International The Big Sleep (1946) coming to Blu-ray Disc in January (France) (1 Viewer)

Strictly speaking this should be in the international section, but it's bound to get a (near) simultaneous US release:

http://www.amazon.fr/Grand-sommeil-Blu-ray-Humphrey-Bogart/dp/B00G3DLVL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407158770&sr=8-1&keywords=the+big+sleep+blu-ray

Steve W

God I hope so. There's currently no way to watch it in high def - not even streaming.

Which means it's coming to Region A in the time frame.

Excellent news! Now for Key Largo

Regards,

Ill wait for Region A, actually Warners are Region Free but I want a US release. I did get the steelbook for the Maltese Falcon and Grand Hotel from overseas.. I doubt Warner will do that here..

Both cuts?

I bet not.

I bet not.

My bet would be for both cuts, but the preview version in SD.

Steve W

What are both cuts?

There's a preview cut a few minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Both versions were on DVD.

Yorkshire said:

My bet would be for both cuts, but the preview version in SD.

Steve W

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Yup, expecting this. Hope to be wrong.

JoHud said:

Yup, expecting this. Hope to be wrong.

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I expect both versions to be in HD.

Traveling Matt said:

There's a preview cut a few minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Both versions were on DVD.

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The "preview" cut is different from the release print with different sequences. I prefer the "preview" cut.

I've never seen the "preview" cut. It is not on the German DVDs.

Traveling Matt said:

There's a preview cut a few minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Both versions were on DVD.

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I believe the difference between the 'preview' cut (shown to the armed forces) and the regular release isn't defined so much by running length, but by the fact that the producers dediced after preview to focus more on scenes which emphasised the erotic link between Bogart and Bacall. I can't remember for sure, but I think new scenes may have been shot to do this.

AnthonyClarke said:

I believe the difference between the 'preview' cut (shown to the armed forces) and the regular release isn't defined so much by running length, but by the fact that the producers dediced after preview to focus more on scenes which emphasised the erotic link between Bogart and Bacall. I can't remember for sure, but I think new scenes may have been shot to do this.

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You remember correctly.

The trailer for To Have And Have Not is fascinating because it shows that prior to that film reaching an audience, Warner Brothers were not sure which of the two new actresses, Lauren Bacall and Dolores Moran, would make the stronger impact. Dolores Moran, who I think is excellent in the film, has only a supporting role but the trailer suggests she plays a bigger role.

The Big Sleep was in preparation before To Have And Have Not found its audience and before Warners and Howard Hawks realised that Lauren Bacall was now a hot property. The original screenplay does not give Lauren Bacall much chance to shine. By the time the film finished shooting, it was clear the general public was interested in Lauren Bacall and her agent went to bat for her, insisting The Big Sleep be changed to show her off better.

My personal favourite of the Bacall/Bogart films is "Dark Passage", but I'm well aware that I'm in the minority on that.

AnthonyClarke said:

I believe the difference between the 'preview' cut (shown to the armed forces) and the regular release isn't defined so much by running length, but by the fact that the producers dediced after preview to focus more on scenes which emphasised the erotic link between Bogart and Bacall. I can't remember for sure, but I think new scenes may have been shot to do this.

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There were new scenes shot for the final version. Per Robert Gitt of UCLA, who talks about the film changes in an excellent 1997 featurette. The Big Sleep started filming in Oct, 1944 and was concluded Jan, 1945. However, the finish film sat in Warner's vault for a year before Warner decided to reshoot some scenes in Jan. 1946. The film finally opened in Aug. 1946. By the way, the film delay wasn't just about Bacall, but moreso Warner's desire to get all all of their WW II theme films released before WW II ended.

What I really find interesting about this film is that Bacall was only 20 during the filming of that film except for the few scenes they shot when she was 21 and already married to Bogart. Martha Vickers, who played Bacall's sister was only 19 years old.

Also, the final version with new scenes is actually the shorter version by two minutes.

classicmovieguy said:

My personal favourite of the Bacall/Bogart films is "Dark Passage", but I'm well aware that I'm in the minority on that.

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Another one of my personal favorites. However, I love The Big Sleep a little bit more because of the entire cast of characters while Dark Passage has a much limited cast.