Kino

[Max von Mayerling]

I got this from Neflix recently. I enjoyed it. I agree that Raf Vallone is both a lump and a serious liability. I also agree the enjoyment in the film is principally in the secondary characters (and performances) and then in some of the odder aspects of the story. I don't want to spoil anything, but I'm glad I saw this film if only for the performance by Signoret's character's husband and, most importantly, his mother. What a mother! Something odd happens with her in the later parts of the film that definitely creeped me out.

So, I wouldn't say it is a masterpiece, (as a big fan of Port of Shadows in particular), but I'm glad I saw it.

[Scharphedin2]

For anyone who still owns a VHS, there may be some interesting titles in this big clearance sale by Kino. Mostly the titles are the ones we know from DVD, but there a few that have not made it into the digital medium.

[ByMarkClark.com]

Can anyone comment on AND QUIET FLOWS THE DON? Is this film worth the massive time investment it requires?

[Scharphedin2]

THERESE RAQUIN is the weakest Carne film I've seen, but is certainly not without interest. It's nowhere near as bad as critics like Truffaut made it out to be. The story itself is engrossing, and the tone is in line with earlier masterworks like PORT OF SHADOWS and LE JOUR SE LEVE, but without the visual elegance of those movies. Simone Signoret is quite good, as usual, but has no chemistry with male lead Raf Vallone, who comes off as a big lump. His flat-affect performance is a serious liability. However, the supporting characters are very well drawn and performed.

If you approach THERESE RAQUIN looking for a Carne masterpiece, you'll be disappointed. But if you approach the film looking for a pulpy-fun noir thriller, THERESE RAQUIN should satisfy.

I would very much agree with Mark on this one. The films Carné made from the late '30s up through the '40s are completely of a piece, and they are high amongst my personal favorite films. Raquin is obviously the work of the same director. I think the mood, the attention to detail, the use of Lyon as backdrop to the story, and the general fatalism... all of it is pretty much there, except, as Mark points out, the male protagonist(s) are not strong enough.

[pro-bassoonist]

Can anyone comment on AND QUIET FLOWS THE DON? Is this film worth the massive time investment it requires?

Yes.

The DVD (Kino) not so much!

Pro-B

[HerrSchreck]

From DigitallyObsessed:

Image Transfer Review: The package indicates that the film is presented in its original full frame ratio; however, it feels uncomfortably cramped at the sides making one wonder if it hasn't been zoomed somewhat. Most offerings from the Russian Cinema Council (Ruscico) have been pretty shabby, but this is for the most part much better than one might expect. Part 1 looks reasonably good, with decent color and a sound print. It does tend to be quite soft and dupey, lacking in fine detail, though it is reasonably clear. Color is quite unstable in the second part, and sections have serious scratches visible. Part 3 is faded to yellow for the most part, with very little blue remaining in the picture. Some very minor conversion artifacts are detectable when stepping through frame by frame, but they don't appear to make any visible difference when viewed at proper speed.

Grade: C-

I don't understand why Ruscico treats their heritage so shabbily. The extras are supposed to be sweet, however. Ruscico is really getting on my nerves lately. They're a big enough company and these films (like this, DERSU U & the rest) should be no different to them than WB or Paramount or Universal's telecine treatment of their own cultural jewels. These aren't fucking experimental silents from the stone age, these are BEN-HUR size sweeping epics that are the touchstones of their cultural heritage and they just pass off slop to themselves and to the rest of the world.

Apparently COMMISSAR is better imagewise-- restored, 16x9 enhanced, etc. I'm not really jumping at any of this stuff right now anyway, or BASEBALL FILMS SILENT ERA (though the Sov Animation set looks interesting).

[tryavna]

(though the Sov Animation set looks interesting)

I just received this in the mail on Friday, though I haven't had much of a chance to browse through it yet. It's worth pointing out, however, that Kino is merely distributing the Animation set, which was put together by a U.S. outfit called Jove (and not by Ruscico). From what I've seen so far, the animated shorts are in pretty good condition. The most disappointing feature is that the extensive subtitles (for both spoken words and whatever print appears on-screen) is all forced. Thus there are times when the screen is literally covered in English subtitles that you can't turn off. I don't speak Russian, of course, so the subs are appreciated -- but only for the first viewing. On subsequent viewings I'd prefer to be able to watch the animation alone. (And I guess ripping might be an option. It's just annoying that I'm forced to do this.)

[patrick]

I'm particularly excited about the release of Old Joy on May 1st, I've heard nothing but great things about it.

