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Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

#1
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10/10/08 at 9:10pm
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Hello, Mr. Harris;

Granted, this is a long shot, but do you foresee another opportunity to go back and revisit your restoration of Abel Gance's Napoleon, and have it issued in a presentation eventually suited for current DVD (or Blu-Ray) standards? Could it again see light of day under Universal Home Video?

Thanks very much for your time.

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#2
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10/11/08 at 10:55am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Yes, and to be correct, the film was reconstructed and restored by Kevin Brownlow.

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#3
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10/11/08 at 3:35pm
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

My apologies - of course the restoration was Brownlow's, I should have said your edit of Brownlow's version, with the late Carmine Coppola's score. My understanding is that this is the only way that the film can be presented.

It would be wonderful to have a more pristine looking edition, as the Region 2 and 4 DVD's (I have the R4 Australian release) appear to have been taken directly from the same masters that made the original videotapes and laserdiscs.

Your answer, while understandably brief, is encouraging.

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#4
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10/12/08 at 11:43am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Paynter
My understanding is that this is the only way that the film can be presented.

It would be wonderful to have a more pristine looking edition, as the Region 2 and 4 DVD's (I have the R4 Australian release) appear to have been taken directly from the same masters that made the original videotapes and laserdiscs.

Your answer, while understandably brief, is encouraging.

No longer. There is now a joint effort to upgrade all elements for both cuts and scores.

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#5
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10/12/08 at 1:48pm
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

I was at the presentation of this at Radio City...can't recall if it was the premiere or not. I also believe Carmine conducted the orchestra that played live to the film.

What I do recall, and it was goose bumpy-ish...was when the curtains parted further during the Tryptloc (sp) scenes. The audience went wild!!!! Also, me "getting it" (what Gance was trying to get across) when the camera swinging scenes occured.
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#6
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10/12/08 at 3:23pm
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Napoleon is my most-wanted film on DVD, so I'd love to see a proper DVD release eventually. Hopefully a comprehensive one since there's so much existing material like the behind-the-scenes footage, the interviews with Gance. Brownlow's book needs to come back into print since it's such a great read.

Where are the rights now? It seems confusing given that I've seen copyright notices and credits for Universal, Images Film Archive, Zoetrope, StudioCanal, and the BFI.

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
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#7
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10/13/08 at 7:37am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
No longer. There is now a joint effort to upgrade all elements for both cuts and scores.

RAH

That's absolutely splendid news. What is the current running time of the longest version Brownlow's been able to assemble thus far?

"This movie has warped my fragile little mind."

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#8
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10/17/08 at 9:08am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Mr. Harris,
I'm delighted to hear that work is underway to release this great film on DVD. I'm curious to know if you are in a position to say

a) when such a dvd might become available
b) whether a blu ray edition will also be released
c) whether both the Coppola and Davis scores will be included in the package

Thank you for all the wonderful work you do.
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#9
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10/18/08 at 10:30am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Fournier
a) when such a dvd might become available

Not at this time, as a great deal of digital restoration work must be performed, and this is still at early stages.

b) whether a blu ray edition will also be released

Yes.

c) whether both the Coppola and Davis scores will be included in the package

At this time, only the Coppola score has been recorded, but there is no reason, other than economic, why Mr. Davis' score could not be. Whether the two versions would be released as a package or separately has not yet been decided.

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#10
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10/18/08 at 10:33am
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Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart

Where are the rights now? It seems confusing given that I've seen copyright notices and credits for Universal, Images Film Archive, Zoetrope, StudioCanal, and the BFI.

Universal controls US and Canadian theatrical and home video rights with a recorded synchronized soundtrack.

Studio Canal presently represents those same rights for foreign sale.

The BFI holds UK rights.

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#11
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9/27/09 at 6:02am
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Mr Harris, any news on the joint restoration ? Hopefully it's issued on Blu-Ray with both scores so that viewers can choose. I know it's a crazy shot, but last century, I suggested to Mr Brownlow that at one point, technology would be available making it easy to sync soundtracks taken from the various subsequent Gance sound versions, to a final restored version (thus making a third soundtrack option available). Now that would be a (crazy, I know), blast.

Another alternative would be to compile as bonuses, all the "talky" reshoots Gance did on his masterpiece in 1934, 1955 and 1971.

I think the story of how Gance missed the sound era by a few years, and tried to update his masterpiece, ruining it as the years went is as fascinating as the film itself. Definetely would be worth a huge making of.

Edited by dvdvision - 9/27/09 at 10:54pm
www.dvdvision.fr
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#12
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9/29/09 at 6:13pm
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I've been wanting to see this film for years. I rarely blind buy a DVD/BD, but I think I would do so for this film if/when it makes it out.
My DVD/BD Collection
Criterion DVD/BDs Owned: 55, Total DVDs Owned: 527, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 223
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#13
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9/30/09 at 9:52am
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It would be good to produce a bonus for the blu-ray, a 25mn silent / sound version comparison feature showing the additional reshoots made half a decade later with older actors, and different similar looking actors (Marat / Robespierre etc).
Edited by dvdvision - 9/30/09 at 11:20pm
www.dvdvision.fr
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#14
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10/6/09 at 8:21am
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I have heard so much of this movie, yet never seen it.

Awesome.

Also bought Gance's La Roux, lved it
Edited by oscar_merkx - 10/6/09 at 9:29am

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#15
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10/7/09 at 10:26pm
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I was there at Radio City the night that they brought the phone out with Gance on the other end at the conclusion and we just went crazy with cheers, applause and tears.  It is still the greatest movie experience of my life and it has not been topped in almost 30 years.

I've seen this masterpiece in 35mm triptych with live orchestra (twice), 35mm with the finale anamorphic, 70mm/6track at the Cinerama Dome and have the Australian DVD.  No matter how I see it, I am transported back to that night in NYC and I always get goosepimples at the conclusion of the "La Marsailles" sequence-just brilliant.

I hope that both scores are included in a US release-love Coppola's score and having heard Davis' score on CD, would love to hear it married to the film.

Oh, is there a more inspiring sight in all this world. . .than the sight of a grown man. . .facing singlehandedly. . .a half-a-ton of angry pot roast?-
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