Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => Digital Streams & Criterion Dreams => Topic started by: SoNowThen on September 14, 2003, 02:33:53 PM

Title: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on September 14, 2003, 02:33:53 PM
This must come out on DVD. The only version even available in North America was the full-framed English dubbed version, and now THAT'S out of print. How the fuck can I find this movie? I'd even break down and buy any decent vhs copy, just have to have it...

C'mon Mac, tell me you've heard something... anything...
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 14, 2003, 03:12:49 PM
A lot of Criterion fans cry over the situation of this movie and it ever getting released......or basically not getting released. Paramount, a company strictly against giving titles to Criterion anymore, aren't doing anything about this film. It is still collecting dust and looks like it will for the forseeable future.

The Latest from Heaven.

~rougerum
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on September 14, 2003, 04:08:24 PM
A few questions: why doesn't Paramount give titles to Criterion? And why wouldn't they just release it bare-bones themselves? It's a pretty well-respected movie, wouldn't they make any money off it?
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 14, 2003, 05:35:52 PM
Paramount will have to give up potential revenue if they license the movie to Criterion and dvd age has brought on greed for easy money beyond death. Also, why they don't release it now is because they have vaults way too deep to touch every potential making film anytime soon. This film is just in the backlog of what to release. Other movies can make better money so Paramount just lets the film sit. One good thing in general is that many studios have realized they can't touch their vaults all at once so they are licensing titles to Criterion that are first on their list of what to get and last on studios.

~rougerum
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Ravi on September 14, 2003, 07:38:47 PM
If Fox can do Sunrise...
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 14, 2003, 08:05:11 PM
Quote from: RaviIf Fox can do Sunrise...

Very true. And to give SoNowThen a glimmer of hope, I remember a minor rumor saying The Conformist may show up sometime next year. So minor of a rumor I think it appeared on a chat with a Paramount dvd producer and answering maybe with every question on future releases.

~rougerum
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on September 14, 2003, 08:20:26 PM
Cool  GT, thanks for the info. I'm getting this specialty video store out here to ship in the vhs copy for me  while I wait...
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on September 14, 2003, 11:45:57 PM
make sure you're not buying a dubbed video.  I bought a copy on eBay and the quality sucked.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Find Your Magali on September 15, 2003, 12:13:07 AM
I first saw clips of this in "Visions of Light" (documentary about cinematography) and I've wanted to see it ever since. Looks amazing.

Hope we do get the royal DVD treatment some day.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on September 15, 2003, 09:08:23 AM
Quote from: lamasmake sure you're not buying a dubbed video.  I bought a copy on eBay and the quality sucked.

Dubbed might be all we can get in North America. I just rented that version this weekend, and it's not too bad. I'd rather have Italian w/ subtitles of course.

It was rereleased in 1994 I think, so you'd think the studio would have a good version kicking around...
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on September 15, 2003, 12:53:32 PM
I meant a copy of an original VHS tape.  Like VCR to VCR.  The visual quality of my tape sucked.  I'd also have to say the american version of the main character's voice was really weird and didn't quite work.  So yeah, this definitely needs a DVD release.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Find Your Magali on September 15, 2003, 12:59:41 PM
And here's a nice start for the DVD cover

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.polishposter.com%2Fimages%2F0408.jpg&hash=a33f4fba21098d8f7f1a6c1b6b839b7c6497303c)
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Burb41 on December 31, 2003, 09:43:12 PM
On this topic... a few years ago at the AC clubhouse for their annual bru-ha-ha Vittorio Storaro expressed great passion for the film to be re-released but mentioned that all attempts had been stymied and the film has been very difficult to get re-transferred to video, etc. Incidentally there was an executive from Paramount who was in charge of the Film transfer department who shrugged and nodded along, but offered little hope at the time.

The video copies aren't worth watching... it's really a shame.
jacob
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on April 26, 2004, 10:10:07 PM
The Conformist is on Cinemax tonight/early morning (4/26) at 3:45am on Cinemax.  I assume the picture will be about as clear as I will ever get a chance to see it until the DVD comes out (if it ever does).
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on June 19, 2004, 12:20:57 AM
check this out:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=617&item=6303082066&rd=1
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Gold Trumpet on March 20, 2005, 02:25:58 AM
Here's an interesting post at IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065571/board/flat/6561062 (last post at bottom)

"Yesterday I spoke to someone at Paramount who would know and he expects the release by this August (2005). He said the film has been remastered and that one scene that Bertolucci originally cut has been restored in context. I'd never heard of this missing scene, but I think my contact called it "the blind man scene."

