Kino Lorber Studio Classics

[Starchild]

KL Insider can we expect announcements this weekend?

[exzachary]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Day of the Triffids was "restored" by the rights holder and his asking price is too high.

This is unfortunate. I remember reading the rights holder claim he personally spent $100k restoring this. If he thinks he's going to recoup all of that he's delusional.

[James Luckard]

I have a question about the BD of BLACKMAIL.

The silent version on Disc 1, which was restored by the BFI, looks absolutely fantastic. This is its first ever commercial release, and I'm thrilled.

However the "talkie" version is presented in two different versions.

Disc 1 has a 1.33 version. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to simply be the 1.20 master stretched out wider. I'm not entirely clear why, since the film's OAR is supposedly 1.20.

Disc 2 is labeled as containing the 1.20 version, but it in fact appears to be pinched on the sides, resulting in an aspect ratio that's more like 1.10.

I haven't seen this discussed here yet, but on other forums people have brought it up. There are caps and such here:

https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=28489

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...16328&start=25

The Vudu streaming "talkie" version appears to be the normal 1.20, there are comparison caps between all three versions in the Nitrateville thread.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I have a question about the BD of BLACKMAIL.

The silent version on Disc 1, which was restored by the BFI, looks absolutely fantastic. This is its first ever commercial release, and I'm thrilled.

However the "talkie" version is presented in two different versions.

Disc 1 has a 1.33 version. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to simply be the 1.20 master stretched out wider. I'm not entirely clear why, since the film's OAR is supposedly 1.20.

Disc 2 is labeled as containing the 1.20 version, but it in fact appears to be pinched on the sides, resulting in an aspect ratio that's more like 1.10.

I haven't seen this discussed here yet, but on other forums people have brought it up. There are caps and such here:

https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=28489

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...16328&start=25

The Vudu streaming "talkie" version appears to be the normal 1.20, there are comparison caps between all three versions in the Nitrateville thread.

I saw the stretched/pinched caps on DVDBeaver but didn't want to trust that they'd gotten it right, since they've gotten it wrong before. However, other sites are confirming the same error, so it appears that they did actually capture the screencaps correctly and the AR on the 1.20 version is compromised. Also, you're correct that the 1.33 edition appears to be a horizontally stretched version of the 1.20 AR. Therefore, if you want to watch the talkie edition, you cannot watch it without watching either a horizontally or vertically stretched transfer.

Someone else brought this problem up earlier in the thread, but it didn't get much traction at the time. I imagine that will change as more people get their hands on the discs.

For those who have seen the film already, which edition do you prefer: silent or talkie? (I'm asking about the film itself, not the transfer.)

[GeoffOliver]

Definitely the silent version. The talkie version isn’t as much of an artifact as I thought it would be, but it’s still a talkie film from 1929, and the silent version just has more energy and is a far more confident work. Also, Anny Ondra’s performance suffered in the talkie version from having to awkwardly sync with Joan Barry’s line readings. She was wonderful in the silent version, and I wish she had a bigger career. The shot with her holding the knife after killing the man was absolutely chilling.

[kvnbhovis]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Definitely the silent version. The talkie version isn’t as much of an artifact as I thought it would be, but it’s still a talkie film from 1929, and the silent version just has more energy and is a far more confident work. Also, Anny Ondra’s performance suffered in the talkie version from having to awkwardly sync with Joan Barry’s line readings. She was wonderful in the silent version, and I wish she had a bigger career. The shot with her holding the knife after killing the man was absolutely chilling.

I just received my copy of Blackmail and wasn't sure which one to watch first. Thanks to the good folks here for recommending the silent version.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by kvnbhovis

I just received my copy of Blackmail and wasn't sure which one to watch first. Thanks to the good folks here for recommending the silent version.

In addition, the silent version had a full restoration by the BFI a couple of years back, so it looks stunning.

The talkie version, even in its proper 1.20 aspect ratio, wouldn't look as good.

Still, both have their merits.

[Aclea]

This isn't the first commercial release of the silent version - it's been on DVD in Germany for years containing both sound and silent versions (the latter with original English intertitles), and they make for an interesting comparison piece. Of the two, the silent has more energy and more dramatic composition, although in many areas the differences are fairly minor. The performances seem better, with some interesting handplay in the glove scene that should have been held over for the talkie.

To the sound version's credit it has the "KNIFE!" scene and a much better, longer take of Ondra walking through the streets as ghostly transparent figures of indifferent passers by drift among the crowd, and there's much fun to be had in watching the cues she gives her offscreen voice double (usually every sentence is heralded by opening her mouth for a second's hesitation before starting to mime). Donald Calthrop steals the acting honors as the would-be blackmailer, even managing to convince when using an unlikely upper class accent in the talkie.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Aclea

This isn't the first commercial release of the silent version - it's been on DVD in Germany for years containing both sound and silent versions (the latter with original English intertitles), and they make for an interesting comparison piece.

I meant the first commercial release of the BFI's restoration of the silent version.

Sadly their huge and expensive restoration program of the "Hitchcock 9" silent films was for theatrical release only. The titles are owned by different rights holders, so they have only slowly trickled out to home video over the years, individually.

