| Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.) Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Upcoming Renoir Set | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 31 2007, 06:02 PM (797 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Jan 31 2007, 06:02 PM Post #1 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I usually don't mention DVDs from the ninnies at Lionsgate, but Mr. Panzer was SO thrilled when I told him about this upcoming Jean Renoir set that I have to post it for everybody: A three-disc set containing the films La Fille de L’Eau, Nana, La Marseillaise, Sur Un Air de Charleston, La Petite Marchande D’Allumettes, Le Testament du Docteur Cordelier and Le Caporal Epingle. April 24, $30. |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
![]() |
|
| Frank Hale | Jan 31 2007, 06:27 PM Post #2 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Lionsgate is releasing some early Hitchcock next week (The Manxman, Rich & Strange, The Skin Game, Murder, The Ring). I was hoping these might be better prints than the usual, but your calling them “ninnies” makes it sound like I shouldn’t be so optimistic. Care to expand on your comment? |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Jan 31 2007, 10:08 PM Post #3 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
These are the folks that COULD be releasing Republic serials or restored Laurel & Hardy films. The vintage films in their catalog that I've seen have been uniformly disappointing... even High School Confidential, which is on DVD in non-anamorphic widescreen and looks "fuzzy". |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
![]() |
|
| Frank Hale | Feb 1 2007, 04:55 PM Post #4 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Well, that’s disappointing, but thanks. Assume people also know about the new Eclipse series from Criterion. The first release will be early Bergman films in March. |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Feb 1 2007, 05:34 PM Post #5 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
This is a tremendously exciting release. I never thought I would get to see La Fille de L’Eau, Nana, La Marseillaise, Sur Un Air de Charleston, La Petite Marchande D’Allumettes, or Le Testament du Docteur Cordelier -- let alone own 'em. For everybody's info, there are three shorts and four features here, and unless you live near MOMA or the Cinematheque Francais, you'll never see any of 'em on the big screen. I have seen Le Caporal Epingle (The Vanishing Corporal) a couple of times -- it's an escape-from-the-Nazis movie, nothing fancy, but lots of fun. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| Frank Hale | Feb 3 2007, 05:19 PM Post #6 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
My exhaustive research on the internets has revealed that Lionsgate (formerly Lions Gate, and now the employer of Steve Beeks, which makes me wonder if “ninnies” was the word that Gravy really wanted to use – he’s become such a statesman) has inked a deal to release at least part of the Studio Canal catalogue stateside. The Hitchcock and Renoir films appear to be part of that catalogue. Based on my experience with the Studio Canal / Ealing films released through Anchor Bay, I’m encouraged. Those prints were eminently satisfactory, including the PD The Cruel Sea. So, it’s a question of whether Lionsgate will put out decent DVD pressings. I think I’ll go for the Hitchcock collection and, if it’s terrible, I’ll report back. |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Feb 3 2007, 05:27 PM Post #7 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Frank, do you have that "British War Films" collection that Anchor Bay put out, the one in what looked like... I dunno, a metal footlocker? I saw it in a used DVD store the other day, but didn't quite pull the trigger on it. What do you think? |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
![]() |
|
| Frank Hale | Feb 3 2007, 06:06 PM Post #8 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yes, I bought the set last summer and watched them all back-to-back, which is unusual for me. As I mentioned, all the prints are very nice. But they’re all British stiff-upper-lip films, which I happen to like. I don’t know if that sort of thing appeals to you, although as I recall you liked Stairway to Heaven / A Matter of Life and Death. My capsule reviews would be: The Cruel Sea and The Dam Busters are absorbing films, for my money, and here, most satisfyingly, the original British, longer prints are used. (Be warned, if it’s important to you, that the name of Richard Todd’s dog in The Dam Busters is a word that could not be used when Warners released a shortened version in the US.) The Colditz Story has a good reputation, but I find it slightly less satisfactory. It’s a prison-camp thing. I had seen these 3 previously, so I felt comfortable springing for the set. Of the rest: The Ship That Died of Shame and Went the Day Well? were less compelling, but worth putting on your life-list, I think. I’d say, go for it, if it’s on sale. I believe the films were released individually in the last few months, if you want to cherry-pick. |
