Fat City (John Huston)

[tenia]

Fat City has just been "announced" for Oct 29th 2014 : http://www.amazon.fr/Fat-City-Blu-ra...3875186&sr=1-7

It will be released by Wild Side, seemingly through their "BD + DVD + Book" collection.

[Bruce Morrison]

Thanks for the heads-up! Another excellent Huston film that, quite surprisingly, is getting a Blu release.

I'm wondering whether it will have forced French subtitles with the English language track. I'm not sure what Wild Side's track record is in this respect. Anyone care to hazard an informed guess?

[Bruce Morrison]

I think I've probably answered my own question. I've just found the thread for the French Forced Subtitles master list at:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=192986

Sadly, Wild Side features very prominently in the list.

Could that master list thread be made into a sticky? It's very useful, but it's currently languishing way down the threads list.

[Olmo]

Forced subtitles or no, this is a certain pre-order for me, waited too long to see this.

A blind buy yes, but reading up on it (sucker for early 70's Hollywood's golden era) there's a quote in Time Out film guide which states it's a 'masterpiece of skid row poetry'. Also, the renowned film critic David Thomson cites it as a key film of the 70's and a return to form for John Huston.

That'll do for me.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Olmo

Forced subtitles or no, this is a certain pre-order for me, waited too long to see this.

A blind buy yes, but reading up on it (sucker for early 70's Hollywood's golden era) there's a quote in Time Out film guide which states it's a 'masterpiece of skid row poetry'. Also, the renowned film critic David Thomson cites it as a key film of the 70's and a return to form for John Huston.

That'll do for me.

Yes, it's certainly an excellent film and probably Huston's best film in 20 years (although I also have a great affection for his previous film, 'Reflections In A Golden Eye'). But if this Blu-ray does have forced subs, I'll stick with my Region 1 DVD for now.

[tenia]

[Bruce Morrison]

This was released on 29th October. Can anyone confirm whether the French subtitles are forced or optional with the English soundtrack?

Any comments on the transfer quality would also be appreciated.

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

This was released on 29th October. Can anyone confirm whether the French subtitles are forced or optional with the English soundtrack?

Any comments on the transfer quality would also be appreciated.

I'm not sure, but these seem to be captures from the disc...
http://www.dvdclassik.com/test/blu-r...-livre/galerie

If so, I'm not impressed at all, actually it looks decent at best.

[Alex DeLarge]

I just translated via google and subtitles are removable. Ordering now!

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

I just translated via google and subtitles are removable. Ordering now!

Many thanks, Alex. I'm ordering it as well!

[tenia]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

I'm not sure, but these seem to be captures from the disc...
http://www.dvdclassik.com/test/blu-r...-livre/galerie

If so, I'm not impressed at all, actually it looks decent at best.

The test says : The master is certainly not very recent and it shows. It's good overall but there's room for improvement. Photo is soft, so it doesn't help. Moreover, grain seems to have been reduced.

French subs are optional.

[Olmo]

Had this delivered today, it's a great looking package. I know it's an obvious thing to say but it's a shame the book is in French ;-). however it's full of great stills including a variation of vintage promo poster galleries.

PQ looks really good, nice bit of 'Hollywood golden era' grain in there, Kris Kristofferson on the soundtrack, and I can confirm the French subtitles are removable.

Watching on Thursday as it's Champions league week ;-), but have read great things from such esteemed critics as David Thomson. Looking forward to it.

[Horsemeat Discoer]

This is due from (the US) Kino, Olive or Twilight Time for 2015 I believe.

[DJANGO]

Yes, I believe TWILIGHT TIME is going to release it - but (I imagine) no book in French will be included!

[John Hodson]

I recently bought this from Amazon.fr, despite several reports that folks were having problem with playback (specifically the final chapter).

Well, I needn't have worried about the final chapter. The BD in the Wild Side set just won't load at all in my Oppo BD player. I fancied any issues might be player related, but having examined the disc it looks to me like a manufacturing problem. The are ridges on both the outer and inner edges of the disc.

It's a housebrick of a set, and I'm loathe to return it to Amazon, simply because, if this is a bad batch of discs - and I'm far from alone in experiencing problems as recent comments on the disc on Amazon show - I'll simply get another.

I've contacted Wild Side direct, both by email and by the 'contact us' form on their website, to see if they can do a simple disc exchange, but so far no reply. It's a shame; it's a lovely set...

[Dickieduvet]

Was just about to order this as it's in the Amazon.fr 3 for 2 promo, thanks for the heads up. Hopefully Wild side will address this soon.

[mrjohnnyb]

I watched my copy in 2015 soon after it was released. I never posted my reaction, so I thought now would be a good time:

Thank you, Twilight Time! I truly admire your curatorial skills. Fat City is your finest work! Note that I also own Breaking Away, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, and the original version of The Big Heat, for which I had to pay $50 (hindsight is 20/20) plus, several more. Bravo and keep it coming!

Sincerely,
JB

Recommendations for further consideration:

Take the Money and Run
After Hours (although this has been hinted by Criterion)
Los Olvidados (and basically and unreleased Bunuel film)
The Bad News Bears (1976)
and
The Incredible Shrinking Man

[John Hodson]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

Was just about to order this as it's in the Amazon.fr 3 for 2 promo, thanks for the heads up. Hopefully Wild side will address this soon.

I read on the DVDClassik forum that Wild Side set up a dedicated 'phone line to deal with a disc exchange, though that was over a year ago and the number doesn't appear to be in service.

Having emailed Wild Side twice without response, I returned the disc to Amazon.fr. The replacement arrived today, and - hurrah! - it loaded. But - boo - as many have noted, the picture and sound breaks up during the penultimate (not the final chapter; my error) chapter. Damn.

So, I found a telephone number for Wild Side...and it doesn't appear be in service either. I'm disappointed in Wild Side; they appear to have acknowledged the problem initially, but with bad discs still out there, it seems they have now washed their hands of the problem; well, for this international (former) customer they have.

[Dickieduvet]

Thanks again for all the info, will hold off this release then. What a shame