[MichaelB]

It's worth pointing out, however, that Kino is merely distributing the Animation set, which was put together by a U.S. outfit called Jove (and not by Ruscico). From what I've seen so far, the animated shorts are in pretty good condition. The most disappointing feature is that the extensive subtitles (for both spoken words and whatever print appears on-screen) is all forced. Thus there are times when the screen is literally covered in English subtitles that you can't turn off. I don't speak Russian, of course, so the subs are appreciated -- but only for the first viewing.

This is the same outfit that produced the Masters of Russian Animation DVDs, which I unreservedly recommend aside from the forced subtitles. These are particularly destructive in the case of Yuri Norstein's The Vixen and the Hare because much of the action takes place in the bottom quarter of the screen.

Unfortunately, I think Jove own the world rights to the Soyuzmultfilm library, so there's unlikely to be any rival editions any time soon unless another distributor sublicenses the masters from them.

(Coincidentally, earlier today I was asked by the authoring house putting the BFI Jan Å vankmajer box whether I wanted the subs to be fixed or optional. No prizes for guessing what I said...)

[HerrSchreck]

[(Coincidentally, earlier today I was asked by the authoring house putting the BFI Jan Å vankmajer box whether I wanted the subs to be fixed or optional. No prizes for guessing what I said...)

I can't believe they even asked.

As to Kino, they obviously inked a load with Ruscico:

More Soviet material:

Chukrai: CLEAR SKIES, THE FORTY FIRST

Also GYPSIES ARE FOUND NEAR HEAVEN by Grigore Grigoriu, Svetlana Toma

and

Karen Shakhnazarov's WINTER EVENING IN CAGRY.

[PhilipS]

THERESE RAQUIN is the weakest Carne film I've seen, but is certainly not without interest. It's nowhere near as bad as critics like Truffaut made it out to be. The story itself is engrossing, and the tone is in line with earlier masterworks like PORT OF SHADOWS and LE JOUR SE LEVE, but without the visual elegance of those movies. Simone Signoret is quite good, as usual, but has no chemistry with male lead Raf Vallone, who comes off as a big lump. His flat-affect performance is a serious liability. However, the supporting characters are very well drawn and performed.

If you approach THERESE RAQUIN looking for a Carne masterpiece, you'll be disappointed. But if you approach the film looking for a pulpy-fun noir thriller, THERESE RAQUIN should satisfy.

I would very much agree with Mark on this one. The films Carné made from the late '30s up through the '40s are completely of a piece, and they are high amongst my personal favorite films. Raquin is obviously the work of the same director. I think the mood, the attention to detail, the use of Lyon as backdrop to the story, and the general fatalism... all of it is pretty much there, except, as Mark points out, the male protagonist(s) are not strong enough.

I would have to disagree on Signoret - she's practically sleepwalking through this one. She shows no passion (or anything) at all until near the end. As to the mood, it's as flat as the top of Herman Munster's head. The pacing is ponderous throughout and there is little poetic about the result - it's hard to believe this is by the same Carne who made those earlier classics.

The plot also takes liberties with the book. Bringing it forward to contemporary France is understandable but there are other changes - in the book I recall Camille was unaware of the affair but here he twigs long before his demise. In fact this knowledge leads to his destruction, whereas in the original it was the lovers' passion that was the decisive factor. The more ruinous change though is the inclusion of the character of the soldier, who was plainly added to externalise the self-destruction of the lovers. The way it's played here is as a obvious device and thus very irritating.

Kino's DVD is disappointing. It's a PAL to NTSC conversion which means that anything that moves in relation to the frame is slightly blurry - very distracting. The highlight of the disc is the laughable reissue poster showing Signoret in a seductive pose displaying much cleavage - this ain't in the film folks.

[Matt]

According to an ad in Video Librarian magazine, Kino is releasing Avant-Garde 2 in June, to include 36 films.

[ola t]

Facets lists 17 films on Avant-Garde 2, including four by Brakhage. Also according to Facets, Kino is releasing Kiarostami's Five and Around Five.

[Tommaso]

Facets lists 17 films on Avant-Garde 2, including four by Brakhage. .

Sounds great, especially because of the early Paul Leni film included, but they also release "Pacific 231" and, best of all, Isidore Isou's half-mythical "Traité de bave et d'éternité"! Haven't heard of any of the other films, but this set certainly will be another highpoint of an already incredible year of dvd releases.

[Tribe]

Facets lists 17 films on Avant-Garde 2, including four by Brakhage.

Nothing by Maya Deren in these compilations?

Tribe

[Tommaso]

All the Deren films are available from mysticfire.com, so neither the need nor probably the possibility to release them again.

