Kino

[Tommaso]

The heads at the Stifting will have too many orgasms 'partaking in history' via the restoration, and put the thing out on tour and do a ton of interviews publicizing the Stiftung and raising money.

They had these sort of orgasms already with the current resto and the simple fact that they inserted the black screens and re-recorded the original music (and f'd up the projection speed in the process...). In a way, it's understandable. Interest in silents in general is very low, but everybody seems to have at least heard of "Metropolis", and to a lesser degree of "Nibelungen" and "Nosferatu". So indeed a good chance to raise their profile. The reverse of the coin, of course, is that this will have top importance now and diminishes the chance they get more restos of less known films done any time soon.

[HerrSchreck]

[ The reverse of the coin, of course, is that this will have top importance now and diminishes the chance they get more restos of less known films done any time soon.

Bingo.

But I confess I swooned at the news like everyone else. My love for this film has diminished not one iota from the obsession on display in the post that opened this thread.

EDIT:
WHOOPS I thought this was the Metropolis thread.. thats the "opening post" I meant. I keep getting them confused since the footage was found and news is getting posted on both threads.

[jsteffe]

But the condition it is currently in is pretty deplorable; and if they want to get it anywhere near the look of the rest of the film, it will take hours and hours of work at the computer (and what wonders can be achieved by digital restoration is demonstrated on the documentary that comes with the current "Metropolis" dvd, and I don't think they will want to fall short of that effort).

I hope folks don't get their expectations too high about what this new footage will finally look like on the DVD. Computer or no computer, there is no way anyone can make the new 16mm footage match the 35mm footage used for the earlier restoration. A 16mm frame *by definition* has less information on it than a 35mm frame, since it's 1/4 the size. You can't add information that's not there--the new footage will necessarily have less detail in the image than the older resto.

[Tommaso]

You can't add information that's not there--the new footage will necessarily have less detail in the image than the older resto.

That is absolutely true of course; I was thinking more of scratch and debris removal, fiddling with the contrast knobs etc. And I'm sure this material absolutely is in need of that

I keep getting them confused since the footage was found and news is getting posted on both threads.

I think it's in about four or five different threads now.... But good to see that it creates such excitement.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Art War Requiem:

Sweet! Another Jarman. Too bad it's so pricey.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Jessica Rosner (an employee of Kino) posted this over on the Nitrateville forum regarding releasing Metropolis with the new footage:

Guys we really have NO idea when this will be done as it all up to Transit and presumably the archive in Argentina. When they get it ready, we will release it.

and on the subject of mastering at a lower frame rate:

Not unless we master the film ourself we of course we do not with films from Murnau/Transit.

[I think the second of those "we"s should be a "which"].

Suggests strongly that the BD won't be out in 2009 unless FWMS/Transit rush through it.

[miless]

not to mention that the original elements used for the original restoration of Metropolis were heavily reworked to recreate the initial look. I think that the film will look magnificent once extensively restored.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Does anybody know if Kino has the rights to Lang's While The City Sleeps ?

The Euruka VHS goes for silly money and as far as I understand its an RKO title. Could someone please shed some light on matters ? Thanks

[HerrSchreck]

Just to send a rocket up on a release of an important film by Kino:

I picked up The Outlaw And His Wife by Victor Sjostrom--

Unfortunately the print/digibeta used appears to by exactly the same as the one used for their earlier VHS which I havent seen.

The print and state of restoration certainly leave a lot to be desired. Kino tries I guess to make it up to us by throwing the Victor Sjostrom documentary in there. But a forwarning, the print used for Outlaw is a composite consisting of wildly variegated prints, none of which seem to have undergone modern restoration techniques. You really feel like you're watching a vhs or early dvd.

As for the film itself, I found it quite good, but unfortunately not the level of epiphany shared by many when coming to it for the first time. Definitely not at the level of, say, Sir Arne, by Stiller. I found the experience a bit compromised by the blasted state of the elements preventing the location shooting to speak as clearly as it should.

For twenty three bucks, I'd say it's worth it.. because of the doc. But only just.

This film screams for modern restoration-- I can't believe the SFI hasn't laid a glove on this film since 1986 (the date of its "restoration" stated on the print). They delivered schmaltz.

[Zazou dans le Metro]

Just to send a rocket up on a release of an important film by Kino:

I picked up The Outlaw And His Wife by Victor Sjostrom-........

This film screams for modern restoration-- I can't believe the SFI hasn't laid a glove on this film since 1986 (the date of its "restoration" stated on the print). They delivered schmaltz.

Thanks for this rocket across the bows of my shopping cart. I'll hang on to both my Kino vhs till the SFI rise from their slumbers

[HerrSchreck]

Just to send a rocket up on a release of an important film by Kino:

I picked up The Outlaw And His Wife by Victor Sjostrom-........

This film screams for modern restoration-- I can't believe the SFI hasn't laid a glove on this film since 1986 (the date of its "restoration" stated on the print). They delivered schmaltz.

Thanks for this rocket across the bows of my shopping cart. I'll hang on to both my Kino vhs till the SFI rise from their slumbers

Terj Vigen is probably another story, since it was recently restored/put out by the sfi. Who knows, Kino may even pulls out a better transfer a la Arne vs the SFI disc. I'll report when I get to it, which may take a week or two.

I just wish this film (Outlaw) would be fully restored-- the location shooting screams for it.

[zedz]

I just wish this film (Outlaw) would be fully restored-- the location shooting screams for it.

Ah, shame. Thanks for the cautionary note!

[Tommaso]

Review of "The Outlaw and His Wife" at digitally obsessed. This confirms Schreck's impressions above, but image transfer grade B- still seems somewhat acceptable to me. I've just ordered this and "A man there was" and will report back when the discs arrive.

