Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

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

RAH

Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

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

RAH

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.

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.

Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

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

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.

Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

Re: Coppola/Zoetrope version of Napoleon?

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.

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

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.

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.

Edited by dvdvision - 4/25/12 at 5:28am

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

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.

any updates?

Quote:

Stay tuned.

 

RAH

http://blogs.indiewire.com/leonardmaltin/archives/napoleon_to_conquer_u.s._again/ -

Just read a post on the Criterion site stating that when Kevin Brownlow announced the event at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival press event, he mentioned that there were NO plans to put the film on DVD or Blu-Ray. This would be very disappointing news for those of us who have been waiting for a very long time for this film to be released. While I have tickets for the Oakland event, I don't want that to be the only--and very last time--I will be able to see this magnificent work.

There's a new FAQ on the silent film.org website about next month's screening of the 5 1/2 hour version. Lots of information about how much of a unique event this is going to be. The phrase "once-in-a-lifetime" does really apply here.

One choice bit of information regarding a Blu-Ray release:

But will there be a DVD and BluRay release of the restored version in the near future?

No. The cost of recording the 5½ hour Carl Davis score is prohibitively expensive for the DVD/BluRay market… and of course you wouldn’t have the dramatic Polyvision finale that you’ll experience in the theater. The triptych would merely be letterboxed onto your television — no matter how big it is.

Remember being a projectionist and showing this close to 30 years ago. It was an odd set up, but so long ago I don't remember exactly why.. We were a small independent theater, so I'm positive we used a standard widescreen Cinamascope lens, so it must have been letterboxed, but for some reason took a lot more work than just projecting a standard widescreen film.

The quality at that time was dreadful, so hopefully some pretty major restoration has been done. I do recall it being quite popular though.

From the SilentFilm.org website:

To present Polyvision at the Oakland Paramount, three projection booths equipped with three perfectly-synchronized projectors must be specially installed, along with a purpose-built three-panel screen, which will fill the width of the auditorium. These technical requirements can only be handled by top technicians and a 3-person team from Boston Light & Sound is being specially brought in for the Paramount’s installation.

The Photoplay/BFI restoration — a unique 35mm print — also uses authentic dye-bath techniques to re-create the color tinting and toning that enhanced the film on its original release, giving a vividness to the image as never before experienced in this country.


So, aside from being as full or a representation of the original version of Napoleon, it appears to be an updated print in excellent condition.

Should be exciting!

Kevin Brownlow gave a great lecture on Napoleon at Emory back in December. Fantastic speaker - a lot of it is made of excerpts from his book, peppered with gorgeous clips from the film. One curiosity is the inclusion of multiple versions. He screened clips from his 9.5mm reels, the 17.5mm print, part of the 1935 dubbed version, and an MGM film that used part of the tryptich as stock footage. He also showed some outtakes from The Charm of Dynamite. Of course, there were enticing bits from the complete Napoleon, including tinting examples, the original intertitles, and footage deleted from the Coppola cut.

Wow I am jealous that you got to attend the lecture.

Sad that the Oakland showings are the only ones in the U.S. Seeing it with a full orchestra at the Kennedy Center was a peak experience I'll never forget.

What's even sadder is that NONE of the shows are sold out--in fact, most of the performances only have a half house. It's like having a chance to see the Great Wall of China and no one is there; this will never happen again and so few people are going to experience it.

I also did read a recent article in the NY Times about this screening and found this interesting nugget from Robert Harris. Does this mean this poor showing spells doom for a potential Blu-Ray or DVD release?

"For American cinephiles there’s an indisputable reason to see “Napoleon” now: film. “This print will probably never be seen again in the United States,” Mr. [Robert] Harris said, given that a digital restoration is under way. (Version 21?) “Projectors are going away,” he said and, alas, so too is film. Mr. Harris agreed with the characterization of the festival screenings as a kind of a test run for the digital restoration, which suggests that he and Zoetrope have plans for future exploitation, including, maybe, a DVD and Blu-ray. Over its history “Napoleon” has been taken apart and pieced back together by so many hands, and it’s somehow survived distributor assaults, Gance’s tinkering, legal suits, rights claims and dueling restorations. In the end all that should matter is that this elusive, seemingly indestructible film — which, as Mr. Brownlow said, has “found its place again in world cinema” — be seen."

Neither gloom nor doom. Things will only get better. The print being run over the next two weekends is not only extremely expensive, but unique

Any problems or loss in shipping or damage during projection would cause a cancellation of an extremely expensive project. We have the ability to make data look like film and future shows will occur without those possibilities

RAH

I was able to see the showing in Oakland on 3/24 and expect to go again next weekend, taking more people with me. It is wonderful to see something exhibited with this kind of quality. The Paramount is its own kind of masterpiece, and having a live orchestra is a real treat. The film is magnificent. I wish I could see every film like this, and would pay $55 per ticket to do so on a regular basis.

This is not going to happen however.

To preserve Napoleon and have it actually viewable, a digital restoration is going to be needed. It would see that a 4K restoration should handle all of the resolution and allow the 3 panel scenes to hold up. The music should also be recorded with as many alternatives as may be desired.

I also believe that home viewing can go a considerable distance toward excellent exhibition. The HTWWW and Ben-hur Blu-rays capture a lot of the effect of the original exhibition of these films, for example. While I still certainly go to see these exhibited in a real theatre when possible (I expect to see HTWWW next month at the Cinerama Dome), I still think that films like these--including Napoleon--can benefit from Blu-ray viewing.

It concerns me that some people seem to have the attitude that only film/live orchestra/big theatre are acceptable ways to watch a film like Napoleon. This is simply a prescription for the film being seen very little by very few people since this kind of exhibition is no longer feasible for the most part.

So, will we have generally-available digital versions of Napoleon with Blu-rays for home use?

Hmm. I have a 10foot screen with 1080P projection, and How The West Was Won, Ben-hur, and numerous other titles look very impressive on such a system. As impressive as in a great theatre? Of course not. But it comes close to what many theatres provide, I hate to say.

I have seen the triptych from Napoleon on my system using the LD published nearly 30 years ago. It certainly gives the effect. A Blu-ray would be even better.