New Australian DVD and BD Releases

[Geoff]

what are the subtitles like david?

[anton]

Oh. Thanks for the screens post. More screens, more Beaver-ish! I know this is probably illegal in the English speaking part of the world but who really gives a crap about the English speaking part of the world? Having seen Autumn Afternoon as part of the SFI Ozu batch of 2005 I would agree the DVD being a bit murky since I dont remember the film being this detoned per se. It's looking a bit soft as well. Anyway, It's a given buy for me like all new Ozu. Glad to hear about the subs.

[shirobamba]

Hmmm, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Lest Michael chimes in and says something about how this transfer compares to the R2J release, I'll refrain from ordering it. Sharpness and bitrate seem to be problematic. For I haven't seen it theatrically I can't judge about the colours. The balance looks right for an Agfacolor, but I wonder if the muting is original Ozu.

[Michael Kerpan]

The color balance on this does not seem to match the Shochiku DVD. The colors on the Shochiku DVD are much richer and more vibrant (these screen shots look markedly de-saturated) -- and have the standard green-friendly Agfa look. The skin tones on this new DVD look too pinkish -- once again (as with Criterion and AE) I suspect a noticeable yellow deficiency.

I suspect that the poorly-subbed HK DVD is considerably better in terms of visual appearance (based on screen shots). "Autumn Afternoon" has not been well-served on DVD yet. There are even several weird things about the Shochiku release. All in all, the short-lived (French-subbed) Fravidis DVD (though hardly perfect) might have been the best one yet.

[shirobamba]

Thanks Michael.
Saved me a bunch of $$$. Let's sit down and wait a little longer. Seems that Ozu is very difficult to transfer to DVD. Attempts aplenty, but noone hits the nail.

[Michael Kerpan]

> Seems that Ozu is very difficult to transfer to DVD. Attempts aplenty, but
> noone hits the nail.

As to DVDs of the color films ...

The Shochiku DVDs of "Equinox Flower" and "Late Autumn" are absolutely ravishing. I haven't seen the Panorama EF, but its "Late Autumn" is only a shade less nice than the shochiku -- and the subs are passable.

As to black and white ...

I am quite pleased with Criterion's "Story of Floating Weeds" and "Early Summer" -- and (in the sub-less realm) quite a few of the Shochiku DVDs.

[shirobamba]

Anyway, I think I will stick to my VHS > DVD-R transfer of a good TV capture of Autumn Afternoon, until the "real thing" comes along. Whenever that will be.

Thanks again!

[otis]

I haven't had a chance to check back through My Life and Films but I seem to recall Renoir mentions the Deanna debacle there. I don't think he actually shot any of it though.

David, I totally missed your reply until now. Too busy gawping at the Ozu screencaps, the colours of which look pretty similar to the print I saw last year (and reminded me of Tati's Mon oncle). What a great film - some very funny scenes.

Extensive googling hasn't turned up much about The Amazing Mrs Holliday, but I did find this at imdb:

Several sources report that Jean Renoir, who shot some scenes and was then replaced as director, began this film. If he had completed it, it would have come between Swamp Water and This Land Is Mine. All my efforts to find out more about Renoir's contribution have been fruitless. I even tracked down Renoir's autobiography only to find that he doesn't mention it - not even in passing.

and this at the NY Times:

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday was originally intended as Durbin's dramatic debut, and originally directed by Jean Renoir, but Universal insisted upon retakes and added songs. Though virtually all of Renoir's completed footage was retained, final directorial credit was bestowed upon Bruce Manning, the film's producer.

I'm going to pick it up - it's only a tenner at play.com. I'll let you know what I make of it - could prove a test case in the auteurist/"genius of the system" debate...

[otis]

Good luck oat! Deanna's primo dramatic appearance of course is as bride of psycho killer Gene Kelly in Siodmak's very fine Christmas Holiday (also in that Deanna set - THIS you should get.)

David, this is when I confess that I'd never heard of her before coming across the Renoir connection. Unfortunately it seems there are three volumes of Deanna Durbin box sets (am I the only one who's been living in oblivion?), and Christmas Holiday is in a different one from Mrs Holliday. Mind you, I'm sorely tempted by the plot synopsis:

A young woman realizes that the wealthy man she married is an incorrigible wastrel...

[devlinnn]

Interesting update on the upcoming My Own Private Idaho - it is now a 2-disc set (still $19.95rrp) with the following features -
- Theatrical Trailer
- The Making of "My Own Private Idaho" 42 mins
- Kings of the Road - Film scholar and critic Paul Arthur discusses Gus Van Sant's adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV as My Own Private Idaho plus other road movies and westerns . 45mins
- Conversations Laurie Parker and Rain Phoenix / Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes (Audio only) and JT Leroy and Jonathan Caoette (Audio only)
- Deleted Scenes x 7

oh, and here is the artwork for Lost Highway - still no word on extras.

[otis]

NOT knowing about the Deanna boxsets surely confirms you're gay -- I mean straight ---- I mean gay. (No definitely straight.)

Well, David, I like to keep the boys & girls guessing. Jonathan Rosenbaum has been spreading a vicious rumour about me working as a gigolo in a donkey show in the Bois du Boulogne (under the nom de guerre of Albertine), but he's not to be trusted - look at what he let them do to Touch of Evil.

Ahh damn , Elisha Cook ...