The long-hoped-for BD boxset was, as many of us feared at the time, an impossibility.

Easy Virtue was the first to be released on BD, I believe, in France. It was followed by The Lodger in the UK. That film was later paired by Criterion in the US with Downhill. And now we have Blackmail.

[GeoffOliver]

The BFI-restored 90 minute cut of The Pleasure Garden (Hitch's directorial debut for those that don't know) isn't available anywhere outside of UK festival screenings. I've heard all about how much better it is from the 60 minute cut available elsewhere, but it's completely impossible to even view.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

The BFI-restored 90 minute cut of The Pleasure Garden (Hitch's directorial debut for those that don't know) isn't available anywhere outside of UK festival screenings. I've heard all about how much better it is from the 60 minute cut available elsewhere, but it's completely impossible to even view.

I found this online about The Pleasure Garden?:

The budget

A budget of €30k is sought to enable us to proceed. With the financing in place, we could start planning the recording sessions immediately. A detailed breakdown is available upon request.

There are some perks. Contributors to the budget will be:

• credited in all releases of the film and soundtrack, and in publicity for the project.
• owners of the soundtrack recording, and therefore be entitled to royalties. These would accrue through theatrical, television, home video and soundtrack sales.
• given pre-release, signed deluxe box sets with the Blu-ray or DVD, a booklet and other uncomfirmed goodies, such as a film poster, the soundtrack on CD and vinyl, etc.
• invited to meet the composer to discuss the project and Hitchcock’s legacy more generally.
• invited to attend the recording sessions in person and/or receive exclusive photo and video footage.
• invited to attend an exclusive screening of the finished film with its new soundtrack.

If you can help in any way with this funding proposal, please contact:

Daniel Patrick Cohen – Website, Twitter, email, Skype: dpcohen19682
Brent Reid – email

With the soundtrack recorded, the film will be released worldwide on Blu-ray, DVD and major digital platforms, by Network Distributing under license from ITV, and in cinemas with distribution partners Park Circus. A TV release may arise from the latter, and it is notable that some national stations have already expressed interest in broadcasting it.

Also, the trailer for the BFI version looks beautiful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kSxX3t9lys

[BarnDoor]

I guess no weekend announcements given the Insider didn't mention them yesterday?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

I guess no weekend announcements given the Insider didn't mention them yesterday?

Oh no? I wonder what’s up. We haven’t been getting many new announcements recently. Felt like we heard about a brew title every few days before.

[Bradsdadg]

New announcement on Twitter:

Coming 2020!
Brand New 2K Restoration!

Oscar Winner: Best Supporting Actor (Martin Balsam)

Three Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture!

A Thousand Clowns (1965) Starring Jason Robards, Barbara Harris, Martin Balsam & Barry Gordon – Directed by Fred Coe (Me, Natalie).

clowns.jpg

[Cremildo]

A fantastic announcement. It's never been released on DVD in my country - I'll be glad to finally be able to watch it in the highest possible quality.

[BarnDoor]

So now there are just 5 titles left to reveal in the MGM deal:

1950s - 1
1960s - 2
1980s - 2

One of the 60s titles was previously released on Blu by another label (NOT Twilight Time), and one of the 80s titles is a seemingly fairly obscure Cannon film.

And on top of this, just 3 titles left to reveal in the Universal deal:

1930s - 1
1950s - 1 (almost certainly Wings of the Hawk)
1980s - 1

At this point I'm thinking the 80s title will be Return of the Musketeers, given they still have a Christopher Lee film to announce.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

New announcement on Twitter:

Coming 2020!
Brand New 2K Restoration!

Oscar Winner: Best Supporting Actor (Martin Balsam)

Three Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture!

A Thousand Clowns (1965) Starring Jason Robards, Barbara Harris, Martin Balsam & Barry Gordon – Directed by Fred Coe (Me, Natalie).

Attachment 226452

Oh, great news! I loved this film when I was younger. Still enjoy it, but for different reasons. Glad to see it got a new restoration. The last time I saw it, it looked pretty rough. This has been a great week for me, what with the Bette Davis announcements, My Favorite Year, and now A Thousand Clowns. I hope this is coming in early 2020!

Edit: And I just found out that Arrow is releasing The Far Country. Sweet!

[jshaide]

Yes! A THOUSAND CLOWNS finally!

[jessbarker]

Originally Posted by exzachary

This is unfortunate. I remember reading the rights holder claim he personally spent $100k restoring this. If he thinks he's going to recoup all of that he's delusional.

I remember a short while back when he won a judgment against Cheezy Flicks for their boots of Triffids...lol. Not that that's seemed to stop their overall operations.

[jessbarker]

Kino Lorber Insider,

The passing of the beyond legendary Peter Fonda has me thinking of his often overlooked second directorial effort, the eco-conscious, post-apocalyptic Idaho Transfer, starring Keith Carradine. It's quite an interesting film. Fonda initially only intended to produce. Fonda retained the rights to it himself, but it never had a proper release, eventually popping up on budget label dvds. Would, at an appropriate point, this be something that would interest KLSC?