Cassavetes on DVD (1 Viewer)

[MattHenderson]

Over the past couple of years I've had the pleasure of introducing myself to several of the films of John Cassavetes (my favorites so far are "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" and "Faces"). The Pioneer DVD releases are all full frame, however, while the Anchor Bay release of "Minnie and Moskowitz" is in anamorphic widescreen. I assume then that most of his films were composed for 1.85:1, but maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone know if there are plans to release widescreen versions of "Faces," "A Woman Under the Influence" or "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," or even if the elements exist? The print used for the "Shadows" DVD is in terrible condition, and "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" could use a clean-up, too. How about a Cassavetes retrospective, a la the Kurosawa / Mifune films currently touring the art house / film society scene? Anyway, I'd at least like to purchase high-quality DVD releases of these classic indie films. Hopefully someone has good news to share. Thanks for your time.

Matt

 

[Robert Crawford]

His film "Gloria" is coming out in the next month or so.





Crawdaddy

 

[Mehdy]

Iused to have all the pioneer special editions-problem was the transfers. This man was a genius. He brought real life to film-he knack was to make you feel unconformable-to expand your horzions-one of the best films yet released-was HUSBANDS-this was a true classic. I kept minnie and bookie and got rid of the rest because of the poor quality-I am hoping somebody will do justice to this man.:b

 

[Gabe Oppenheim]

Matt,

Chicago's Gene Siskel Film Center did a Cassavetes retrospective program, including:

Shadows
A Child is Waiting
Faces
Husbands
A Woman Under the Influence
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Opening Night
Gloria
Love Streams
(and maybe Minnie & Moskowitz too; at any rate, I didn't see that one)

so the prints are out there and ready to go. You just have to find a place willing to do it and cajole them, I suppose.

I'm not sure about aspect ratios, though some of the later films were (I believe) projected at 1.33:1. From what I know about Cassavetes, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine that he composed for 1.33:1 and then theatres matted to 1.66 or 1.85, though, of course, his compositions were often deliberately unusual, to put it diplomatically. Let's put it this way: you don't watch a Cassavetes film for engaging visuals.

 

[Brook K]

IFC shows a beautiful (for digital cable anyway) OAR print of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie from time to time so good elements do exist.