New CITIZEN KANE Region 2 DVD

[sergio]

I thought you might be interested to read this review of the new Region 2 Special edition DVD of CITIZEN KANE which is not actually released until the end of July in the UK.

Frankly, I thought the Warners release was magnificent, barring the odd raindrop going AWOL, but this review is nothing short of a rave - I wished they'd licensed the BBC doc on the Making of Kane as that is by far the single best documentary on the film (and MUCH more impressive than the overrated BATTLE OVER CITIZEN KANE which seems weirdly biased towards Hearst - or maybe that isn't weird - it's certainly unconvicning though).

here's the link:

http://www2.r2-dvd.org/article.jsp?sectionId=4&articleId=5595

[Jeff Wilson]

I was happy with the video quality on the R1 release of Kane, though it seems the dissent over it comes largely from those who feel the "film" look was removed. The review of the R2 doesn't mention it, but I'm curious to find out if this one retains more of the film grain look. The extras sound so-so; I can't imagine being wowed by them, but who knows.

[Welles Fan]

I liked the Warner release of Kane, too. The rain issue didn't bother me that much. The commentaries were a good idea, especially for people who are not familiar with the film, and who don't know what constitutes a great film unless Roger Ebert tells them.

Too bad they undermined much of the positive effect with the Welles/Hearst feature.

I'm in the pricess of transcribing the 1991 Criterion laserdisc to DVD-R. That way, I still get the rain effect, and the "film look" if I want it. That edition has the best extra stuff, IMO. It has Carringer's "visual essay" on the making of Kane, lots of "talking heads" like Scorsese, et al discussing the impact of the film, and The Hearts of Age home movie. Once I add the episode on Welles from "The RKO Story", I should have a pretty good home-made DVD of Kane supplements.

[Michael]

Wow, WellesFan - what an EXCELLENT idea for your DVD on Kane. I am so envious! One of these days I'm gonna up grade mr.computer and do lots of projects like that. But till then..... I'd love to see your work when you're done.... I don't have a LD player. Thanks! Michael

[AndersE]

A comparison between the reg1 and reg2 Kane has been published here:

http://207.136.67.23/film/dvdcompare/citizenkane.htm

with screen shots.

Anders

[Glenn Anders]

Thank you, Sergio and Anders, for those comparisons, although I could not open yours, Sergio. (Should there be a dot after the www?)

I agree, however, Sergio, that THE BATTLE OVER CITIZEN KANE is a waste of space and time. Do you know that the same team did a documentary about the relationship between David Selznick and Alfred Hitchcock, leaving the impression that Hitchcock somehow ruined Selznick and hastened his death?

Seems to be a mark of our recent history that moguls get all the sympathy.

I have the Criterion Laserdisc of KANE, which I enjoyed very much, and R1 DVD of same, but what I laughingly called "my home theater" went down about the time I bought the DVD, and I have never had the money to have the set repaired.

Regards.

Glenn

[AndersE]

I also had prblems with Sergios link at first, but trial and error led to this version, which works:

http://www.r2-dvd.org/article.jsp?sectionId=4&articleId=5595

There was simply 1 2 2 many...

Anders