A few words about...™ Performance

When Performance, was delivered to the studio (WB) and test screened, there weren't many people smiling.

After languishing, being re-cut, and finally being released in 1970, Donald Cammell and Nick Roeg's effort arrived as one of the few films concerning the UK drugs, sex and rock & roll theme also infused with more than enough transgendered storyline to keep it out of many neighborhood malls, today the film not only succeeds, but has stood the test of time.

The transfer looks fine on SD DVD.

It would have been a nice treat, per their availability to have had interview footage with Mr. Jagger and Mr. Fox, for the documentary, which would have rounded it out nicely.

Viewing Performance again leaves me with a single question.

With everyone else accounted for, whatever became of French actress Michele Breton, also seen in Godard's Weekend? Web searches lead nowhere.

Recommended.

RAH

Re: A few words about...™ Performance

The image is nice, but it's unfortunate that what is now the most widely available version of the film has its sound compromised by an "improved" mix that omits a fairly signficant line of dialogue during the "Memo from Turner" sequence.

This is the most egregious alteration, but a comparison with the soundtrack of the letterboxed laserdisc reveals substantial differences in musical instrumentation and levels, during the "Memo from Turner" sequence and elsewhere. It's not just "clearer" than before -- it's different.

*One point in favor of the DVD soundtrack -- it's the first time I've ever heard the actual voices of Johnny Shannon and the little girl in Turner's house. In Shannon's case, it's difficult to understand why the studio felt dubbing was necessary - there's not much difference between the two voices, except that the dubbing is jarring in comparison to the other dialogue recorded live.

Re: A few words about...™ Performance

According to The Rough Guide To Gangster Movies (An excellent series by the way), Michele Breton became a heroin addict after making the movie, and drifted around Europe for decades, until author Mick Brown tracked her down for his book on the film.

Re: A few words about...™ Performance

It was also my understanding that Michele is the daughter of surrealism founder Andre Breton.

Re: A few words about...™ Performance

The line is: "Here's to old England" and is, indeed a very significant line. I live in the UK, but imported the R1 edition. Does the R2 edition also omit the line?

Re: A few words about...™ Performance

Yes, it does.