![]() |
|
| KanSmiley | Feb 4 2007, 08:49 AM Post #9 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I would agree with Frank on this set. I bought it a few months ago primarily for THE DAM BUSTERS plus I like British war movies. I had only seen THE DAM BUSTERS so I felt the other four should be good British war movies. For the most part I was not disappointed. I'd say get the set. Kan |
|
http://www.saturday-matinee-memories.com/ intoxicated, adj.: When you feel sophisticated without being able to pronounce it. | |
![]() |
|
| Frank Hale | Feb 12 2007, 05:37 PM Post #10 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
My Hitchcock set arrived today and I flipped through all the opening credits. The prints are sharp, but with the usual emulsion damage and some jitteriness (ie, not TCF digitally restored). I was impressed by the very clear soundtracks. I’ve seen some of these films in the theatre and could hardly understand the audio. Bottom line: go for it. And let’s hope the Renoir films are as good. |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Feb 12 2007, 09:44 PM Post #11 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for the review of the Hitchcock set, Frank. As a huge fan, I would have picked it up anyway, but it is nice to know there is clear sound, which is quite important to me. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Jun 15 2007, 09:37 AM Post #12 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Guys, the Renoir set is going for TWENTY BUCKS at Amazon now. That's $4 per feature with two shorts thrown in. A great way to get to know one of the great directors. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Jun 18 2007, 03:15 PM Post #13 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
A few more words about the Renoir films: La fille de l'eau aka Whirlpool of Fate -- his first film, a silent feature, stars his wife as the daughter of a tragic family who manages to make her life happy and free. Nana -- lavish silent feature version of Zola's novel about a heartbreaking vamp. Sur un air de Charleston aka Charleston Parade -- strange erotic fantasy short set in the future. Silent. I've always wanted to see this one. The Little Match Girl -- Renoir co-directed this short from the Hans Christian Andersen tale. Silent. La Marseillaise -- epic of the French revolution, this talkie was believed lost for many years. Le Testiment du Docteur Cordelier aka The Doctor's Horrible Experiment. Updated version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, never shown commercially in the U.S. Got mixed reviews in France. The Cahiers crowd loved it but the left wingers mostly didn't. Le Caporal Epingle aka The Vanishing Corporal -- comic Jean-Pierre Cassel is the corporal who ceaselessly tries to escape from a Nazi prison camp. This was an arthouse favorite in NYC during the late Sixties. It's not La Grande Illusion, but it's funny and sweet and a little sad. I saw it several times. My box should arrive in a day or two and I'll report on print quality. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Jun 18 2007, 04:30 PM Post #14 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Please do, Mr. P, the films sound most interesting. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Jun 18 2007, 05:43 PM Post #15 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Renoir started life with a hand full of trumps, being the son of Pierre Renoir and all, so he was often able to raise money for pictures when others weren't. He didn't have to toe the Communist Party line or the Rightist agenda to suck up to the critics so his choice of subject matter was broad. In the Thirties he made one hit film after another until the financial disaster of The Rules of the Game. In 1955 when Truffaut wrote "A Certain Tendency in the French Cinema," which kicked off the Auteur Theory, Renoir was one of the few French directors praised so he came back into style. Then came the restoration of Rules of the Game. Everybody went, "Wait! This guy ALWAYS was great!" He died a revered man. A happy life; a happy man. His movies never fail to cheer me up. Now we can hope for a DVD of THE LITTLE THEATER OF JEAN RENOIR, one of my all-time favorites. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
|
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Dans le Balcon · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2





![]](http://z2.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)





12:47 AM Jul 11