THE TRIAL On Blu-Ray

[Roger Ryan]

...Of interest to Region 1 customers: Rialto recently signed a deal with StudioCanal to release Region 1 versions of SC catalog titles in North America; no idea whether THE TRIAL will be one of those titles, but it's a possibility. Region 1 releases were handled by Lionsgate until very recently; they issued (or were allowed to issue) very few of the SC titles in North America.

Correction: Apparently, the recently signed deal between StudioCanal and Rialto for is for U.S. theatrical distribution only; Lionsgate remains StudioCanal's North American DVD and Blu-ray distributor. In other words, nothing has really changed and there's no indication we'll be seeing much in the way of Region 1 home video releases coming from StudioCanal.

[Luke Scoffield]

The review confirms that the audio is still missing for the deleted scene (subtitles taken from Welles' script fill in the dialogue); everything else appears as expected with a running time of 118 min. which conforms to the full version as released in '62.

Yes, I can confirm that having just enjoyed my copy of the Blu-ray. It appears as though Studio Canal have used the same source as the full cut from their previous French DVD release, just shy of 119min, with the same French titles at the beginning and imposed at the end. There's also the DVDBeaver review:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare8/trial.htm

I'm not sure if they've overdone the contrast slightly, and the image isn't always of a consistent quality, but there's no doubt this is the best The Trial's looked on home video. The audio isn't spectacular, but it's solid and consistent. The supplements are nice, particularly Welles, Kafka & The Trial (an overview of the film), Orson Welles, Architect of Light (an extended interview with DoP Edmond Richard about the production), having the deleted scene now subtitled, and Jonathan Rosenbaum's introductory article in the booklet sets things up nicely. I'm sure you guys already know of this, but it was exciting for me to see and hear a snippet of the deleted scene in the trailer. Welles really must have removed it right at the last minute. In short, I'd definitely recommend this one if you can play Region B. It might be the best we get unless someone undertakes a full restoration (and includes the Filming the Trial Q&A!)

[Roger Ryan]

According to this column from the digital bits site...

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/m ... 71013_1200

...THE TRIAL will be released later this year on a Region 1 Blu-ray by Kino-Lorber.

This is especially nice since there hasn't been a decent DVD release of the film in the U.S.

[atcolomb]

I hope some great extras for the Kino release. Nice to see Russian Ark getting the blu-ray treatment too.

[A Sled in Flames]

Literally came this close to buying the Studio Canal BD. Glad to hear a North American release is forthcoming. Hopefully the transfer is improved over the scrubbed Studio Canal, though I'm honestly not holding my breath with a movie honestly not that well known.

[RayKelly]

Tipster told me that the StudioCanal restoration of The Trial has been acquired by a label for U.S. release on Blu-ray. The chatter is that it is not KinoLorber, which leaves several other interesting choices out there.

[edmoney]

Tipster told me that the StudioCanal restoration of The Trial has been acquired by a label for U.S. release on Blu-ray. The chatter is that it is not KinoLorber, which leaves several other interesting choices out there.

That's very good news regarding StudioCanal's restoration of The Trial (and the first time I'm hearing about it). Do you have any additional info on the restoration or when we might expect a Blu-ray release? I did a quick Google search and nothing comes up (unless we're talking about what was done for the StudioCanal releases back in 2012 that never made it to the US).

EDIT: It looks like this is in reference to the US release that was rumored to be coming out in 2013 from Kino but never did. I guess it helps to read up-thread a bit.

[cinescot]

Tipster told me that the StudioCanal restoration of The Trial has been acquired by a label for U.S. release on Blu-ray. The chatter is that it is not KinoLorber, which leaves several other interesting choices out there.

With The Trial being Studio Canal, I was doubtful it would be Criterion who would have got the rights, but Criterion are re-releasing Godard's Pierrot le Fou on October 6th, so I guess there is a chance.

[RayKelly]

Tipster told me that the StudioCanal restoration of The Trial has been acquired by a label for U.S. release on Blu-ray. The chatter is that it is not KinoLorber, which leaves several other interesting choices out there.

With The Trial being Studio Canal, I was doubtful it would be Criterion who would have got the rights, but Criterion are re-releasing Godard's Pierrot le Fou on October 6th, so I guess there is a chance.

I have started to give up hope on seeing a US release.