Criterion releases Othello on blu-ray

[cinescot]

Criterion has revealed that the final bonus feature for its release of Othello is:

Souvenirs d’“Otello,” a 1995 documentary about actor Suzanne Cloutier by François Girard

While some (all?) were hoping Filming Othello would be included, perhaps the Welles documentary will receive a separate release someday or as part of a collection of Welles material such as The Merchant of Venice, The Dreamers and The Magic Show.

Is this documentary the one where Suzanne Cloutier visits the filming locations?

Regarding Filming Othello. I'm disappointed it is not on it. With this film, Welles had already produced the perfect "special feature" for a home video release of Othello. Sadly, I can't see it getting an official home video release of any kind now. I also think The Dreamers would have been an excellent extra on the Criterion release of The Immortal Story.

[Le Chiffre]

Yes, disappointing, but I think the Cloutier program is nice. I've had it on a crappy VHS dub for many years, so I look forward to seeing it in Criterion quality.

There may still be a chance for FILMING OTHELLO. In addition to the possibilities Roger mentioned above, it might also be great for a special "OW TV Works" disc, maybe with FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

[cinescot]

I perhaps shouldn't focus on the negative of Filming Othello not being included. To be getting a 4K restoration of both the 1952 and 1955 versions (including original mono soundtracks) is brilliant and something I'm sure most Welles fans were probably hoping for but not expecting.

[Wellesnet]

Othello's release date has been pushed to Sept. 26, according to the Criterion website. No other details given.

BTW, for those who fear that "Filming Othello" will not be on the new Criterion set, and have never seen it, it's at the Filmstruck website. It's also been at Archive.org for years, in decent, although definitely not Criterion quality: https://archive.org/details/FilmingOtheloByOrsonWelles

[jbrooks]

"Filming Othello" needs a full restoration/reconstruction to replace all the Othello footage with the same footage from a better quality source. It's clear that Welles was not working with the original materials when he put the film together in 1978. With a reconstruction, the film could look better than it ever did originally. Some enterprising film student could do it the whole thing at home once the new Blu Ray is available.

[jtarvainen]

BTW, for those who fear that "Filming Othello" will not be on the new Criterion set, and have never seen it, it's at the Filmstruck website.

Are you sure? I can't find it on the site.

[Wellesnet]

No, not sure. That was per one of our posters at Facebook. Sorry if he was mistaken.

[atcolomb]

Criterion has a official release date of September 26th for Othello with the following features:

-New, restored 4K digital transfers of two versions of the film, the 1952 European one and the 1955 U.S. and UK one, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray
-Audio commentary from 1995 featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich and Orson Welles scholar Myron Meisel
-Return to Glennascaul, a 1953 short film made by actors Micheál MacLiammóir and Hilton Edwards during a hiatus from shooting Othello
-New interview with Welles biographer Simon Callow
-Souvenirs d’“Othello,” a 1995 documentary about actor Suzanne Cloutier by François Girard
-New interview with scholar François Thomas on the two versions
-New interview with Ayanna Thompson, author of Passing Strange: Shakespeare, Race, and Contemporary America
-Interview from 2014 with scholar Joseph McBride
-PLUS: An essay by film critic Geoffrey O’Brien

[Wellesnet]

Not sure if that is the final word, as that description has been posted for months. We will check.

[atcolomb]

Just announced on Criterion's website they will add Filming Othello to the extras on the Blu-ray release which explains the new release date.

[Dark Horse 77]

It will also be on the DVD release.

[Wellesnet]

Thanks, atcolomb. We posted more details on the main site earlier today.
Three cheers for Criterion!:
http://www.wellesnet.com/filming-othell ... o-release/

[jbrooks]

Great news on the addition of "Filming Othello." This disc is now a must buy. I only hope they can clean up the actual Othello footage within Filming Othello to make it look respectable.

[DexyMan]

That's why Criterion is the best in the world. They could have easily just released it the first time around and most people wouldn't have cared at all and the rest of us would have happily bought it anyway for the multiple versions, just a little disappointed by its omission. Instead Criterion makes sure they release the definitive version, the version I've been dreaming of for almost 20 years.

[cinescot]

Great news. Well done Criterion.