The Criterion Collection

[theater dreamer]

Firstly, thank you guys for the feedback. I hope I don't bore you too much. I'm really working to develop my chops as a writer, and my knowledge base as a film lover.

I read last night that, in preparation for his career as a film academic, François Truffaut watched three movies a day, and read three books a week. Apparently, he didn't sleep (or he was a vampire...er, vampyr, if the discussion is about to turn back to Dreyer

The story of how we even have The Passion of Joan of Arc to watch now is interesting in itself. It seems that the movie has also lead a tortured existence. For decades, there was no known complete film nitrate of what ended up being dubbed Carl Th. Dreyer's "director cut"; the version that is watched now by collectors. The film's release was initially delayed by French nationalists, who objected to a film about Joan of Arc's trial and execution being filmed by a man who was neither French nor Catholic. This was their national heroine, and it was viewed as blasphemous that a non-French filmmaker would dare capture this sacred subject. Once completed, the version that was released for viewing was severely cut down upon orders by the Archbishop of Paris, together with governmental censors. Then, the original film negative, again, made of highly flammable nitrate, was destroyed in a fire. Dreyer was able to piece together another complete film, but that copy was also destroyed in a fire in 1929. A separate 61 minute version was pieced together in 1933, with no title cards, utilizing various elements, but Dreyer was completely unhappy with this version. For several decades, it was thought that only this second version existed, that the original would be difficult to locate if it was not lost. Then, in 1981, a worker at a hospital mental institution in Oslo, Norway found several film canisters in a janitor's closet labeled The Passion of Joan of Arc. Miraculously, though there were no records of the film being sent to Oslo, it was the original, unedited film as Dreyer had intended. Turns out that the directors of the hospital was a documented film historian, and that it's assumed he ordered a copy of the film. Quite fortunate, indeed, for film enthusiasts the world round. Interestingly enough, when the film was sent to the Norwegian Film Institute, it sat for another three years before anybody looked at it, and discovered what they had been sent. Knowing the decay rate of nitrate film, it's damned near a miracle that we have this film to watch.

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I just fell in love with Liv Ullmann! I have seen many of her movies before and always admired her as an actress but I just finished watching The Emigrants/The New Land. What an incredible set of movies! It is the story of poor Swedish farmers who, after enduring hardship after hardship, decide to immigrate to the New World. It shows in astonishing detail their travels over land and sea to their new home in Minnesota. It chronicles their ups and downs, joys and sorrows, so minutely that you actually become a part of their family (at least I did).

Liv Ullmann's performance was absolutely stunning and her interview for the Criterion release was just icing on the cake. Of course I would be crazy not to mention the performance of Max von Sydow or director Jan Troell. Clocking in at 393 minutes, it is an experience that takes patience but you will be well rewarded for your time. Best movie(s) I've seen in quite some time!

I had a similar reaction to Ullmann watching Persona. I have yet to watch Cries & Whispers or Autumn Sonata, but I'm very much looking forward to seeing them.

Bergman had some incredible ladies to work with, didn't he?

Originally Posted by Reddington

Very interesting analysis. Thanks for that. A film I've heard a lot about but don't know much about, if that makes senses. As I am region-free, it is tempting to pick up the MoC release as a blind-buy. I just jumped on DVDBeaver to read the review, and see it contains three different versions - including two at different fps speeds, which is intriguing.

If you do get it (I recommend you do), wait until you get a look at the 100 page booklet included with the release.

I still haven't bought my region free player. I think I'll purchase it some time in September. I can watch region free titles on my laptop, but it just didn't seem appropriate to watch this grand film on a 17 inch screen.

I just ordered a handful of films from Amazon UK, all are hard coded region B. So, I need to figure out which player I'm going to get, and get it bought, already.

[theater dreamer]

Oh, I forget to mention (though you might already be aware of this, depending on where you've read about the MoC release). The two different versions of the film each have different musical scores. I'm assuming that there's an option to turn off the score altogether. I'm going to eventually watch both to experience with different music...but I can't imagine a more visceral reaction than what I experienced when I watched this morning. I wasn't kidding when I said I was in tears. When Joan is atop the platform where she is to be executed, she speaks to God, "I am not afraid to give my life, but please, God, don't let me suffer too long." She goes on from there a bit, wondering aloud if she'll be with her creator that day. It's just heartbreaking, and Falconetti's performance demonstrated the skill of a surgeon; she touched upon every note with incredible grace.

I completely agree that everybody should see this film at least once.

Originally Posted by Reddington

Very interesting analysis. Thanks for that. A film I've heard a lot about but don't know much about, if that makes senses. As I am region-free, it is tempting to pick up the MoC release as a blind-buy. I just jumped on DVDBeaver to read the review, and see it contains three different versions - including two at different fps speeds, which is intriguing.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Jeez, you're right. A German version. How did I miss this?! I looked all over, I thought. Maybe I was half asleep or something.

Anyways, thanks.

There is also a Japanese version. And there are some major differences between the German and Japanese versions, which we're fortnate enough to have caps-a-holic comparison caps of:

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=4549&d2=4543&c=1861

Hard to say which one is more correct, but I'm liking the Japanese one more.

[pro-bassoonist]

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray REVIEW







Pro-B

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

[Show spoiler]Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray REVIEW

Pro-B

Will DEFININTLY be picking this up in the November B&N sale. Yes, I know this film is rated NC-17, and I'm only 14, but who cares. And, I will have the dignity of having a film with a NC-17 logo on the cover, for all who wants to see!

