Napoléon 4K UHD (1927) Abel Gance - Grande Version • Potemkine. pre-order

[TheBondFan]

Napoléon 4K Blu-ray

Abel Gance's Napoleon is coming in 4K in November 4 by Potemkine.

Two 4K, 3 BD, 312 page Book, 428m Grande Version

[Togusa]

https://www.fnac.com/a21901223/Coffr...udonne-Blu-ray

[McCrutchy]

Wow, if an English-friendly version of this isn't announced in the meantime, I absolutely have to get this.

<-- Obviously.

I have spectacular memories of taking myself across the country to Oakland, California to the 2012 San Francisco Silent Film Festival, and seeing the Photoplay version twice that weekend. I also met Kevin Brownlow and got him to sign my program—he was very gracious and told me a fun fact about my family background.

Here is a photo of the triptych setup I took at one of the screenings, along with a couple shots of the Paramount Theatre marquee:

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Traveling alone was a big deal with my cerebral palsy, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I also remember having some awesome cupcakes from somewhere nearby and visiting an adult video store with a massive handicap ramp and Walmart-level florescent lighting, where I was given a death stare by some random guy coming out of what I guess was a peep show theatre room. I was amused that all the magazines were out-of-date by months and I don't think they had any Blu-rays, at least not any I didn't own already not that I would ever buy anything like that.

Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_9CiNkkn4

[qw0aszx]

I remember this new restoration added the digital blur to the edges of image for the whole film to emulate some kind of film print projection and causing the loss of information, that's quite distracting for me.

EDIT:
Found this comparison between BFI release of the previous restoration and the new restoration from Criterion Forum, the digital blur is quite apparent

BFI


New

[Kubrick DeLarge1989]

I actually have never seen this, but I love Napoleon history when it's done right

[Deadend45]

This better be the full 16 hours version....

[Spud_Almighty]

Fantastic movie. I'd happily buy it in 4k.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

I still need to see this! Hope this means an English friendly version isn't far behind!

[NeoNical]

Praying to see a good English friendly release of this. It's amazing how one of the most important films from the silent era has never seen a single Blu-ray release here in the States though admittedly I have never really researched into the home video history and the information about who owns this here in the States and why it hasn't appeared still.

After looking at McCrutchy's photos of the triptych theater screen, it has now become part of my movie bucket list to see Napoleon with one of these screens though I bet the chances of that are ridiculously slim.

[SpacemanDoug]

Is there a reason why this has never gotten a US release?

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by SpacemanDoug

Is there a reason why this has never gotten a US release?

Yes, the Coppola family.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Wow, if an English-friendly version of this isn't announced in the meantime, I absolutely have to get this.

Originally Posted by ilenewoodsfan99

I still need to see this! Hope this means an English friendly version isn't far behind!

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Praying to see a good English friendly release of this.

Amazon France and Potemkine's own webstore list English subtitles for this.

[hipsofjw]

Has there been any change in the score since the premiere? The reports from that screening made it sounds pretty dire.

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

Yes, the Coppola family.

I did hear something about that but I didn't think they'd be able to considering FFC didn't direct it, his dad only composed the score for one of the shorter cuts.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by SpacemanDoug

I did hear something about that but I didn't think they'd be able to considering FFC didn't direct it, his dad only composed the score for one of the shorter cuts.

Well, I guess in theory they should have the rights only to their own specific version, but they have a history of threatening legal action, and I don't think anybody wants to challenge them. It could take years and millions of dollars.

Here's a quick recap from BFI:

August 1979. At Telluride, Colorado, Gance attends a screening of Brownlow’s first major reconstruction of Napoleon. The director watches from his hotel window, standing during the final triptych sequence. Despite the lack of music and the piercing cold of the outdoor screening, the event is a revelation for its audience. Francis Ford Coppola plans to present Napoleon with live orchestra, under the auspices of his company American Zoetrope and Robert A. Harris’s Images Film Archive. He commissions his father, Carmine Coppola, to write the music.

March 1981. Radio City Music Hall, New York, hosts the US premiere of Napoleon with Carmine Coppola’s score. To avoid crippling overtime bills, Brownlow’s restoration must be reduced to less than four hours, in part by cutting material but mainly by showing the film at a faster speed. Napoleon is a triumph in New York and elsewhere in the US, but Coppola’s music is poorly received. Coppola and Harris acquire world rights outside France.

October 2001. The 2000 restoration is presented at Le Giornate del Cinema Muto in Udine, Italy. American rights-holders are reluctant to grant permission because it will not feature Carmine Coppola’s score, which they wish to extend to fit the 2000 restoration.

December 2004. Two screenings of the 2000 restoration take place in London. American rights-holders threaten legal action, challenging the right to perform Napoleon in the UK.

If I remember correctly, Eureka had similar issues when they initially wanted to release Buster Keaton's The General on Blu-ray -- the owner of one of the scores thought they owned all the rights to the film.

[Hedrox]

This is unlikely to get a physical release outside of France, because Netflix owns the rights to this restoration everywhere else. They actually financed it alongside the French National Film Board.

Also, yes they did blur the edges of the frame. Here's a picture from the Paris premiere, more here. Even on a big screen it's somewhat distracting.

[cgpublic]

Own the BFI release, so I'm good, but do agree while not to everyone's taste, those who have an interest in history, Napoleonic and cinematic, should definitely screen this film once in their lifetime.

Given the involvement of Netflix, I would have to guess this will be available from them at some point in the near future.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Wow, if an English-friendly version of this isn't announced in the meantime, I absolutely have to get this.

<-- Obviously.

^ are you gonna change it to widescreen when it comes out?


Will the disc have the 3 panels on their own in a bonus feature, like a previous disc.
You could then make a 8K 2160p x 8640 version of the triptych


Widescreen monitors like the 5K 45" Scope LG OLED and others like it with HDR reds and blues would be the perfect fit to watch it, at the proper Radius distance!

going from this:


to this for the triptych widescreen finale:



just like in the Cinema






Napoléon 4K Blu-ray

[Streetlight]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

This is unlikely to get a physical release outside of France, because Netflix owns the rights to this restoration everywhere else. They actually financed it alongside the French National Film Board.

Also, yes they did blur the edges of the frame. Here's a picture from the Paris premiere, more here. Even on a big screen it's somewhat distracting.

Dear god! I hope they keep that edge blur out of the 4K Blu-ray.

[Jr7936]

now will any online stores in the USA, get this for preorder, since if so I am all over it