The Last Seduction (1994)

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

Yeah, I’d love to hear more about this. On one of the audio commentaries, John Dahl mentioned The Last Seduction was shot scope (2.39:1) yet all home video masters thus far have been 1.78:1 (or worse, 1.33.1) so was wondering about the aspect ratio of this 35mm Park Circus print?

You would have to go through a whole lot of expensive optical work to transform a 35mm Scope print to flat. And to what point? Much easier, cheaper and better image quality leaving it anamorphic, so presumably all 35mm prints are Scope.

The only times I've ever seen a Scope produced film changed to flat were 16mm/8mm (for non-theatrical and TV release--back in the 60s/70s they might have done one or two one offs for network broadcast). Sometimes they would do that optical unsqueeze for a couple minutes of 35mm trailer. But it would be exceedingly rare for an entire feature theatrical release print. So presumably that screening was a Scope print.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

Yeah, I’d love to hear more about this. On one of the audio commentaries, John Dahl mentioned The Last Seduction was shot scope (2.39:1) yet all home video masters thus far have been 1.78:1 (or worse, 1.33.1) so was wondering about the aspect ratio of this 35mm Park Circus print?

Whoa, hadn’t realized that. Ok, this poor film seriously needs a proper rescue!

[chas speed]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Whoa, hadn’t realized that. Ok, this poor film seriously needs a proper rescue!

It seems to have the same problem that "The Hitcher" had and they eventually found the negative on that one.

[Nick Michalak]

Imprint Films in Australia just announced a 4K Blu-ray release with a brand new restoration from the 35mm negative! Here's to hoping an US distributor picks this up as well.

Quintessential neo-noir erotic thriller THE LAST SEDUCTION (1994) comes to 4K UHD for the first time worldwide, fully restored by Imprint Films from the original 35mm negative! ��
We are thrilled to present the film in three versions: not only in its full colour Theatrical Cut on 4K UHD, but also in an exclusive Noir Edition on 4K UHD (with the film in black-and-white), and in its Extended Version in standard-definition on Blu-ray.
Passion, greed and revenge forge a desperate triangle between Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino), a woman who wants it all, her husband (Bill Pullman), a doctor forced to deal drugs, and a violent and impatient loan shark (Peter Berg).
Special Features:
• Audio commentary by director John Dahl
• NEW Small Town Noir – interview with director John Dahl
• NEW The Demolished Man – interview with actor Peter Berg
• NEW The Good Doctor – interview with actor Bill Pullman
• NEW Seductive Rhythms – interview with editor Eric L. Beason
• NEW Hard Light and Soft Shadows – interview with cinematographer Jeffrey Jur
• More NEW Special Features TBC
• The Art of Seduction – archival featurette
• Behind-the-scenes footage
• Image gallery
• Deleted Scenes (with optional audio commentary)
• Alternate Ending (with optional audio commentary)
• 128-minute Extended Version of the film (standard-definition)
• Optional English Subtitles
This Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray 4-Disc Hardbox comes with an exclusive hardback booklet featuring original production notes, information on the cast and crew, and publicity photographs.
1500 copies only. �� Pre-orders open this Friday 5 September.

[dtower182]

Originally Posted by Nick Michalak

Imprint Films in Australia just announced a 4K Blu-ray release with a brand new restoration from the 35mm negative! Here's to hoping an US distributor picks this up as well.

Cannot wait!

[BarnDoor]

Given Shout control the ITV library in the US, if they don't do it themselves it's going to be difficult for any other label to acquire it.

[koberulz]

This disappeared from Kino's site without going through WSL, so I missed out on a copy. Didn't want to pay eBay prices to pick it up, but they're probably lower than what this will retail for anyway...

[Cheddar Goblin]

The new restoration restored from the negative is also in 1:85:1. That’s interesting.

[koberulz]

Why is that interesting?

[Cheddar Goblin]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Why is that interesting?

Because as mentioned further up in the thread Dahl claims to have shot the movie in 2:39:1. Unless I’m misunderstanding something.

[Fat Phil]

Originally Posted by Cheddar Goblin

Because as mentioned further up in the thread Dahl claims to have shot the movie in 2:39:1. Unless I’m misunderstanding something.

No that's pretty much it. It's always possible he mispoke on the commentary track.

The commentary in question dates from the DVD days when the version he was watching at the time of recording would NOT have been 1.85:1. The available DVD versions were either 1.78:1 at best and 1.33:1 at worst. So perhaps he was referring to the 1.85:1 ratio whilst watching either of those.

Or perhaps The Last Seduction was indeed shot scope but, having its roots in television, they settled on the 1.85 ratio and that's become the defacto version. That's as far as my thinking takes me, anyway

I'd have loved to have seen a 2.39:1 version (it seems the new black and white Noir Edition would've been such a great opportunity to introduce that ) but, hey ho, i'll take any 4K UHD version of The Last Seduction I can get at this point. It's all gravy.