Orson Welles - Mr. Bongo Blu-rays Coming....

[IanSchultz23]

I just got a press release which made me ****ed my pants so hard...

Falstaff Chimes At Midnight, Too Much Johnson/The Immortal Story and a another version of The Stranger is coming out 29th of June. Special features not official yet.

Except for The Stranger

Original Theatrical Trailer,
• Image Gallery
• Orson Welles Wartime radio. Four complete programmes exemplify Welles’ blending of
propaganda and entertainment: Alameda (Nazi eyes on Canada 1942), War workers: (Ceiling Unlimited 1942), Brazil (Hello Americans 1942), Bikini Atomic test (Orson Welles Commentaries 1946).

[mattyl149]

It'll be interesting to see how their version of The Stranger compares

It's been ages since they last released something. I thought at one point they were having a competition with Shameless to see who could go longest without putting a release out

[Yami]

Fantastic news! Mr Bongo had a decidedly spotty record on DVD, but the few Blu-Rays that they've released have been fine. I've been begging them for a long time to release Chimes at Midnight on Blu-Ray. To get Too Much Johnson and The Immortal Story alongside that is also fantastic news and, as for The Stranger, it will be interesting to see what print they use.

[rapta]

Great news! I hope they use decent masters...heard mixed things about some of their DVD releases. However if their Blu-ray release of Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre is anything to go by, we're in for a treat...

[Yami]

When I asked them about releasing the Filmoteca Española restoration of Chimes at Midnight on Blu-Ray a while back, they said that they would look into it. That's been playing at quite a few places recently, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival and the Film Forum. It certainly seems to be the most likely source, unless Mr Bongo revert to their old ways as I don't think their DVD came from an HD master.

The source for The Stranger will be interesting too, seeing as Odeon are releasing the Library of Congress master. There's nothing to say that Odeon have exclusive rights (and the film is in the public domain), so it may well be the same - but I'll continue to hope that someone licences the better quality MGM transfer.

[Chad Plainview]

Hell yeah!!!!!

[Yami]

Wellesnet Interview with Mr. Bongo

Of most interest is that they will be releasing a new restoration of The Immortal Story on Blu-Ray at a later date, and that these releases are barebones but there will be a boxset with extras later in the year

[Davy]

There go my pre-orders then. I'll wait for the box!

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by Davy

There go my pre-orders then. I'll wait for the box!

Same here.

[tenia]

Most counter-productive sales technique ever.

- So, you're releasing Immortal Story on DVD. No BD ?
- We're doing a new HD master, so don't buy the DVD, wait for the end of the year.

- So, there's no extras on your BDs.
- Wait for the box set, there'll be some.



Bottomline : don't buy anything from us now, wait a couple months first.
I guess the sales will start by being disappointing...

[Davy]

Originally Posted by tenia

Most counter-productive sales technique ever.

- So, you're releasing Immortal Story on DVD. No BD ?
- We're doing a new HD master, so don't buy the DVD, wait for the end of the year.

- So, there's no extras on your BDs.
- Wait for the box set, there'll be some.



Bottomline : don't buy anything from us now, wait a couple months first.
I guess the sales will start by being disappointing...

Yeah, if they come back and say "due to disappointing sales of the individual Welles titles, the box-set has been cancelled"....there's gonna be hell to pay.

[joebacons]

Originally Posted by Yami

Wellesnet Interview with Mr. Bongo

Of most interest is that they will be releasing a new restoration of The Immortal Story on Blu-Ray at a later date, and that these releases are barebones but there will be a boxset with extras later in the year

It's good to find out about the box-set before rather than after the individual releases come out!
I've now cancelled my orders, and will instead look forward to November.
I'll use some of the temporarily saved money to put towards the crowd funding campaign to complete The Other Side Of The Wind.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/f...st-film#/story

[rotatingfish]

Not feeling a lot of confidence in Mr. Bongo right now. Having paid €32, my most expensive blind-buy to import Chimes At Midnight on D.V.D. from Brazil (back before it was on YouTube or torrentable), I think I'll wait in the hopes of Criterion releasing it and The Immortal Story on Blu.

[Arkadin]

amazon.uk just sent an email saying The Stranger bd release has been cancelled.
guess they figured one bd release was enough.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

amazon.uk just sent an email saying The Stranger bd release has been cancelled.
guess they figured one bd release was enough.

Was confirmed as cancelled a while back. My guess is they were looking at the same transfer...wise of them to skip it.

[adamhopelies]

[IanSchultz23]

I watched my screener last night, I really struggled through the poor audio it's really muffled and mumbled I think it's a combination of things the poor overdubbing by Welles and co, the quality of the print and and I think they could have done a better clean up at least on the audio.

[Kurgen1975]

I cancelled all of my individual orders. I'll take the box set with the extra features please!

[Vakulinchuk]

So how's the quality of these Bongo Welles BDs?

I got their Subdesarrollo and it wasn't half bad.

Do we have a Mr.Bongo official discussion thread? It's amazing the stockpile of masterpieces these guys are sitting on, without upgrading their DVD releases.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by Vakulinchuk

So how's the quality of these Bongo Welles BDs?

Their Immortal Story isn't bad, but the Criterion tops it in every department, and includes some great supplements.

Chimes is awful. The contrast is blown-out, and I found the sound to be too harsh. I'm not talking about the usual sync issues that have always been levelled at the film. This is something else entirely; I had to block my ears when the trumpets sounded, etc.

If you are region-free, spend the extra $$ to buy the two Criterions instead. They're worth it.

Too Much Johnson is unique to Mr Bongo at this time. Hobson's choice.