HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

sorry to keep the thread slightly off-track, but just a minor to correction to Ken's post about the matted sections of GWTW. The over-matting actually dates further back than the 70mm reissue, as it was originally done during the 1954 wide-screen (1.66:1) issue. The shots in questions were those that David Selznick thought would suffer appreciably if shown thru a 1.66:1 mask. He had those shots printed one sprocket frame up to protect the bottom frame line and they were inserted into the original negatives prior to new printing matrices being struck. Unfortunately, the original trims were discarded.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

...nope..."Gigi" and "An American In Paris" are both scheduled for BD in 2009...however, Warner Bros. Japan is issuing AAIP in November of this year...(?)

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

I watched Gigi tonight.

Every time I see it, the story itself just seems richer and richer. In some ways, it's more powerful than Pygmalion/My Fair Lady. By her simple honesty and morality, Gigi transforms Gaston. The reprise of the song "Gigi" isn't sung, but it is played while he walks around the moonlit Twileries, just thinking and thinking. He loves her, and wants the best for her, and he's embarrassed about his previous life and the business of her family. All of this without dialogue.

I think it's just wonderful. Makes me cry.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

...add to this the greatness of the talent behind and in front of the camera and, I believe, you have a masterpiece for the ages...

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

And by the way, I think I heard the inimitable voice of Paul Frees, dubbing the voices of two of Gaston's servants in the early dressing scene (Paul uses different voices and accents, but it's unmistakably him).

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Good review. I didn't skim either.

Huge Caron fan. But I was never bowled over by Gigi. Just not my thing. Some wonderful music though and beautifully filmed and all that. I'm more a fan of her as Lili...yes, with those creepy puppets and all. Now that is a film I'd love to have a DVD of instead of my VHS.

Anyway, it's good to see another classic get a good DVD treatment even if it isn't my favorite.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

I saw your post from a few days ago where you mentioned that you bought all four "Child's Play" movies in a binge. Clearly creepy puppets are not a problem for you.

Regards,

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Not only WB Japan: "Gigi" will be available on a German Blu-ray on 10/17/08, "An American in Paris" is scheduled for 11/07/08.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

...so the question begs, why not in the states?...

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Call me a lover of all things wooden or felt.

Signed
James "Krofft" Perry.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

If I had to guess I would say Warner Bros is planning a big classic films on blu-ray promotion in 2009 . With titles such as Wizard of Oz, Ben Hur, North By Northwest, Gone With the Wind, and Quo Vadis coming in 2009, I think they want to add Gigi and American In Paris as part of this blu ray promotion.

Not sure if its region free but the blu-ray of Gigi is current available on the German Amazon site for about
31 euros. That is expensive.

http://www.amazon.de/s?__mk_de_DE=%C...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Well, I'm watching it now and I guess this is the best GIGI will ever look, but it isn't great. It's still SO disappointing that such a wonderful movie with such great production design looks so...so...lousy in all present incarnations.

It's better than the muddy, shifting tones of the old dvd, but keep expectations low and you won't be disappointed.

By the way, WarnerColor, DeLuxe, MetroColor, PatheColor etc. were all trade names using the same Eastman source, but the way each lab processed the NEGATIVES (forget the positive printing for now) and whether or not they skipped steps in the processing to save a little money, makes a great difference to the "look" of each lab and what can be acheived with modern restorations.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

Anyone know if there are any screen shots comparing the new transfer for "GIGI" with the old one?

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

I can't quite put my finger on it but I feel this release is lacking. There were alternate takes for some scenes that might have been included (though they could be lost so that could be forgiven). On the Rhino cd there are all three of Leslie Caron's recorded songs (only one is here but in is only an excerpt in the documentary). I would have liked to see all the footage from the premier not just excerpts. There is a Robert Osborne interview with Leslie Caron which could have been included and the MGM library has a Chevalier special they could have included. With regards to the documentary I was disappointed Louis Jordan & Andre Previn were not included. I wonder if there were asked (I know Louis Jordan is up there in years and might not be up to doing an interview but never the less I was a bit disappointed). There is also behind the scenes movie footage on the set that wasn't included. This I feel is not an ultimate edition, maybe I am expecting too much....... but this is a multiple academy award winning film.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

I've put up Gigi clips with Leslie's own voice, in case anyone's interested....

Enjoy!

YouTube - marknyc5's Channel

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

It's definitely not an ultimate edition, which it deserves as the crowning achievement of the celebrated Freed Unit and a film which broke Gone With the Wind's record for Oscars received.

I wouldn't expect Louis Jourdan to be available for any interview at his age, and the Rhino soundtrack division would want a hefty fee for the use of Leslie Caron's tracks but something more special should have been added to the set to make it stand proudly against GWTW, Ben-Hur and the recent How The West Was Won boxes.

A miniature reproduction of the roadshow booklet would be another suggestion. Separate documentaries covering the careers of Collette and Maurice Chevalier would have also been appropriate.

Also the backstory behind the making of the film is a lot more interesting than the making-of documentary indicated. The extensive reshoots was only briefly touched upon. A good chunk of the film was reshot after previews. Many outdoor shots were reconstructed on the MGM backlot, several medium shots in Maxim's were reshot on soundstages at MGM, the Trouville sequences were shot in Santa Monica due to cost overruns. Hugh Fordin knows all these stories and has written about them. He should have been asked to go into much more detail about how Gigi was turned from a potential disaster into the most prestigious musical of its day.

Gigi definitely deserves the three-disc deluxe treatment that the best films of its era receive. The edition we have is a nice option for the budget-minded fans, but I was hoping for more on this one.

Re: HTF DVD REVIEW: Gigi: Two-Disc Special Edition

I kept my expectations low, based on what I'd read here - I was still disappointed. It's really not good - too soft, too muddy, and I was at a screening several years ago of a 35mm print that looked great. What a disappointment for this great film.