Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 (Three-Disc Collector's Edition) May 15 2012

[pro-bassoonist]

Novecento Blu-ray

Olive Films have revealed that they are planning to release a three-disc Collector's Edition of Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci's epic drama Novecento a.k.a 1900 (1976), starring Gérard Depardieu, Robert De Niro, Dominique Sanda, Burt Lancaster, and Donald Sutherland. Street date is April 24th.

Set in Italy, the film follows the lives and interactions of two boys/men, one born a bastard of peasant stock, the other born to a land owner. The drama spans from 1900 to 1945, and focuses mainly on the rise of Fascism and the peasants' eventual reaction by supporting Communism, and how these events shape the destinies of the two main characters.

NEWS
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8201

Pro-B

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Olive Films have revealed that they are planning to release a three-disc Collector's Edition of Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci's epic drama <i>Novecento</i> a.k.a <i>1900</i> (1976), starring Gérard Depardieu, Robert De Niro, Dominique Sanda, Burt Lancaster, and Donald Sutherland. Street date is April 24th.

NEWS
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8201

Pro-B

One more disc than I had hoped for!

Great news.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Great news.

Now we need the following films so I could upgrade my DVDs




Kino needs to work on The Spider's Stratagem, and Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man I would get on any format, DVD or Blu-ray.

Pro-B

[PowellPressburger]

Really surprised that Paramount licensed this title out to Olive Films, but I think it is great and a Three Disc version. I think the title that Olive released for Despair is a really great disc.

Hmmm maybe The Conformist from Criterion...? (Or Else will Import the upcoming UK release.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Really surprised that Paramount licensed this title out to Olive Films, but I think it is great and a Three Disc version. I think the title that Olive released for Despair is a really great disc.

Well, they were anything but enthusiastic about having the film on DVD to begin with. It took some serious campaigning to have them consider releasing it.

This scenario - having smaller companies handle catalog product - is a far better option for the serious film aficionado.

Pro-B

[Tin Drum]

This better look nothing short of gorgeous! I will wait for reviews before I upgrade from my dvd.

This movie is amazing, btw. I love Burt Lancaster in this.

And I like that the cover art is the original poster art.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

This better look nothing short of gorgeous! I will wait for reviews before I upgrade from my dvd.

This movie is amazing, btw. I love Burt Lancaster in this.

And I like that the cover art is the original poster art.

I just remember that borderline "pedo" scene in the barn:

"Senor, you can't milk a bull" and flashes of those massive teeth, or some such...

[Pyoko]

I've never seen this, so I'm looking forward to it. However I really hope Olive Films have access to a better source and do a good job with it, because the Italian Blu-ray looks horrendously filtered.

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Well, they were anything but enthusiastic about having the film on DVD to begin with. It took some serious campaigning to have them consider releasing it.

Pro-B

I'm shocked Paramount put this out on DVD themselves, considering some of the content. I'm no prude, but some of those scenes involving children made me pretty queazy.

[kinoeye]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Now we need the following films so I could upgrade my DVDs




Kino needs to work on The Spider's Stratagem, and Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man I would get on any format, DVD or Blu-ray.

Pro-B

Agreed! I love Partner, and the Sheltering Sky. Heck, we need 'em all. I even like his new work. Recently got a region free player, will be importing the Conformist and Before the Revolution soon enough.

[animatedude]

Olive Films?

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by animatedude

Olive Films?

They have been releasing Paramount's deep catalog titles for a couple of years.

[anthonyls]

3 discs? I sure hope they include some special features with that much disc space. Or will they just take the cheap way out and issue the movie on 3 25BDs?

[Yami]

Pre-ordered this at a terrific price from Planet Axel. What's always puzzled me about this film is what language to watch this in - English, Italian...?

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by Yami

Pre-ordered this at a terrific price from Planet Axel. What's always puzzled me about this film is what language to watch this in - English, Italian...?

It's a tough call! With the English actors speaking English and the Italian actors speaking Italian, either choice is going to involve some dubbing. So it's a question of the English version being easier, in that attention can be more readily given to the sumptuous detail in the frame, or the Italian version being more consistant with the setting and the people. And in the latter case the subtitles are nicely done in yellow and placed within the frame.

So does Olive films themselves actually do restorative work and do an upgrade to HD? What kind of a product do they generally put out?

+1 on Sheltering Sky!

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

So does Olive films themselves actually do restorative work and do an upgrade to HD? What kind of a product do they generally put out?

My understanding is that they work with transfers supplied by Paramount.

I expect this release to represent a very strong upgrade in quality over the old R1 DVD. Thus far I have been very pleased with Olive's discs.

[Jompa]

I believe this will be the best BD of this film, since Olive films don`t use any DNR on their films. The Italian BD has a lot of DNR.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

My understanding is that they work with transfers supplied by Paramount.

I expect this release to represent a very strong upgrade in quality over the old R1 DVD. Thus far I have been very pleased with Olive's discs.

I've bought four Olive Blu-rays to date: Sands of the Kalahari (thanks to your review pro-b), Crack in the World, The Hellstrom Chronicle (which I haven't opened yet), and The Buccaneer (on pre-order).

Kalahari was definitely the best in terms of AQ/PQ (as well as the best movie - more Cy Endfield please). But I'm somewhat torn over this label - on the one hand, it's great that they're releasing these half-forgotten gems, but on the other, they don't do anything remarkable with them. Basically, they just take whatever Paramount has available, and make the best of it.

So I'm hoping 1900 gets kicked up a notch or two in terms of quality, but am being very realistic in my expectations.

[Greengoblin]

This sounds interesting so i will give it a go, i am going to watch it in italian, and then give it a go in english.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

My understanding is that they work with transfers supplied by Paramount.

I expect this release to represent a very strong upgrade in quality over the old R1 DVD. Thus far I have been very pleased with Olive's discs.

Thanks guys! Very good news indeed. Actually the DVD was not a bad product...any enhancement to those wonderful field scenes would be a plus!

Will also definitely be taking a look at Sands of the Kalihari on that recommendation. I know the title but don't believe I've ever seen it. Plus one as well on The Sheltering Sky!