Tom Jones (1963)

[RBBrittain]

A few updates: First, a review on Amazon claims the original version will have the UA hexagon, while the director's cut will have the logos of The Samuel Goldwyn Company (who distributed that cut in 1989; those logos are on the MGM DVD I have, one of the few pre-Criterion discs at 1.66:1 OAR). I'll check it to be sure (just shipped from Target), but that sounds good.

Second, packaging pictures at Criterion Forum show that Criterion is licensing the film directly from its original UK producer Woodfall. Apparently the film's rights reverted to Woodfall sometime after MGM got them from buying TSGC (much like The Best Years of Our Lives, originally produced by Samuel Goldwyn Sr., now owned by a Goldwyn family trust). That suggests it won't be going back to MGM from Criterion, as Silence of the Lambs did before (and probably will again).

Finally, just in case no one mentioned it, the UK will see this restoration as part of the BFI boxset
Woodfall: A Revolution in British Cinema 1959-1965, due in April.

[CinemaScope]

Sorry, double post.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Finally, just in case no one mentioned it, the UK will see this restoration as part of the BFI boxset
Woodfall: A Revolution in British Cinema 1959-1965, due in April.

Yup, very happy we're getting Tom Jones in the UK, it doesn't look like we'll have any of the Criterion extras, but I don't bother with extras these days, & it is coming in a set with seven other films: Look Back in Anger / The Entertainer / Saturday Night and Sunday Morning / A Taste of Honey / The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner / Girl with Green Eyes / The Knack... and How to Get It (new transfer according to the blurb).

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

A few updates: First, a review on Amazon claims the original version will have the UA hexagon, while the director's cut will have the logos of The Samuel Goldwyn Company (who distributed that cut in 1989; those logos are on the MGM DVD I have, one of the few pre-Criterion discs at 1.66:1 OAR). I'll check it to be sure (just shipped from Target), but that sounds good.

Second, packaging pictures at Criterion Forum show that Criterion is licensing the film directly from its original UK producer Woodfall. Apparently the film's rights reverted to Woodfall sometime after MGM got them from buying TSGC (much like The Best Years of Our Lives, originally produced by Samuel Goldwyn Sr., now owned by a Goldwyn family trust). That suggests it won't be going back to MGM from Criterion, as Silence of the Lambs did before (and probably will again).

Finally, just in case no one mentioned it, the UK will see this restoration as part of the BFI boxset
Woodfall: A Revolution in British Cinema 1959-1965, due in April.

I suspected this, as A Taste of Honey was licensed to Criterion by Woodfall. I hope their deal also includes Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.

[bluskies]

Mine is being delivered today by Amazon. Haven't seen this in its entirety since I was a kid (when it had its first theatrical release!). I was only about 8 at the time so didn't really appreciate it...hoping being an adult will fix that now. Also glad for its release because it was one of the few Best Picture winners not yet on Blu. (When, oh when, will they do a Blu --- or better yet, a 4K release!!!!!! --- of "Around the World in 80 Days"??)

[Allgood]

I really want this. One of my favorite movies, even wrote a research paper on it. $25 is a bit much after being spoiled by recent Wal-Mart sales, so I'll see if this goes down lower. Great movie glad to see a Criterion release!

[traths]

I'll be getting this when Barnes and Noble has their Criterion sale in July. Filling another gap in the Best Picture winners collection since I collect them all.

[captainron_howdy]

Just a heads up, it's already 30% off at B&N. If you're a member you get another 10% & there are 20% off coupons right now. I think I paid about $21.90.

[traths]

Originally Posted by captainron_howdy

Just a heads up, it's already 30% off at B&N. If you're a member you get another 10% & there are 20% off coupons right now. I think I paid about $21.90.

I can wait until July, I don't need it that desperately.

[RBBrittain]

Just got mine, and it seems the Amazon reviewer was wrong. Both cuts open with the Criterion logo, then the Janus Films logo, then straight to "A Woodfall Film". The director's cut has a "distributed by" TSGC logo at the end of the scroll; the original version has "Distributed Through Lopert Pictures Corporation" (its U.S. distributor) on the copyright screen just before the cast. No Leo, but no animated Sam Goldwyn signature or UA hexagon either.

One other curious thing: The silent-like title cards in the opening have what appears to be a still, digitized video noise pattern in the background. Was this in the original film, or did the restorers think it was an actual background and mistakenly leave it in?

[JupiterMission]

Rented a nice new copy of this from the library today (no scratches or random stranger goo on it). I've never seen it before. Would you all recommend the theatrical or the director's cut for a rookie? I usually go with director's cuts, but since the theatrical won an Oscar, I thought I'd check in here. Are they very different?

[CinemaScope]

I'd have thought they'd be a few more reviews of the Blu-ray by now.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

Rented a nice new copy of this from the library today (no scratches or random stranger goo on it). I've never seen it before. Would you all recommend the theatrical or the director's cut for a rookie? I usually go with director's cuts, but since the theatrical won an Oscar, I thought I'd check in here. Are they very different?

For me, I prefer theatrical cuts when they were not compromised over belated director recuts in general, but in this case I don't have a strong preference.

[jjhunsecker]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

For me, I prefer theatrical cuts when they were not compromised over belated director recuts in general, but in this case I don't have a strong preference.

This seems to be a little different in that the "Directors Cut" is actually SHORTER than the original version, when usually it's the reverse

[thatguamguy]

That's also the case of most if not all of the Chaplin "director's cuts".

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

Rented a nice new copy of this from the library today (no scratches or random stranger goo on it). I've never seen it before. Would you all recommend the theatrical or the director's cut for a rookie? I usually go with director's cuts, but since the theatrical won an Oscar, I thought I'd check in here. Are they very different?

Was wondering this myself as I’m going to watch this for the first time.

Most reviews seem to say the film is imperfect, so may benefit from a shorter directors cut.

Any consensus which is the “better” cut of the film?

[JupiterMission]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

Was wondering this myself as I’m going to watch this for the first time.

Most reviews seem to say the film is imperfect, so may benefit from a shorter directors cut.

Any consensus which is the “better” cut of the film?

For what it's worth, I went with the Theatrical and really enjoyed the film (and wound up purchasing it). I haven't watched the Director's Cut to compare, however.