Recent Film Restorations

[hearthesilence]

Criterion's master for Tampopo is from a 4K restoration. I don't see any indication on this calendar of film screenings that this is a newer restoration than what Criterion used.

Ah, that's good to know.

[dwk]

Amazon UK has been out of stock of (Criterion) The Funeral & Tampopo. Could a UK label have picked up these 4k restos?

No, I would assume that Criterion would have also lost the US rights S well. Most likely they've just sold out and it takes Criterion a long time repress sold out discs.

I really wish Itami was a big enough name to get a complete films UHD set.

[Stefan Andersson]

"8mm rushes of Derek Jarman’s The Garden (1990)" have been scanned by the BFI:
https://www.bfi.org.uk/inside-the-archi ... eservation

[qw0aszx]

Criterion's disc of The Funeral, on the other hand, is from a "high-definition digital master," so they definitely missed the boat on that one.

Maybe they chose to used the old master rather than missed the new master. All these later 4K restorations are done by the Japanese company themselves and all are problematic. I saw some during a festival and they all suffer from medium to heavy DNR, also the film elements they used for restoration seems interpostive at best, maybe prints? Definitely not original camera negatives and looks way worse than the Tampopo restoration done by Criterion.

[hearthesilence]

Ugh...I guess I'll spring for Criterion's Blu-ray after all.

[Aunt Peg]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks for the recommendation of Friends and Strangers. I vaguely remember it getting briefly released in cinemas but I'm so out of touch with small independent Australian cinema these days. Sounds interesting and if I can't make the screening I note that it is streaming on Amazon Prime.

I went to Going Down this afternoon and it was a blast to see it again after nearly 44 years and looking so great. It was reasonably well attended though I have rarely attended Art Gallery screenings since the start of the pandemic. Get older is starting to catch up with me.

Really hoping somebody will release it on Blu Ray - it deserves to be more widely seen, particularly as it is such a accurate time capsule of a bygone era. Brought back so many memories of what Sydney was like the inner city in the very late/very early 1970s/80s.

[nitin]

seeing Going Down next week in Melbourne myself at the cinematheque screening!

[cantinflas]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks for the recommendation of Friends and Strangers. I vaguely remember it getting briefly released in cinemas but I'm so out of touch with small independent Australian cinema these days. Sounds interesting and if I can't make the screening I note that it is streaming on Amazon Prime.

I went to Going Down this afternoon and it was a blast to see it again after nearly 44 years and looking so great. It was reasonably well attended though I have rarely attended Art Gallery screenings since the start of the pandemic. Get older is starting to catch up with me.

Really hoping somebody will release it on Blu Ray - it deserves to be more widely seen, particularly as it is such a accurate time capsule of a bygone era. Brought back so many memories of what Sydney was like the inner city in the very late/very early 1970s/80s.

That's awesome you got to see Going Down and glad to hear it still holds up! I wonder if it got more people in attendance that evening with Haydn Keenan there? I always preferred the afternoon screenings myself anyway because it was quieter. I regret missing it now. Since it's a 4K restoration and is doing the rounds as per nitin's post above that it's screening in Melbourne, surely a physical release will follow?

And no worries about Friends and Strangers, see how you go with it. I'd love to know your thoughts. It's quite singular for an Aussie film these days.

[Stefan Andersson]

The Seduction of Mimi, Lina Wertmüller, 4K; Kino Lorber trailer here:

https://thefilmstage.com/exclusive-trai ... n-of-mimi/

"The National Museum of Cinema in Turin and Minerva Pictures present the 4K digital restoration. The restoration was carried out from the original picture negative and sound negative in 35mm preserved at Cinecittà Studios. The picture negative presented two gaps, which were reconstructed from a period positive print preserved at the Cineteca of the National Museum of Cinema. For collaboration on color correction and audio restoration, the team thanks Imago VFX and Audio Innova Srl (Centre for Computational Sonology, University of Padua). The restoration was carried out at the laboratory of the Cineteca of the National Museum of Cinema in 2024."