Haven't seen Elisha in Phantom Lady either, but I do remember his nightclub waiter in the Gene Krupa Drum Boogie sequence of Ball of Fire. God, that's a brilliant film! It's got it all: wonderful Wilder/Brackett screenplay (this and Hold Back the Dawn in the same year!), Barbara terrific as Sugarpuss O'Shea, Coop bashful as "Pottsie", Dana the dish as Joe Lilac, the great Dan Duryea as Duke Pastrami, the seven professors, especially Richard Haydn as Professor "hoy-toy-toy" Oddly, Toland photography... And to think Hawks considered this one of his lesser efforts!

... and Gene plays a closeted gay killer in Holiday,, or does he?... or is it just the Maugham novelette not realized by the J Mank screenplay?.. or isn't it the lead....

Gene Gene the Dancing Machine as a closeted gay killer? This I gotta see.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

David, is the running time of the R4 Autumn Afternoon 112 minutes? If so it would be the same running time as the NTSC R3, which would be a strong indication that the R4 is an NTSC to PAL conversion. That would explain the poorer video quality compared to the NTSC releases.

[yoshimori]

We'd all, I'm sure, appreciate it if, if you folks in Australia hear any word about the quality of the March 6 release of Godard's Je vous salue, Marie, you'd let us know. Thanks.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yes it's just over 112' from Shochiku logo to tail. I have to say when I first watched it (on hidef upscale) I saw movement judder, but I assumed my player was set to native NTSC so I switched it to native PAL (on 1080i) and the judder was gone. It's definitely a PAL transfer, at the correct running time (no speedup) but is a little soft. But once again it's not bad - not ideal - but not bad. My caps frankly look overly gray (and I'm using a native NTSC software to display them, I tink he said in a sea of confusion...) But the movie on my gear and on a projector plays very acceptably.

Most certainly an NTSC to PAL conversion and typical of AV Channel. Ghosting might not be noticeable unless you go frame by frame. The upscaling from 480 to 576 lines and framerate conversion would account for the softness. This processing also seems to desaturate colour, in my experience.

[tryavna]

Can any of you friendly Australians offer any feedback on the general quality of older films released by Magna Pacific? Based on a few comments, it sounds as if Magna are pretty decent, but I'm particularly curious about their series of Alexander Korda films listed here. Sadly, in R1-land, most of these films are owned/were released by MGM, who tend to give their classic British titles only so-so treatment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[devlinnn]

Most of these are dreck in terms of quality. I've only viewed a couple (Knight without Armour, Elephant Boy) but friends continue to pass on the worst news. I'd pass on these, unless desperate.

I should add that my comments are only in line with the Korda Collection DVDs. The Rank Classics range is more hit, hit and miss, miss. Great Expectations is sublime, Black Narcissus un-restored, cut version etc.

[tryavna]

Thanks, devlinnn, even though it's bad news. At least you've saved me some money and dashed expectations. I really wish some company, somewhere in the world, would get into the habit of regularly producing high-quality releases of classic British cinema. Some great releases here and there, but no overall consistency.

[Doug Cummings]

I just saw the Oscar-nominated short animation The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello last weekend and thought it was visually superb, with a serviceable script. Equal parts Lotte Reiniger, Jules Verne, and Alien.

Then I discovered it's being released as an Australian R0 soon--anybody else seen this?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

AV Channel May releases have been announced. They include:

Ikiru
The Idiot
Sword of Doom
the long-delayed Tokyo Story (2 disc set with Tokyo-Ga)
Zazie Dans le Metro
Le Feu Follet
Dogora
Time of the Wolf
Nobody Knows
Ma Mere

[Gordon]

AV Channel May releases have been announced. They include:

Zazie Dans le Metro
Le Feu Follet

Oh... so... tempting... must... resist...!

Damn, I wonder if we will see Criterion editions this year. Such uncertainty.

[devlinnn]

Each of the new Bergman DVDs released this week include a 100 page digital book by Peter Cowie. Wild Strawberries includes the Peter Cowie commentary from the CC. Transfers from Svensk Film.

Lost Highway includes interviews with Lynch and cast, making-of, Who's Who, and featurette.

[godardslave]

Gordon - live dangerously!

that easy to say and do, if you have lots of funds at your disposal.
not everyone does.

[daniel p]

Each of the new Bergman DVDs released this week include a 100 page digital book by Peter Cowie. Wild Strawberries includes the Peter Cowie commentary from the CC. Transfers from Svensk Film.

Lost Highway includes interviews with Lynch and cast, making-of, Who's Who, and featurette.

Can you please elaborate on the digital books devlinn? Do you have them? If so, how do the transfers stack up with the Criterion versions? If you don't have them, where can I read up on the extras?

Sorry for the multiple questions, just interested to know if a double-dip is in order.

[devlinnn]

Daniel P, the digital book is actually a 142 page PDF file you upload from the DVD, with Cowie giving a overview of Bergman's career, themes etc. No date on the writing (or copyright). I doubt Matt would enjoy a copy finding its way on to the forum!
Will check on transfers tonight. Cries and Whispers states a 1:66 transfer, but not 16x9 enhanced.

Note - same book on all three DVDs.

Oh dear - a quick look at Wild Strawberries and Smiles... on the computer reveals bright yellow, verging on green subs. If you have the Criterions, no need to double dip.

[Solaris]

What are the exact extras on each Bergman disc? I can't find any info online, not even the coverart. According to ezydvd they are "non-orderable".

Also, any news on Hail Mary?