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

If you are at all interested in silent movies it's a must-own. And for anyone else it's a must-see at least once. It truly is one of the best movies ever made.

Never really explored silent cinema as my brief forays years ago were unsatisfactory; I found the directing, acting, and musical accompaniments variously to be stilted, exaggerated, and melodramatic.

My tastes and cinematic knowledge have changed considerably since then and I have no qualms about giving a film of this stature/reputation a go.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

£15 at the current exchange rate (about $20) is pretty decent for the MoC release imo, even as a blind-buy. It does come in a nice slipbox with a massive booklet. Even the packaging surpassed my expectations.

Thanks. I've been buying quite a few Region B recently, especially given the post-Brexit exchange rate. Got a few MoC in my cart ready to go so can add this one.

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Firstly, thank you guys for the feedback. I hope I don't bore you too much. I'm really working to develop my chops as a writer, and my knowledge base as a film lover.

[Show spoiler]I read last night that, in preparation for his career as a film academic, François Truffaut watched three movies a day, and read three books a week. Apparently, he didn't sleep (or he was a vampire...er, vampyr, if the discussion is about to turn back to Dreyer

The story of how we even have The Passion of Joan of Arc to watch now is interesting in itself. It seems that the movie has also lead a tortured existence. For decades, there was no known complete film nitrate of what ended up being dubbed Carl Th. Dreyer's "director cut"; the version that is watched now by collectors. The film's release was initially delayed by French nationalists, who objected to a film about Joan of Arc's trial and execution being filmed by a man who was neither French nor Catholic. This was their national heroine, and it was viewed as blasphemous that a non-French filmmaker would dare capture this sacred subject. Once completed, the version that was released for viewing was severely cut down upon orders by the Archbishop of Paris, together with governmental censors. Then, the original film negative, again, made of highly flammable nitrate, was destroyed in a fire. Dreyer was able to piece together another complete film, but that copy was also destroyed in a fire in 1929. A separate 61 minute version was pieced together in 1933, with no title cards, utilizing various elements, but Dreyer was completely unhappy with this version. For several decades, it was thought that only this second version existed, that the original would be difficult to locate if it was not lost. Then, in 1981, a worker at a hospital mental institution in Oslo, Norway found several film canisters in a janitor's closet labeled The Passion of Joan of Arc. Miraculously, though there were no records of the film being sent to Oslo, it was the original, unedited film as Dreyer had intended. Turns out that the directors of the hospital was a documented film historian, and that it's assumed he ordered a copy of the film. Quite fortunate, indeed, for film enthusiasts the world round. Interestingly enough, when the film was sent to the Norwegian Film Institute, it sat for another three years before anybody looked at it, and discovered what they had been sent. Knowing the decay rate of nitrate film, it's damned near a miracle that we have this film to watch.




I had a similar reaction to Ullmann watching Persona. I have yet to watch Cries & Whispers or Autumn Sonata, but I'm very much looking forward to seeing them.

Bergman had some incredible ladies to work with, didn't he?



If you do get it (I recommend you do), wait until you get a look at the 100 page booklet included with the release.

I still haven't bought my region free player. I think I'll purchase it some time in September. I can watch region free titles on my laptop, but it just didn't seem appropriate to watch this grand film on a 17 inch screen.

I just ordered a handful of films from Amazon UK, all are hard coded region B. So, I need to figure out which player I'm going to get, and get it bought, already.

I enjoy all your posts. One of my favourite contributors here. You may just inspire me to stop being a passive member, and start writing some reviews of my own.

Going region-free has been great fun. Not just for films, but also fantastic television shows I grew up with back in England. Definitely pick up a player soon, so you can enjoy on the "big screen."

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray REVIEW

Pro-B

No mention of the John Waters interview?

[Scottie]

Hmm...Spirit of the Beehive?

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Spirit of the Beehive?

That was my first thought, but there are three distinct groups of bees. ??
I'd love to see a BD upgrade. Gorgeous movie.

[dmarvin]

I would think a beehive would be in the clue if it were that one.

[LunarTunes]

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by LunarTunes

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

This seems likely to me. Bee-four trilogy.

[floriang]

Originally Posted by LunarTunes

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

That was my first thought too.

[dmarvin]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

This seems likely to me. Bee-four trilogy.

Yes, that's it. Can't wait!

[kingofmoke]

Originally Posted by LunarTunes

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

Definitely this! Bee-Four = Before and the 3 groups representing different lunar/ sun cycles

[Banned User]

I'm still amazed Criterion hasn't released The Passion of Joan of Arc. Such an amazing film. However I'll forgive them since they released The Phantom Carriage

[Dr_Bedlo]

Originally Posted by LunarTunes

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

As soon as I read this, I screamed like a 11 year old girl getting to meet Davy Jones (am I dating myself???)

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by LunarTunes

It's a stretch perhaps but I'm going with Linklater's "Before" Trilogy. Makes some sense right? Three groups of four bees?...

Yes! Geez I'm terrible at these clues.
Hopefully a digipak set vs. the slipcase with cases.

[DarkRyder]

I guess it's a long shot now, but I assumed the clue was FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Yes! Geez I'm terrible at these clues.
Hopefully a digipak set vs. the slipcase with cases.

I know we knew this was coming, but I'm so excited to see what the supplement package ends up looking like.