Legally, the issue has been the question of owenership: I didn't retain all the details but after Gulf + Western (whom he called Engulf + Devour) bought everything up and then sold it again, the rights were impossible to sort out, further complicated by some tiny Austrian investor in the film who had certain rights. Sigh. Long story short, the work has been done for a remastered, subtitled, DVD release. All that remains is the release itself."
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: cine on March 20, 2005, 05:24:39 AM
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetGulf + Western (whom he called Engulf + Devour)
that's a Silent Movie joke..
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on March 21, 2005, 10:26:34 AM
i'll believe it when i see it.  those posts on IMDB are always so full of facts.  and by facts i mean shit.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on March 22, 2005, 04:05:39 AM
Quote from: The Gold Trumpetone scene that Bertolucci originally cut has been restored in context. I'd never heard of this missing scene, but I think my contact called it "the blind man scene."


That's a hilarious scene. Marcello goes to a blind people's party with his best friend, and then one (blind) guy speaks out against the government, so the other blind people stomp him.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Gold Trumpet on April 27, 2005, 11:35:45 AM
I don't think this will be the uncut international release everyone is hoping to see, but on July 9, TCM is showing a letterboxed print of The Conformist. I think everyone should check it out. I definitely will.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: modage on April 27, 2005, 03:43:46 PM
i hated it.  so i'm interested to hear a defense.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: SoNowThen on April 27, 2005, 03:53:13 PM
fuck you
you're wrong



:-D
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: modage on April 27, 2005, 04:18:56 PM
settled.  :yabbse-grin:
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on April 27, 2005, 08:48:26 PM
why did you HATE it?
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: modage on April 27, 2005, 09:18:09 PM
i dunno.  there was just nothing for me to grab onto.  i didnt say it was terrible, it just wasnt something i could relate to/care about/get into AT ALL.  i could barely make it to the end.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: lamas on April 28, 2005, 01:35:06 AM
this film desperately needs a crystal clear digital transfer so themodernage02 can marvel at the cinematography.  you WILL become a fan.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: samsong on April 28, 2005, 01:56:01 AM
of all the reasons why the film needs a remastering (desperately, at that)...
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: FooBoy on June 07, 2005, 10:09:48 PM
I hope this gets a DVD release soon, yeah. I watched it the other night, a copy I downloaded. A very shitty copy, the audio gradually grew more and more out of sync which made it very distracting, even with subtitles. Problems aside, I liked it very much, I suspect it may be Bertolucci's best film.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: MacGuffin on September 08, 2006, 04:00:33 PM
From The Digital Bits:

Paramount has announced for release on 12/5 director Bernado Bertolucci's The Conformist: Extended Edition.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: A Matter Of Chance on September 08, 2006, 04:47:01 PM
...and there was much rejoicing.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: gob on September 08, 2006, 07:02:06 PM
Back of the net.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Pubrick on September 08, 2006, 10:51:34 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 08, 2006, 04:00:33 PM
From The Digital Bits:

Paramount has announced for release on 12/5 director Bernado Bertolucci's The Conformist: Extended Edition.
Quote from: A Matter Of Chance on September 08, 2006, 04:47:01 PM
...and there was much rejoicing.

in my PANTS, lemme tell ya.
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: Rudie Obias on September 10, 2006, 12:48:48 PM
also coming out on december 5th is a special collector's edition two-disc original five hour cut of bernardo bertolucci's "1900".  i've been waiting so long for a region 1 release of this film.   :yabbse-grin:
Title: Re: The Conformist
Post by: samsong on September 22, 2006, 01:40:01 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.emerson.edu%2Fstudents%2Fandrew_tobia%2Ftheconformistr1artpic2.jpg&hash=77c69725a57340bf0703cd3626c2c0cad4be3c23)

Paramount Home Entertainment has sent over artwork for an extended edition of The Conformist (Il Conformista) which stars Jean-Louis Trintignant. This 1970 Bernardo Bertolucci drama will be available to own from the 5th December this year. The full specs have yet to be revealed for this one I'm afraid, although we are able to confirm that it will be presented in its original aspect ratio - and not 4:3 as initally feared.