Ragtime (Milos Forman, 1981) - March 20, 2019

[movielib]

I just discovered that a favorite of mine, Milos Forman's Ragtime, is being released by Arte Éditions on March 20, 2019.

https://www.amazon.fr/Ragtime-Blu-ra...ywords=ragtime

I'm in but only if it does not have forced French subtitles. Does anyone know anything about that, either definitively or based on the proclivities of the distributor?

I have a region free player so region free or not doesn't concern me but may be of interest to others.

Answers much appreciated.

(Apologies if there is a thread. I did search.)

[Jerome]

no forced french subtitles.You can remove them with the remote

[movielib]

Originally Posted by Jerome

no forced french subtitles.You can remove them with the remote

Thank you very much. I've ordered it.

And isn't anyone else interested in this film? It may not be Amadeus or Cuckoo's Nest but it's very good.

[Aunt Peg]

I am. Haven't seen it since it first release and I adored back then so I will definitely be purchasing this.

[movielib]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

I am. Haven't seen it since it first release and I adored back then so I will definitely be purchasing this.

The film is pretty great, seeing how it's based on one of those "unfilmable" novels.

The film was supposed to be at least 20 minutes longer but was ordered cut by producer Dino De Laurentis (see https://anttialanenfilmdiary.blogspo...2/ragtime.html ). I've heard rumors that even more was cut (maybe much more) but I don't know if that's true.

But whatever is the truth, some of the book's story lines ended up truncated in favor of Coalhouse Walker's story (which was probably the most compelling). Personally, I would have preferred the film to be as long as it needed to be to as fully as possible capture E L Doctorow's Great American Novel.

Oh yeah, and Randy Newman's glorious score.

[Aunt Peg]

I received my copy today and have just watched it.

I liked it when it was first released in 1981 and enjoyed it even more this time. The transfer is beautiful and as reported above yes the French subtitles can be removed via your remote control - I tested it on three different machines and presto.

Also, I tested the film in my Region A locked player and it played fine.

[movielib]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

I received my copy today and have just watched it.

I liked it when it was first released in 1981 and enjoyed it even more this time. The transfer is beautiful and as reported above yes the French subtitles can be removed via your remote control - I tested it on three different machines and presto.

Also, I tested the film in my Region A locked player and it played fine.

Thanks for the info.

Mine is in the US and has apparently cleared customs. Impatiently waiting.

My last order from Amazon.fr took nine days. If this is the same I'll get it Friday.

[movielib]

My Ragtime was finally delivered yesterday. The tracking had been nonexistent since it arrived in the US on March 25. Then, all of a sudden, delivered. I was close to emailing Amazon.fr about it.

Anyway, looked at it a bit and it looks good. French subs were easily removed by the remote as had been reported. English subs would have been nice but I'm just glad to have the film on blu.

[movielib]

My wife and I watched it last night and the picture was very good (the new glasses I picked up earlier in the day helped!). The DTS Master Audio 5.1 sound is quite good.

The film holds up completely. The acting is uniformly great. The cinematography is brilliant. It's as if every frame is a work of art. What can be said about the art direction and costumes? The editing seems a bit off at times, probably due to the cuts that were made.

As I said above, Randy Newman's score is beautiful, one of my all-time favorites. He was robbed of Best Score and Best Song. In fact the Academy was not kind in that, even though it got eight nominations, it didn't win any.

Those who have not seen Ragtime should see it. Those that have should see it again. And read the book too. One of my all-time favorite novels.

[Monroville]

Don't forget Brad Dourif's bit part as Houdini!

[movielib]

Originally Posted by Monroville

Don't forget Brad Dourif's bit part as Houdini!

Actually, Brad Dourif plays the major role of Younger Brother.

Jeffrey DeMunn (now in the role of Paul Giamatti's father on Billions) plays Houdini.

[hockeyshark91]

I'm just now finding out that this finally has a blu release. It's been at the top of my most-wanted from day one of BD's existence. And many of you here have already answered all my questions- no forced subs, no English subs, good transfer. Will order now!

[Horse_Hockey]

Yup! Just found out about it while wandering around the assorted Amazons. Must have!

[witchmania]

Can anyone who has this comment on the Forman versus Chytilova doc - to what extent is it in English, and are there any English subtitles?

[movielib]

Originally Posted by witchmania

Can anyone who has this comment on the Forman versus Chytilova doc - to what extent is it in English, and are there any English subtitles?

I spot checked it.

In the interview scenes, Chytilova asks questions in French and Forman answers in English (no interpreter). These segments are probably no more than half of the film and may be less but they are substantial. The rest is pretty much all or almost all English.

Unfortunately, like the film, the only available subtitles are French.

[witchmania]

Originally Posted by movielib

I spot checked it.

In the interview scenes, Chytilova asks questions in French and Forman answers in English (no interpreter). These segments are probably no more than half of the film and may be less but they are substantial. The rest is pretty much all or almost all English.

Unfortunately, like the film, the only available subtitles are French.

Thanks so much for checking - that's really helpful info! Sounds like it's eminently watchable, and it's a pretty major extra to include... Might have to pick this up.

[Aclea]

Shame they couldn't include the 50 minute episode of the South Bank Show covering the UK shoot or the Parkinson interview with Cagney and Pat O'Bren.

[Bruce Morrison]

I'd be very interested in this release, but the remote for my Panasonic 4K player doesn't actually have a 'Subtitles' button. I'm probably missing something obvious, but is there another way to remove the French subs?

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

I'd be very interested in this release, but the remote for my Panasonic 4K player doesn't actually have a 'Subtitles' button. I'm probably missing something obvious, but is there another way to remove the French subs?

Quite a number of remotes don't have a subtitles button.

The way to go about it in most cases it to selection options on your remote. A screen will appear that allows you all sorts of options and one of them is subtitles - you can turn off the subtitles from there. It usually a matter of arrowing down and or across to make the changes. Once you have made the changes (i.e. switching off the subtitles) just push the options button again and the box should disappear.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

Quite a number of remotes don't have a subtitles button.

The way to go about it in most cases it to selection options on your remote. A screen will appear that allows you all sorts of options and one of them is subtitles - you can turn off the subtitles from there. It usually a matter of arrowing down and or across to make the changes. Once you have made the changes (i.e. switching off the subtitles) just push the options button again and the box should disappear.

Many thanks for this. I'll give it a try when I have a moment.

Have a great Christmas!