Warning don't buy 'The Pianist' (Optimum) unless you understand German!

[Bruce Morrison]

I've just bought 'The Pianist' on BD, but it will be going straight back to Amazon. For some obscure reason, Optimum have not bothered to provide English subtitles for the considerable amount of German dialogue. This makes the last half-hour of the film virtually unintelligible during the crucial scenes between the pianist and the German officer who helps him, where the dialogue is entirely in German. There are a number of earlier scenes with German dialogue as well.

I will be contacting Optimum to point out this blunder.

[Matt865]

I was going to buy this. Is it translated with HoH or other subtitles turned on?

[freddiecarr]

I've contacted Optimum yesterday, and supposedly there is a version which will be ready in two weeks that will have burnt in English subs for the German speaking parts.

They've asked me to send them back this version and they will send me the correct version.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by freddiecarr

I've contacted Optimum yesterday, and supposedly there is a version which will be ready in two weeks that will have burnt in English subs for the German speaking parts.

They've asked me to send them back this version and they will send me the correct version.

Well that's good news, at least for those of us who need the subtitles. Of course, those who understand German will now be annoyed that the subtitles can't be switched off. This seems to be an ill-fated release one way or another - was it too much to hope that the disc could have had optional subtitles covering the German dialogue?

I hope Universal will get around to releasing this title in the US soon - they will probably do the job properly on a BD50 with some extras included.

[BigNickUK]

Response from Optimum

Dear customer,
We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
It is an authoring mistake we are aware of and that we are rectifying now.
The new discs will take 2-3 weeks to produce.
Please send your faulty copies to the address below, including your name and full postal address and we will replace it when we get the new discs in.

CUSTOMER SERVICES
Optimum Releasing
50 Marshall St
London
W1F 9BQ

[ArnoldLayne56]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Well that's good news, at least for those of us who need the subtitles. Of course, those who understand German will now be annoyed that the subtitles can't be switched off. This seems to be an ill-fated release one way or another - was it too much to hope that the disc could have had optional subtitles covering the German dialogue?

I hope Universal will get around to releasing this title in the US soon - they will probably do the job properly on a BD50 with some extras included.

Eight years later, still no US release. Time to buy this one.