1900 New Release talk (1 Viewer)

I got this from someone who posted it on The Terrance Matlick list
DON"T KNOW IF IT TRUE

"the long-awaited remastered and uncut versions of Novecento with more
language features are on their way in both in R2 and R1. According to
Novecento fans at the imdb (and their sources at London's Virgin
Megastore), both 20th Century Fox in London and Paramount in
Hollywood are preparing a remastered uncut Special Edition of '1900'.
The 20th Century Fox version ( 302 mins, 1.85:1, Remastered, Italian
with English sub-titles) was originally planned for release in
October this year, but without extras. Apparently Fox heard that
Paramount are currently putting the extras together for their Region
1 DVD, so Fox London have decided to wait until the Paramount edition
is finished so thay can also include the extras on their UK DVD. This
means that the Region 2 DVD will be delayed from October this year
until anywhere from December 2006 to February 2007.

Great! Any news on The Conformist?

Not to get too politcal, but I'd be surprised to see the complete, uncut version released in the U.S. while the Bush Administration is in power. There is at least one scene that could easily be interpreted as child pornography in today's climate. I think the scene is pretty harmless, but I'm sure it would be very controversial.

The current MGM release could definitely use a new transfer though.

Why would it be any more controversial than, say, PRETTY BABY? Or MURMUR OF THE HEART? Or a dozen other films I could name that were all released to DVD in the U.S. during the current administration?

Can you name one mainstream (i.e. non-porno) film that's been prosecuted by the federal, state, or local goverments during the past six years? Hell, can you name a porno film that's been prosecuted?

I don't think any of the scenes in 1900 "could easily be interpreted as child pornography" by even the broadest application of existing statutes. And any DVD of the film is unlikely to be even noticed by the nation's moral watchdogs.

While they lost the case, the U.S. Justice Department prosecuted Rob Black in 2003 for obscenity.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Busi...=433956&page=1

But this scene is just a nudity issue as well. One of the boys is naked and briefly touches his own foreskin. There's no sexual contact, and it's filmed in a rather dark medium shot. Hard to make a case for prurient intent.

Far more troubling, in my view, is the scene where Burt Lancaster pushes a young girl's hand into his trousers to demonstrate his impotence. But this scene made it intact into the R-rated version, and the actress was likely not a minor.

There's also the sexual assault and murder of a young boy, but the rape takes place offscreen and we only see the aftermath.

Getting back to matter at hand, I don't see any evidence of excessive censoriousness in the nation at large under Bush's watch (aside from the FCC, which only has jurisdiction over broadcast TV and radio).

Well, Superman (1978) made it out with a nude scene involving a young boy, so I doubt this unrated/NC-17 film with a clearly intended adult audience should cause too many problems (but then who knows...)

A few years ago there was an incident in Texas where a local Sheriff went to the local video store, located the names and addresses of people who had rented - and possessed - The Tin Drum. He then sent out the troops to raid the people's homes and confiscate the porn.

Oklahoma, not Texas...

- Steve

Was this film ever released in Dolby Stereo, because the title is familiar?

Yes, and the prosecution eventually lost. And this prosecution happened during Clinton's watch; it was during the Bush Reign of Terror that THE TIN DRUM got a Criterion DVD release, however, with the controversial scene intact.

I don't doubt that. It's been well over a year since I watched the DVD.

My main point is that Paramount wouldn't even release Thief Of Hearts uncut so I was surprised to hear that they were considering a fully, uncut 1900. If it had been Kino or Wellspring or even Lions Gate, I wouldn't have been so surprised. It's the same thing with Salo, which MGM doesn't seem interested in releasing here, even though they've released it uncut in the UK.

The German DVD release of 1900 recieved an "18" certificate, and by law, films with this certificate cannot be sold online. The USA-based Xpolited Cinema.com import and stock it, though.

The scene is question is definitely a "WTF?!!!" moment, something you'd certainly never, ever get away with in an english-language country, then or now. Frankly, it is a shot that could be cut without any loss in continuity. Bertolucci certianly concieves some strange, ponderous scenes for his films. The whole film has a weird tone to it and personally, I feel that it is a highly flawed film, very tart and tedious at times. But a mystique has built up around it and its reputation is inflated; most casual viewers are likely to be disappointed by it, but it is certainly one of those films that you have see once before you float up to the Great Movie Palace in the Sky.

sorry Gordon I think your wrong about the film about its reputation being
inflated,sure its not the perfect film......buts its easliy twice as long as
most films
Its not your taste so be it,I think it most be the greatest single job of
Cinematography when you think of how long the film is.One reason
Storraro is so great ,is unlike other great camerman ,he worked with
Bertollucci on this and other Bertollucci films

There's no question about the sublime quality of the cinematography, but the general story, dialogue, pacing and how the passage of time is conveyed are all underdeveloped; in short, the film lacks coherence. It has great moments, but they don't congeal into a strong piece of storytelling; there's a clumsiness to it all. Compared to many other Bertolucci films, it trails way behind. Top marks for trying, though.