[whaleallright]

Concerning THE OUTLAW AND HIS WIFE:

Unfortunately the print/digibeta used appears to by exactly the same as the one used for their earlier VHS which I havent seen.

This is information I am very glad to have, because I would have purchased the DVD with the expectation that it bettered the VHS.

The VHS is something of a disaster. It's splicey and contrasty, but that may just have been the quality of the restoration at that point. Much worse, it was transfered at way too fast a speed. The total running time of the VHS version is 72 minutes; projected properly the restoration should be about 100 minutes, give or take a few. As a result the rhythm of the entire film is off. Titles often pass too quickly to fully absorb. The famous last image of the film flits by in a two seconds or so, which destroys its impact. I can't imagine how anyone approved the VHS transfer.

Does the DVD seem too fast as well? Even if they used the same print, at least they might have corrected the transfer speed.

The lack of a worthy video source is tragic, as this is a spectacular film in several senses. It's a landscape film, with awesome images that redeem that label from suggestions of postcard prettiness. But it's also more or less a chamber drama, one that Sjöström (as director and actor) modulates with great sensitivity.

[HerrSchreck]

It looks like the SFI hasn't laid a glove on the film since 1986 (given date of the resto) aside from recording a new orchestral score and marrying it with the old analog transfer and sending the beta to Kino. A shame.

The speed didnt seem noticeably off to me.. the idea of this simple narrative/content running 100 minutes sounds horribly plodding. Are you sure some sections arent missing?

[Felix]

It is a shame about The Outlaw and His Wife. I have the video already so I am not minded to trade like for like but I note the DVD has a documentary on Sjostrom and his films, anyone familiar with this? Is it worth upgrading from my tape to the DVD for it?

[Zazou dans le Metro]

I had both these vhs titles up on e-bay for 99 cents each in anticipation of the DVD. Am I relieved they didn't sell.

So felix I'm sure you can pick the Sjostrom doc up dirt cheap on vhs for under 99 cents.

[Saturnome]

Meh... I'm still tempted for the films themselves, but I'll try to get them cheap (no VHS player).

[whaleallright]

There is a (very nice) orchestral score on the VHS as well -- perhaps the same one as on the DVD?

Here's the catalog for MoMA's Sjöström retro in 2003. You'll see that the listed running time for OUTLAW AND HIS WIFE is 99 minutes. I recall seeing similar running times for other screenings of the film.

It may be that 100 minutes is too long, but 72 minutes is certainly too short.

[Felix]

I had both these vhs titles up on e-bay for 99 cents each in anticipation of the DVD. Am I relieved they didn't sell.

So felix I'm sure you can pick the Sjostrom doc up dirt cheap on vhs for under 99 cents.

Good call, thanks. I'll have a look or wait until folk replace them with the DVD. I am trying to avoid any more videos, simply for reasons of space, but cheap is cheap. Is it any good though???

[What A Disgrace]

Looks like Kino is putting out the MK2 restoration of The General.

[videozor]

Looks like Kino is putting out the MK2 restoration of The General.

What about good (or bad) timing? Just 2 days ago I ordered Keaton set of 3 other MK2 restorations from Amazon.uk and was watching for a good price for R2 The General as well.

Must be a rule there on how long an R1 resident should wait before buying an R2 DVD without a fear that it will be equaled or bettered by an R1 re-issue...

Recently something similar happened when I was about to order MoC's The Last Man and then learned about Kino's announced re-issue.

[nsps]

I guess the real question is, will Kino release those other three MK2 restorations as well. And perhaps the real question: As long as they're releasing Metropolis on Blu-ray, how about Buster? In that case, I'd be forced to go Blu for HD BK.

I have the other Sjostrom disc and while the source material isn't always perfect, it's surely better than what sounds like the rather appalling quality of Outlaw and His Wife.

[kaujot]

Not a big fan of the score Kino uses for The General. Mont-Alto's is MUCH better (as is their current transfer).

[Tommaso]

I've received both Sjöström discs now and started with "Terje Vigen" and the documentary last night. "Terje" indeed looks very good, sharp and clear, definitely a new transfer. The tintings look lovely, and there are none of the usual NTSC conversion problems as far as I could see. The print itself is in quite good shape for a 1917 film, though there are the usual speckles and occasional tramlines, but nothing to worry about really. A quick glance at "Ingeborg Holm" made me believe that the quality there is similarly fine. Also, thumbs up for Sosin: once close to unbearable, he again delivers a perfect piano soundtrack for "Terje", very nicely fitted to the images. The film comes from a German print, and as usual Kino replaced the original titles with English ones. These seem to come from a 19th century translation of the original Ibsen poem and work nicely, though they feel somewhat stilted. William Morris might have done this translation...

As to the film itself: I found it a quite wonderful, lyrical piece, whose glories come more from the spectacular sea imagery than from any overt inventiveness in the cinematography itself. Great acting by Sjöström, as was to be expected. More mood than big action (though there is some), but completely captivating and highly recommended if you don't expect something as great as "Phantom Carriage" or "Sir Arne". Not to be missed.

The documentary on the "Outlaw" disc isn't too much to rave about and looks really bad (VHS-style), but it gives a nice overview on Sjöströms Swedish films, and the excerpts from "Sons of Ingmar", "Karin Ingmarsdotter" and especially "Love's Crucible" really watered my mouth; probably these films are more important than those that Kino released in these two discs? Also, some very nice interview excerpts with Bergman. And a little of the usual Kino sloppiness: the cover blurp tells us that the off-screen commentary is read by Bergman, too. It isn't; the voice we hear is that of Erland Josephsson, which of course is equally great.