16m version, the edited cut, as well as the documentary Anything for John - has any one here seen this? How does it compare with A Constant Forge? Of course the definitive Husbands release would have to include the notorious Dick Cavett appearance and the BBC doc The Making of Husbands - but I imagine rights issues make this a non-starter.
Masters of Cinema have been showing an image from Husbands on their Twitter page ever since the passing of Ben Gazzara. Probably I'm being optimistic to the point of delusion, but could it be them who finally give the film its UK dvd release? And - why not - its Blu debut? It's a staggeringly great film, and it deserves it.

criterion10

Re: Husbands (Cassavetes, 1970)

#75 Post by criterion10 » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:39 pm

I loved the five Cassavetes films Criterion released without any reservations, so a viewing of Husbands last night that left me rather conflicted was a bit unfortunate.

I suppose you could say that watching a group of unlikeable, misogynistic, and infantile men laugh their way through a jolly good 'ol time of drinks, gambling, women, and so on for over two hours isn't exactly the most pleasant experience. Though this isn't the main issue, as I, for one, do not feel that a film's protagonists do not need to be likable, change over the duration of a film, or subside to any other hackneyed screenwriting rule.

The problem with Husbands is that the film feels like little more than an extended run of the aforementioned chicanery, complete with moments far too monotonous and overlong to be included in the final cut. Roger Ebert actually perfectly nails this flaw with the film in his review, describing how the seemingly improvisational dialogue yields so many moments of "anti-dialogue" -- characters struggling for what they should say, before ultimately bringing out a conversation that, frankly, isn't very interesting. It's like, did that awful singing competition really have to be that long? (The film does get better after this scene ends.)

And I do understand that focusing on these seemingly minor and insignificant moments is a trademark of Cassavetes. Few directors would allow a scene to play out as long as it does like the one in The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, where Mr. Sophistication complains to Cosmo about the praise the girls receive for their performances. But, at least a diversion like this one is both interesting to watch and adds to the dimensions of the central character.

There are some great moments in Husbands, but it is indeed a bit of a mixed bag.

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