[vogler]

Avant-Garde 2 has an incredible selection of films. Wonderful to have more Brakhage films on DVD. These are very different from the later more visionary films, being more in the 'psychodrama' style. Not as good as the later work, particularly from the 60s, but nevertheless still great films. Very exciting to finally have some Gregory Markopoulos and Marie Menken on DVD, both very important film-makers of the American avant-garde. Most exciting for me, however, is the Sidney Peterson & James Broughton films. I was very disappointed that The Potted Psalm wasn't included on the Facets Broughton release. Peterson's The Cage is an incredible and extraordinary film. This will be an excellent opportunity for me to get rid of some abominable quality bootlegs.

2007 is definitely going to be the greatest year ever for DVDs as far as I'm concerned.

[Knappen]

I've never seen Therese Raquin. But as a Carne fanboy I do recommend his first picture, Jenny. (Available on R2 - or is it this a boot?- with no subs. ask oneself??)

David, there is a japanese dvd. I think your copy may stem from that one. I too like Jenny. Robert Le Vigan is my favorite in this film. Many fine lines from Prévert.

[dadaistnun]

FWIW, someone on an IMDb board (yeah, I know) claims Kino will be releasing Haneke's The Castle later this year. It will probably just be a port of the R2 Art Malta disc, but with English subtitles.

[justeleblanc]

FWIW, someone on an IMDb board (yeah, I know) claims Kino will be releasing Haneke's The Castle later this year. It will probably just be a port of the R2 Art Malta disc, but with English subtitles.

I just emailed them about it. If they are going to release it my guess is I should get a response from them within a few days.

[fred]

FWIW, someone on an IMDb board (yeah, I know) claims Kino will be releasing Haneke's The Castle later this year.

I've heard this more than once from other sources as well. Here's the spring issue of Cineaste:

The Castle is scheduled to be released on DVD in the near future, and several of his early TV dramas, among them Lemminge, Die Rebellion, and Wer war Edgar Allan? are currently being subtitled. They will be part of a comprehensive retrospective of Haneke's work, the first in the U.S. and Canada, that will premiere in Boston in October 2007, and later travel throughout North America (for information, visit www.bu.edu/haneke).

[miless]

The Castle is scheduled to be released on DVD in the near future, and several of his early TV dramas, among them Lemminge, Die Rebellion, and Wer war Edgar Allan? are currently being subtitled. They will be part of a comprehensive retrospective of Haneke's work, the first in the U.S. and Canada, that will premiere in Boston in October 2007, and later travel throughout North America (for information, visit www.bu.edu/haneke).

I hope that means new anamorphic editions of The Piano Teacher and Code Unknown.

[souvenir]

Amazon has a listing for Kino's release of Abbas Kiarostami's Five Dedicated to Ozu on July 24.

[Nihonophile]

I discovered Kino had once released a set called "Hollywood Rhythm" on 4 VHS and then later an abbreviated collection over 2 DVDs. I'm most interested in Rudy Vallee's appearances with Mae Questel. Is Musical Justice worth my time? What about the Bing Crosby, Fats Waller shorts etc.

I figure if Rudy is so amusing in his appearances in the Fleischer's Screen Song shorts that its worth a shot, but I'd love to hear from any owners of the set.

[triodelover]

I discovered Kino had once released a set called "Hollywood Rhythm" on 4 VHS and then later an abbreviated collection over 2 DVDs. I'm most interested in Rudy Vallee's appearances with Mae Questel. Is Musical Justice worth my time? What about the Bing Crosby, Fats Waller shorts etc.

I figure if Rudy is so amusing in his appearances in the Fleischer's Screen Song shorts that its worth a shot, but I'd love to hear from any owners of the set.

Wow, what timing. I ordered both DVDs in the Spring of 2006. The second volume (Big Bands & Swing) came immediately. The other volume (Jazz & Blues) came in today's mail. I had forgotten I had ordered it, but DVD Planet filled it finally.

Big Bands & Swing is the one with Rudy and Mae but the short is "Musical Doctor". It was fun and certainly camp, playing off Vallee's reputation as a <i>boulevardier</i>. It's pre-code, so there's that going for it.

It's Kino, so don't expect extensive restoration effort. But it was certainly quite viewable (caveat: I watch on a CRT-based system). Other fun stuff is the "Singapore Sue" short with Cary Grant, his third appearance on film. Also, "Office Blues", a risque short with Ginger Rogers.

I order the set primarily for the disc that arrived today and the artists featured. The Empress, Duke , Louis, Fats, the Hi-De-Ho Man, a young Billie Holiday, Ivie Anderson, Jack Teagarden and Hoagy, among others. I just hope the sound is halfway decent.