Journey into Fear DVD Release

[the scotsman]

Cornerstone Media is releasing Journey into Fear in the UK on the 28th of February. It is already listed on Amazon UK with the running time of 68m (PAL).
This is the same release date as Chimes at Midnight (from the same company). I´m not sure of the quality but will post a report when they arrive.

Also Just released in the UK - the 1955 compendium movie "Three Cases of Murder" with Welles in the third story playing Lord Mountdrago (the British home Secretary). Included as an extra is Return to Glennascaul. Quality is excellent and is a budget issue from Odeon Entertainment.

[DexyMan]

What's the aspect ratio of Three Cases of Murder? I have a DVDr of the laserdisc and it was in slight widescreen (1.66:1 I believe). It used to be that DVDs were sometimes pan and scanned but these days I'm just as nervous of overmatting to please widescreen TV owners. Also I believe Return to Glennascaul should be fullscreen.

This sounds like a great way to pick those up on the cheap!

[the scotsman]

The Three Cases of Murder release is 1.33 - 1 . The DVD case states 1955 but the the release date on the movie´s credits is 1953 .It looks like the print source is from the US,because after the title card "London Films",there is a second title card "Janus Film".When one considers the low budget of the movie,and that Cinemascope was virtually brand new in 53 and VistaVision came along 54-55,it seems unlikely that it was made in any kind of wide screen.
As I say the quality is good and the ratio looks correct. There is no evidence of stretching or other problems - it looks natural. There is so little technical information available.Return to Glennascaul is also 1.33.-1 and a good print. As we are on the subject of aspect ratios - do you know which ratio is presented on the French issue of Chimes at Midnight ?
I live most of the time in Germany and I am sure that I once saw (in the mid 70´s) a German dubbed "Chimes" but in Letterbox format. Or am I dreaming?

[Roger Ryan]

While I can't comment specifically on the French issue of CHIMES, I was under the impression that the film, like THE TRIAL, was hard-matted at 1:66.1. Video or TV showings in 4:3 simply zoomed into the print trimming the image on the left and right sides of the frame.

[DexyMan]

The French Chimes is definitely 1.66:1, I can burn copies of it to those of you who don't already have it. The print is just gorgeous and it's small enough to burn without any compression if you subtract all of the extras that are in French-only anyway. Plus, that's the only way to remove the French subtitles that are forced on to it.

[tonyw]

DexyMan, I'd love to take up your offer. Please contact me concerning costs and postage etc,

[Glenn Anders]

Add me to that list, DexyMan, if you would be so kind.

Glenn Anders

[Sabres]

Dexyman, I'd also be interested in your kind offer.

Nick

[the scotsman]

Cornerstone Media has just announced that the Journey into Fear release has been cancelled.No further reasons were given and no future release date was stated. As yet, the release of "Chimes" by the same company is still going ahead.

[Michael O'Hara]

Can't Warner Brothers just issue this thing through their "burn-on-demand" program and get it over with? What are they waiting for? A future deluxe release? Well, based on the treatment they gave The Ambersons on DVD I they have any special plans for it. What is the holdup?

[Jay]

Can't Warner Brothers just issue this thing through their "burn-on-demand" program and get it over with? What are they waiting for? A future deluxe release? Well, based on the treatment they gave The Ambersons on DVD I they have any special plans for it. What is the holdup?

According to the Warner Archive's response to that very question, the source print is in need of work before they can put out a DVD release.

[WellesFan]

I am reviving an old thread. From 2012! At the moment, Journey into Fear doesn't appear to be on DVD. It's also not on Amazon VOD. However, it'll be on TCM in August.

Is there any update on the Journey into Fear DVD release? I would love to see the other cut of the film.

Also...not sure if I should do a separate thread on this next question...how much did Welles really direct? I know Peter Bogdanovich is reported to have said that the film was directed by Welles. Other reports indicate that Welles directed some sequences but was not the main director. Someone on the message board (probably on the thread called: Alternate "Journey Into Fear" Edit Discovered) said that Welles said that Norman Foster deserves all the credit. Is there a definitive answer to this question?

[RayKelly]

Since Criterion has picked up the rights to Ambersons from Warners, it's likely they grabbed Journey Into Fear too.
However, I would not expect anything on that front until after Ambersons is released.

[Le Chiffre]

I really don't think JOURNEY INTO FEAR is Criterion-worthy, but then, stranger things have happened.

[Roger Ryan]

...Also...not sure if I should do a separate thread on this next question...how much did Welles really direct?...

The closing scene in the final released version (Col. Haki ribbing Howard Graham who is unable to complete his letter to his wife) was scripted and directed by Welles. As a producer and screenwriter (he is co-credited as a writer with Joseph Cotten in the credits for the early-release version, but later removed that credit - was he too embarrassed by the end result? In reality, Ben Hecht contributed significantly, but was uncredited), Welles had a lot of influence on how the film would be presented. It's not hard to imagine he exerted considerable influence on the scenes involving Col. Haki, especially since Norman Foster was an ally and not in competition with Welles. After leaving for South America, Welles continued making script alterations and recommendations for the ending. As part of his exit deal from RKO, Welles was allowed to pull the film from release and rework it. Welles was responsible for adding the first person narration by Cotten (the letter-writing framing concept) and determined the final editing of the film (although it appears he only had access to the already-truncated version that RKO had released - none of the deleted footage known to exist in the 91 minute preview cut was used in Welles' final cut). As noted above, he scripted and directed the final scene after his return from the It's All True South American debacle.

Journey Into Fear and Jane Eyre are the two films Welles had the most creative influence on apart from his officially credited directorial efforts. Since he gave Journey its final shape, I think it would be fair to consider him a co-director of the film.