[Aunt Peg]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks for the recommendation of Friends and Strangers. I vaguely remember it getting briefly released in cinemas but I'm so out of touch with small independent Australian cinema these days. Sounds interesting and if I can't make the screening I note that it is streaming on Amazon Prime.

I went to Going Down this afternoon and it was a blast to see it again after nearly 44 years and looking so great. It was reasonably well attended though I have rarely attended Art Gallery screenings since the start of the pandemic. Get older is starting to catch up with me.

Really hoping somebody will release it on Blu Ray - it deserves to be more widely seen, particularly as it is such a accurate time capsule of a bygone era. Brought back so many memories of what Sydney was like the inner city in the very late/very early 1970s/80s.

That's awesome you got to see Going Down and glad to hear it still holds up! I wonder if it got more people in attendance that evening with Haydn Keenan there? I always preferred the afternoon screenings myself anyway because it was quieter. I regret missing it now. Since it's a 4K restoration and is doing the rounds as per nitin's post above that it's screening in Melbourne, surely a physical release will follow?

And no worries about Friends and Strangers, see how you go with it. I'd love to know your thoughts. It's quite singular for an Aussie film these days.

At the end of the film addition credits had been added on in relation to the restoration but they moved my so quickly I didn't catch what they said. According to Wikipedia "In 2025 Muscle Distribution, as part of its first acquisition and theatrical release, restored the film in 4K for its first-ever U.S. run....."

Given Muscle Distribution have just started releasing films on Blu Ray as a Partner Label of Vinegar Syndrome I would wager that Going Down will probably get a US Blu Ray release before an Australian release. When you consider that Bliss (1985) & Sweetie (1989) were restored a number of years ago but remain unreleased on Blu Ray in Australia it's really hard to predict. I suspect that rights/distribution issues may have something to do with the the non-appearance of Bliss, Sweetie & Muriel's Wedding recent restoration being released on Blu Ray in Australia. Going Down was self distributed in Australian cinemas but did have a VHS release through one of the smaller companies (can't remember who) so that at least should make it easier.

But for now I'm predicting a US Blu Ray release by the end of the year.

Forgot to mention that I went to Going Down with my hubby and a very good friend of ours who is 79. Neither of them had seen the film or even heard of it and they both loved it.

[jmj713]

Slightly Scarlet (Allan Dwan, 1956) has been restored by the Film Noir Foundation.

Great news! The current print is really bad.

[Aunt Peg]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks for the recommendation of Friends and Strangers. I vaguely remember it getting briefly released in cinemas but I'm so out of touch with small independent Australian cinema these days. Sounds interesting and if I can't make the screening I note that it is streaming on Amazon Prime.

I went to Going Down this afternoon and it was a blast to see it again after nearly 44 years and looking so great. It was reasonably well attended though I have rarely attended Art Gallery screenings since the start of the pandemic. Get older is starting to catch up with me.

Really hoping somebody will release it on Blu Ray - it deserves to be more widely seen, particularly as it is such a accurate time capsule of a bygone era. Brought back so many memories of what Sydney was like the inner city in the very late/very early 1970s/80s.

That's awesome you got to see Going Down and glad to hear it still holds up! I wonder if it got more people in attendance that evening with Haydn Keenan there? I always preferred the afternoon screenings myself anyway because it was quieter. I regret missing it now. Since it's a 4K restoration and is doing the rounds as per nitin's post above that it's screening in Melbourne, surely a physical release will follow?

And no worries about Friends and Strangers, see how you go with it. I'd love to know your thoughts. It's quite singular for an Aussie film these days.

Seems Going Down is getting re-released in Sydney at Dendy Newtown from 14 May: https://newtown.dendy.com.au/movie/going-down

[cantinflas]

Seems Going Down is getting re-released in Sydney at Dendy Newtown from 14 May: https://newtown.dendy.com.au/movie/going-down

Great news, cheers for the info. Gotta love Dendy Newtown.

