A few words about…™ Essential Fellini – in Blu-ray

I saw so many Fellini films in college it became a form of mother’s milk to me.

How many time can one view 8 1/2, Variety Lights, La Strada, La Dolce Vita, Nights of Cabiria?

How many times can a class pick these films apart, and discuss them shot by shot?

Apparently, quite a few.

The Criterion Collection will be releasing this gorgeous collection on 24 November – 14 feature films, and a documentary, along with more extras than there are in the universe. Hours and hours of them, as befit someone of Fellini’s importance.

I’ve not as yet had a chance to peer at a single frame, but we know how it will all come together. 11 of the 14 are new scans and potential actual restorations. And they’re going to shine.

This is a placeholder for that review, but for those Fellini fans, the price on Amazon is currently 50% off, or $125 for 15 films, a guide to the films, and a book, in the form of an old laserdisc box for a three or four disc set.

Large, impressive, and magnificently appointed in true Criterion fashion.

And it will come to pass that it will be Very Highly Recommended, and one of a handful of truly important holiday gifts for a loved one that you’re tired to seeing, and want a reason for them to go away.

The films, in order of appearance:

Variety Lights – 1950
The White Sheik – 1952
I Vitelloni – 1953
La Strada – 1954
Il Bedone – 1955
Nights of Cabiria – 1957
La Dolce Vita – 1960
8 1/2 – 1963
Juliet of the Spirits – 1965
Toby Dammit (from Spirits of the Dead) -1968
Fellini Satyricon – 1969
Roma – 1972
Amarcord -1973
And the Ship Sails On – 1983
Intervista -1987

Any way one slices this, the price (and we won’t even discuss the 193 minute version of the Marcello Mastroianni doc, the or the wonderful Fellini: A Director’s Notebook or the hours of other material – is under $10 per feature.

But possibly only if you act early.

Fair warning.

Image –

Audio –

Pass / Fail – Pass

Upgrade from DVD / Blu-ray –

Highly Recommended

RAH

Robert Harris

Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.

His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.