The Conformist and 1900
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- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 8:27 am
I watched The Conformist yesterday, loved the transfer, but had a problem at what I assume was a layer change. At the moment in the film when Clerici emerges from the lift (elevator) and pauses before turning down the hotel corridor the image froze briefly and then "melted" as a different image got mixed up with it, before picking up again. It wasn't clear how much of the film had been skipped. Has anybody else had a similar experience, or is there something wrong with my particular disc?
- Dylan
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:28 pm
It sounds like a faulty disc. You might want to try it out on another DVD player to see if this problem is player specific (sometimes certain DVD players will throw a fit with the odd DVD), but if it isn't, definitely try to get a replacement disc from where you bought it, or from Paramount themselves. Has anybody else experienced this?
By the way, does anybody here remember the original American theatrical trailers for "The Conformist" and "1900?" As we know, they aren't on the DVDs, and I'm very curious how these were marketed during their release, particularly "1900," with its huge length and (by 1977, when it hit American screens) controversial reputation.
By the way, does anybody here remember the original American theatrical trailers for "The Conformist" and "1900?" As we know, they aren't on the DVDs, and I'm very curious how these were marketed during their release, particularly "1900," with its huge length and (by 1977, when it hit American screens) controversial reputation.
- Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:18 am
- Location: Sitting End
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Well, I've always wanted to see what they looked like too and Paramount not including them is another reason for me to loathe their DVD policy (Sony does the same stupid thing on most of their DVD output).Dylan wrote:By the way, does anybody here remember the original American theatrical trailers for "The Conformist" and "1900?" As we know, they aren't on the DVDs, and I'm very curious how these were marketed during their release, particularly "1900," with its huge length and (by 1977, when it hit American screens) controversial reputation.
But as luck'd have it, I went googling and found the original italian theatrical trailer for 1900! And here it is. Enjoy.
- Gordon
- Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:03 am
I recently acquire the Blue Underground DVD of the 1971 giallo, shot by Storaro, The Fifth Cord and I was blown away by the visual majesty on display! Extraordinary set design, lighting schemes and compositions. If you love The Conformist, then check out The Fifth Cord - it's mind-blowing. It even includes a pure black-on-white silhouette scene amongst the striking color schemes. Silly plot, though.
On the DVD, Storaro is interviewed (he speaks in Italian on this occassion) and he mentions the unfilmed project that he was to work with Antonioni on in the early 70s and he refers to it as, Technically Sweet and that Dominique Sanda was to star. Such a pity that it didn't come to fruition.
On the DVD, Storaro is interviewed (he speaks in Italian on this occassion) and he mentions the unfilmed project that he was to work with Antonioni on in the early 70s and he refers to it as, Technically Sweet and that Dominique Sanda was to star. Such a pity that it didn't come to fruition.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Extract from the DVD File review of '1900':
For casual xenophobia, this is up there with the legendary British newspaper review of Clouzot's Les Diaboliques - "vulgar, nasty and French". But that was written in the 1950s - what's this guy's excuse?On rare occasions, the picture will very slightly shiver in its sprocket, but how much can you expect from such an old, foreign film?
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- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 pm
- Location: Boston MA
Yes, see this thread at DVD TALK linking to another site that notes that Paramount has discontinued the DVD and speculates that this is due to controversy regarding the "mature content" in the previously unavailable uncut version.
As I noted in that thread, this development almost makes me want to pick up a copy, but my overall antipathy toward Bertolucci's films, and particularly the godawful "Novecento", will hopefully keep me from succumbing to the horrible "collector's mentality" that I feel creeping up.
As I noted in that thread, this development almost makes me want to pick up a copy, but my overall antipathy toward Bertolucci's films, and particularly the godawful "Novecento", will hopefully keep me from succumbing to the horrible "collector's mentality" that I feel creeping up.
- Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:18 am
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- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 pm
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Masterpiece? To each his own, certainly, but of course I was referring to "no one" but my own baser instincts honed by a lifetime's worth of living in a society that's sick in a very particular way. You know, the very same dynamic that can turn a film-lover into a DVD collector, a buff into a mere consumer.
And so it was when I read about Paramount discontinuing this disc. I felt that perverse strain of consumerism that occasionally overrides my personal tastes and better instincts, leading me to make purchases for no better reason than to possess something that's rare or will be... even if I couldn't care less for it. So, indeed, "no one" but myself.
But I overcame my moment of weakness, and instead I'll leave that copy of "Novecento" on the shelf for someone who might better appreciate it.
And so it was when I read about Paramount discontinuing this disc. I felt that perverse strain of consumerism that occasionally overrides my personal tastes and better instincts, leading me to make purchases for no better reason than to possess something that's rare or will be... even if I couldn't care less for it. So, indeed, "no one" but myself.
But I overcame my moment of weakness, and instead I'll leave that copy of "Novecento" on the shelf for someone who might better appreciate it.
- sevenarts
- Joined: Tue May 09, 2006 7:22 pm
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Well I for one love Bertolucci's films but had been putting this one off since I'm not sure when I'll have the uninterrupted stretch of time to watch it -- but now I ordered it rather than wait till it's fetching collector's prices. It's kind of ridiculous that they'd take it off the shelves so quickly, I really don't get why.
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- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 pm
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My guess as to "why" is either the unsheathed wangs of the younger Olmo and Alfredo or the unsheathed wangs of the older Olmo and Alfredo. Hollywood hate wang.
Just a guess. I think the scene with the older Olmo and Alfredo goes on a bit longer than I recall in the old VHS edition, which is my only other exposure to "Novecento", but I'm really not sure. Maybe it was the slaughter of the pigs, which I'm fairly certain was longer/more graphic in the new DVD...but then maybe I'm just more sensitive to that stuff now? I really cringed when Sutherland strapped the cat to the post, though from the way the scene is cut, I'm fairly certain -hopeful, anyway- that the little feline wasn't injured, much less killed.
Just a guess. I think the scene with the older Olmo and Alfredo goes on a bit longer than I recall in the old VHS edition, which is my only other exposure to "Novecento", but I'm really not sure. Maybe it was the slaughter of the pigs, which I'm fairly certain was longer/more graphic in the new DVD...but then maybe I'm just more sensitive to that stuff now? I really cringed when Sutherland strapped the cat to the post, though from the way the scene is cut, I'm fairly certain -hopeful, anyway- that the little feline wasn't injured, much less killed.
- Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:18 am
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- kinjitsu
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:39 pm
- Location: Uffa!
Rich Malloy wrote:Hollywood hate wang.
Bernardo Bertolucci wrote:When I finished the movie I said I couldn't cut one frame. But later I saw that the movie could be cut. Instead of a castration, I arrived at an artistic work. What we have now is the film I want ... I didn't remove any sequences. I cut short pieces of film. The difference is only in the rhythm. The meaning, the strength, is absolutely the same ... I didn't want to cut [shots of] the two men naked.
- Cinephrenic
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:58 pm
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- dx23
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Puerto Rico
No need to worry, according to the same dvdtalk thread, the title is back in print.
- SHOCKMASTER
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:46 pm
- manicsounds
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
- Location: Tokyo, Japan