[spectre]

And no worries about Friends and Strangers, see how you go with it. I'd love to know your thoughts. It's quite singular for an Aussie film these days.

It's the best Australian film in recent years, in my view. I've seen it a number of times (both on the big screen here in Melbourne and on the Grasshopper DVD, which appears to still be available) and greatly enjoyed it.

Incidentally, Vaughan is responsible for putting together the trailers for each year's instalment of Cinema Reborn – here's last year's, set to the pop song by Jeanette that plays through Cría cuervos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMM82Xee_3w

And here's this year's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykoxPJM6SYY

[cantinflas]

And no worries about Friends and Strangers, see how you go with it. I'd love to know your thoughts. It's quite singular for an Aussie film these days.

It's the best Australian film in recent years, in my view. I've seen it a number of times (both on the big screen here in Melbourne and on the Grasshopper DVD, which appears to still be available) and greatly enjoyed it.

Incidentally, Vaughan is responsible for putting together the trailers for each year's instalment of Cinema Reborn – here's last year's, set to the pop song by Jeanette that plays through Cría cuervos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMM82Xee_3w

And here's this year's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykoxPJM6SYY

That's really cool to know, those trailers are both wonderful. I saw that he was an editor on A Grand Mockery as well which I've been wanting to check out.

And yeah I completely agree about Friends and Strangers, it's the best. Any idea if he has another feature lined up? The Plains was another great one from a few years ago. Couple of blokes in a car for 3 hours but completely mesmerising.

[spectre]

I believe so! Don't know any specifics though. And yes, I loved The Plains, too.

I dream of a boutique Blu-ray line one day emerging here (or anywhere) that specialises in precisely these kinds of Australian films. There are so many great films essentially disappearing without a trace outside of festival screenings.

[beamish14]

New DCPs of Peter Watkins’ entire catalog have started touring

[Stefan Andersson]

Pal Joey, 1957,4K from OCN, dupe neg and magnetic mono:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/films/pal-joey/

Out of the Past, 1947, 4K:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... -the-past/

Letty Lynton, 1932, 4K:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... ty-lynton/

Barefoot in the Park, 4K from OCN:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... -the-park/

Dear Ruth, 4K, IndieCollect/Criterion:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... izen-ruth/

Confessions of a Nazi Spy, 1939:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... -nazi-spy/

Devil and Miss Jones, 1941, DCP:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... iss-jones/

A Face in the Crowd, restored:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/f ... the-crowd/

Man Hunt, 1941, DCP:
https://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/films/man-hunt/

[senseabove]

New DCPs of Peter Watkins’ entire catalog have started touring

Any links? Would love to know whether "entire catalog" entails both cuts of La Commune.

[beamish14]

New DCPs of Peter Watkins’ entire catalog have started touring

Any links? Would love to know whether "entire catalog" entails both cuts of La Commune.

Sure.It’s only one cut of La Commune

[therewillbeblus]

Wow, I really hope we get another physical release of Edvard Munch, which is the best new-to-me film I've seen so far this year

My wife and I are over halfway done with Resan / The Journey, which is expectedly excellent and equally hard to stomach in today's climate. It's a good film to break into pieces

[Lowry_Sam]

A Face in the Crowd, restored

Criterion's 2019 blu-ray was from a new 4k restoration. Is this just the same one?

[DeprongMori]

Barbara Kopple’s American Dream (1990) has just received a 4K restoration and will be touring courtesy of Janus Films.

[jmj713]

Does anyone know of a restoration and a possible director's cut of Lady Beware? Who even owns the rights?

[JamesF]

Does anyone know of a restoration and a possible director's cut of Lady Beware? Who even owns the rights?

The Ginger Rogers film or the Diane Lane one?