Ambersons on DVD - current availability

[Welles Fan]

Somebody here has the Criterion LaserDisc which included the entire script as well as stills (and storyboards I think). The way to do it would be to combine the existing film with the relevant pages of script and stills/storyboard to get an idea of the flow of the film at least.

I never owned that disc but a friend did. I taped the disc with Carringer's commentary, but I don't believe I taped the photos and storyboard stuff. I shall have to check. The LD shows up from time to time on ebay but always ends up selling for upwards of $100.

BTW, Jeff, that avatar is the most frightening thing I've seen since Max Schreck as Count Orlock! Scary, kids!

[nathan_h]

Well, I can't copy other people's posts, of course, but here are mine from that thread on HTF. (I copy them over wholesale to add context to this discussion, and sincerely don't intend to violate rules either here or at the HTF.)

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Hmmm. I'm very intrigued by the trailer on the French DVD, because of the footage there that is no longer in the film.

It has long been a pipe-dream of mine to use the materials available to do my own (personal) reconstruction of the film... Unfortunately, my DVD authoring software can't do multiple video angles or soundtracks yet -- gotta upgrade -- but what I'd like is:

Main Video: Footage re-cut into proper order, extra scenes excised, stills/script/intertitles where needed to bridge gaps.

Alternate Angle Video: Shooting script.

Main Audio: Soundtrack to match main video. Where there are gaps in the video with the stills (etc) voice-over from Welles/Bogdonovich about the missin materials.

Secondary Audio: Commentary track, with additional Welles comments about the film. There's not enough released audio to fill the whole track, so there'd need to be bridging material -- either someone else reading from Welles' comments on the film that haven't been released on audio, and/or additional scholarly info.

Third Audio track: Feature length coherent commentary. On my own personal authoring, I'd place the criterion commentary here. For a commercial release (were someone to attempt the general scenario of what I describe) they'd probably need to do a new commentary track.

Finally, if it were a commercial release and not my own personal version, there should be a way (seamless branching) to see the film in it's released format, as well.

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Whew. Now all I need to do is upgrade my DVD authoring software, and loose my day job so I have enough time to tackle it all!

[several responses missing... and then my follow up. Someone suggesting using CGI on the few seconds of footage in the film's trailer on the French DVD to "re-create" a missing scene through CGI technology, hence my initial remark. However, I was just interested in the trailer in that it could provide a few "stills" to use as described below.]

I must admit, I wasn't thinking CGI-recreation! (I ain't that good Just something like a slide show using stills where they exist, then storey boards (need to check my CAV LD and see whether the storey boards have the dialogue written on them) if necessary, then script shots, where nothing else is available.

I don't think anyone would find it entertaining, other than Welles fanatics. But what the heck.

Of course, I was thinking I could work solely from the Criterion LD info and "The Magnificent Ambersons : A Reconstruction" by Robert L. Carringer, and assume I was doing the right thing. After reading the stuff on Wellesnet, I'm no longer so sure! Gotta think it through some more.

[Jeff Wilson]

Regarding the Ambersons DVD and the taped material between Welles and Bogdanovich, I do think it has some stuff that isn't on the tape or in the book. I don't think any of it is earth-shattering, but it was amusing to hear Welles talk about how slow Stanley Cortez was, and that he was "a terrible shit" who cried each time they him kicked off the set. Also, he discusses how Dolores Costello was more or less an airhead who didn't have much interest in acting. Finally, there's an anecdote about how Welles found out Ambersons was released while on an expedition to the Amazon, where he claims to have been impersonating a leper doctor in order to come along. A Jesuit priest came out of a hut in the middle of this primitive village and told Welles he had seen the film in Washington, DC the previous week and loved it. The rest is either covered in the book (albeit in a boiled down, edited form), or on the tapes. The DVD's tape material runs just under 52 minutes.

[nathan_h]

Looks like I gotta pick it up. Hopefully, my current order at Amazon.fr hasn't shipped, and they can simply add this to it!

[maxrael]

Just a quickie... which Ambersons release do people think is the 'best', French or Spanish (or Japanese)?...

thanks in advance,
max!

[Welles Fan]

I have heard from others on the board that the Spanish DVD is quite poor.

[The Night Man]

TCM is soliciting votes in their "ongoing poll of the most requested classic movies not currently on DVD" at this web address: http://www.tcm.com/top/notondvd/

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS is on the list and currently at #92 out of 200. I encourage all interested Wellesnet members (and readers) to vote. There are plenty of other deserving films to vote for as well.

[Michael O'Hara]

Chimes at Midnight is currently hovering at 239. Get busy, Welles fans.

[purplepines]

Tomorrow Is Forever (1946) (starring Orson) is at 117.

Some of the movies on this list look quite kooky, I'VE certainly never thought some of them were sought by the public

[Dan]

Amersons is due on DVD in 2008:

http://wellesnet.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=829

Warner has stated that "we have finally found good elements on AMBERSONS, and plan to release both AMBERSONS and JOURNEY in 2008".

Now, what exactly does "good elements" mean. We'd like to think it's the lost footage but that's a very long shot. Most likely it just means a better print of the film as we know it. But stranger things have turned up after 60 years.

[nextren]

Ah, dreaming...2008 sees the simultaneous release of the finished TOSOTW *and* a restored, director's cut TMA ("good elements").

Seriously, though, while such dreaming is nice it's a bit ungrateful. OW gave us so much.

[Michael O'Hara]

Will Chimes ever get good treatment? The only copy I have it a horrible looking and nearly inaudible VHS copy that I transferred to DVD. I have never seen a quality print of it. I'm sure my appreciation of the film would grow if I could actually hear the dialogue! I email Criterion once a month grovelling. A deluxe edition would look great on the shelf between Arkadin and F For Fake.

[Glenn Anders]

That Warner's chat also has this intriguing reply:

"[WARNER] We are very much aware of the alternate cuts on JOURNEY, and will be working from several pre-print elements, including nitrate from Europe. We hope to have both versions to work from in order to create the most comprehensive release. Merry Widow is still very much in our plans."

Glenn

[Joshua]

It's unbelievable when you walk through a store like Wal-Mart and see all the complete garbage that actually is on DVD, that some of the best movies ever made including chimes and ambersons cannot get a proper DVD release here in the US.

[Dan]

As I said, "good elements" realistically means good elements of the exisiting Ambersons film version. BUT if by some massive miracle Warner has located the missing footage, they may make that major announcement closer to the release date of the DVD in 2008. (Maybe Welles' daughter has a complete print hidden away in her basement.)