- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,396
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
I believe I've noted in the past, with a certain tone of chagrin, that "film restoration" is seemingly one of the most overused terms when it comes to entities releasing catalog, or even worse, classic cinema for home theater use.
There are certain films that I love, others that I like, and a certain number that don't really show up on my radar. But when a film meaningful to me arrives as "restored," my antennae are read to go. I should also say that it's unfortunate that I prepare myself for the worst, especially for films that I love.
Case in point.
Lionsgate's new Blu-ray of the great Jean Renoir's La Grande Illusion (1937), via the current rights holder StudioCanal.
My first thought, and concern, was how did Lionsgate get this classic away from The Criterion Collection? Shortly after that thought came another. How badly will they mess it up?
The tale of LGI's original camera negative is both circuitous and long. The negative was stolen by the Nazi's during their occupation of Paris in WWII, and taken to Berlin as war booty. From there it made it's way to the Moscow archive. In the late 1950s Renoir made a search for his original nitrates from the pre-war era, and while some examples were located, LGI was among the missing, and presumed destroyed.
What had survived were dupes and alternate versions. None wonderful, some terrible. There was a French restoration based upon held elements, from which was derived a very decent version of the film, but obviously not original.
Returned by the Russians, Renoir's original negative made it's way to the La Cinematheque Toulouse, where it apparently sat for a time, until a search and inventory was performed. It was then transferred to a proper nitrate vault for safety, and virtually immediately thoughts of restoration began.
This is usually the moment when things go wrong.
Very wrong. Brings to mind The Alamo.
Dependent upon who is behind the restoration, the purpose of said restoration, and then intent, financing, and respect of the film, everything is up in the air.
I've sampled enough to Grand Illusion, a film that I've seen dozens of times, to realize, even at the main title, that I was seeing something extraordinary, for the first time.
Beautifully scanned, with absolute respect for the look of cinema, blacks, shadow detail and the use of gray scale. Digital clean-up -- where anything can go wrong -- audio restoration.
I could go on.
Suffice to say that not only have I come away thrilled, but those antennae that I mentioned earlier are eagerly awaiting the next joint effort between Lionsgate (which has gained an entirely new respect from these quarters) and StudioCanal.
There are very, very slight scratches visible on the very far right side of the frame in some scenes.
And I like this.
When I see this, it tells me that whomever was overseeing the project, was not only in sync with those overseeing the video master and final work toward Blu-ray, but understands what they're looking at, and has respect for the film and the filmmaker.
I can't tell you how many people would say to themselves... "Oh, a little scratch."
And then crop the right side of the frame, losing important information.
Okay. Simple. Blunt.
Lionsgate's new Blu-ray of Renoir's Grand Illusion is as perfect as it can possibly be. No downsides. Just gorgeous!
One of the greatest and most important films ever made, has received absolutely proper treatment.
$26 on Amazon.
Run. Do not walk, and order this film.
A brilliant motion picture of the highest order, and a perfect Blu-ray in every respect.
Image - 4.75
Audio - 4.5
Very Highly Recommended!
RAH
There are certain films that I love, others that I like, and a certain number that don't really show up on my radar. But when a film meaningful to me arrives as "restored," my antennae are read to go. I should also say that it's unfortunate that I prepare myself for the worst, especially for films that I love.
Case in point.
Lionsgate's new Blu-ray of the great Jean Renoir's La Grande Illusion (1937), via the current rights holder StudioCanal.
My first thought, and concern, was how did Lionsgate get this classic away from The Criterion Collection? Shortly after that thought came another. How badly will they mess it up?
The tale of LGI's original camera negative is both circuitous and long. The negative was stolen by the Nazi's during their occupation of Paris in WWII, and taken to Berlin as war booty. From there it made it's way to the Moscow archive. In the late 1950s Renoir made a search for his original nitrates from the pre-war era, and while some examples were located, LGI was among the missing, and presumed destroyed.
What had survived were dupes and alternate versions. None wonderful, some terrible. There was a French restoration based upon held elements, from which was derived a very decent version of the film, but obviously not original.
Returned by the Russians, Renoir's original negative made it's way to the La Cinematheque Toulouse, where it apparently sat for a time, until a search and inventory was performed. It was then transferred to a proper nitrate vault for safety, and virtually immediately thoughts of restoration began.
This is usually the moment when things go wrong.
Very wrong. Brings to mind The Alamo.
Dependent upon who is behind the restoration, the purpose of said restoration, and then intent, financing, and respect of the film, everything is up in the air.
I've sampled enough to Grand Illusion, a film that I've seen dozens of times, to realize, even at the main title, that I was seeing something extraordinary, for the first time.
Beautifully scanned, with absolute respect for the look of cinema, blacks, shadow detail and the use of gray scale. Digital clean-up -- where anything can go wrong -- audio restoration.
I could go on.
Suffice to say that not only have I come away thrilled, but those antennae that I mentioned earlier are eagerly awaiting the next joint effort between Lionsgate (which has gained an entirely new respect from these quarters) and StudioCanal.
There are very, very slight scratches visible on the very far right side of the frame in some scenes.
And I like this.
When I see this, it tells me that whomever was overseeing the project, was not only in sync with those overseeing the video master and final work toward Blu-ray, but understands what they're looking at, and has respect for the film and the filmmaker.
I can't tell you how many people would say to themselves... "Oh, a little scratch."
And then crop the right side of the frame, losing important information.
Okay. Simple. Blunt.
Lionsgate's new Blu-ray of Renoir's Grand Illusion is as perfect as it can possibly be. No downsides. Just gorgeous!
One of the greatest and most important films ever made, has received absolutely proper treatment.
$26 on Amazon.
Run. Do not walk, and order this film.
A brilliant motion picture of the highest order, and a perfect Blu-ray in every respect.
Image - 4.75
Audio - 4.5
Very Highly Recommended!
RAH
