new DVD set? - "Orson Welles Collection"

[Nate H]

has this been discussed elsewhere on the board? I assume it has but I couldnt find a thread. does anyone have any info on this?

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=PAS005350

[Jeff Wilson]

First I have seen of it, but it looks like pub domain junk.

[jaime marzol]

it's pub domain junk

I bought a 2 movie disc, SCARLET STREET, and THE STRANGER. great looking box, the artwork on the dvd is superb, the movies look HORRIBLE

[atcolomb]

This dvd is being released by Focus Film, the same people who released Citizen Welles dvd a few years ago. I have a funny feeling this new dvd will have the same poor transfer.
DVD BEAVER did a good comparison on all the dvd versions of The Stranger.

[Nate H]

this will be the first DVD release of Lear though, right? /grasping at straws

[jaime marzol]

the citizen welles stranger looks awfull. the citizen welles trial looks ok. the documentary about the restoration is junk. the commentary tracks with jeffrey lyons are the pits. as disposable as the commentary track on the laser disc macbeth. but, the more welles the merrier. the more people the put this stuff out the better chance that some one will finally get it right.

[Terry]

the commentary tracks with jeffrey lyons are the pits

"Now he's getting off the bed...now he's standing...now he's walking across the floor...where's his ham sandwich - does he know? Does he not know? Welles was the master of suspense!"

Poor Jeffrey - I thought those commentaries were like bad radio play-by-plays.

[dmolson]

This has nothing to do with the Universal announcement this week of Feb releases of both The Stranger and The Trial... Hopefully they have unearthed the best possible versions to set to metal -- although Uni is not know for including any extras , unless this is the start of a special 'Auteur Series'....

[DexyMan]

I've noticed that if you are interested in this box set only for the King Lear release that it will also be released on a twofer with The Stranger for 5.95 in January. I assume this is just one of the discs in the box set being sold seperately. I will also assume that the quality will be awful...

[atcolomb]

Web site DVD FILE has a review on the Orson Welles Collection from Passport Video and everybody was right!! The reviewer says this is "one of the worst" of picture and sound and the "laziness" in putting together a box set that "should not exist". All who love Welles should read this for a laugh!!

[Le Chiffre]

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

The least that can be said about this edition is that Passport had the decency to throw a few intriguing extras our way while they aurally and visually rape us with the films. The three documentaries included on a fifth disc are Hollywood Remembers Orson Welles, Hollywood Couples: Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, and an excerpt from The Herb Steiner Show. They may not be Criterion-grade looks into Welles'; inspirations and work, but they at least shed a little light on the big guy's mythic proportions (Hollywood Remembers is the most interesting entry).

Too bad that 5th disc can't be sold by itself for $6 or so. I might buy that one.

[Terry]

The first two documentaries are crap. Haven't seen the Steiner clip.

[Glenn Anders]

A couple of the documentaries do look interesting.

Gentlemen, I think we are talking about "The Herb Shriner Show" [Herb Shriner Time, actually] which pioneered on TV in the early 1950's. Shriner was a kind of successor to Will Rogers, and like Rogers, he died at a premature age.

There is a Herb Steiner, but he appears to be a Texas country western musician.

Glenn

[Terry]

I have Hollywood Remembers and Hollywood Couples. They are not worth a purchase.

[Le Chiffre]

Thanks for the warning, Hadji. I think I may have seen that Welles/Hayworth docu on cable and was unimpressed, but I'm curious as to where you got the HOLLYWOOD REMEMBERS OW, and why you think it's crap.

Gentlemen, I think we are talking about "The Herb Shriner Show" [Herb Shriner Time, actually] which pioneered on TV in the early 1950's. Shriner was a kind of successor to Will Rogers, and like Rogers, he died at a premature age.

Interesting. On the 5-DVD box itself it says Welles recites poetry on the Shriner show. Sounds like it would be worth seeing, but not for $30.