Criterion releases Othello on blu-ray

[Roger Ryan]

Criterion usually allows the original release of a film to take precedence over later releases that may have been altered in some way (especially by those not involved with the original production). This is very good news that the surviving elements have yielded two completely new restorations that retain Welles' original soundtracks, making the 1992 restoration superfluous.

[RayKelly]

I wonder what the backstory is on Criterion now being permitted to release the original soundtrack version of the film. Beatrice Welles owned the rights to the film, and supposedly objected to Criterion's laserdisc version back in the day.

It seems obvious it was strictly a business decision back in 1992 when she was repped by Thomas White. The Criterion laserdisc was in direct competition with the "restored" version. Othello is one of the few Welles properties owned by the Estate, so she had a say over it.

In a late 2014 interview, Beatrice Welles said she had agreed to let Criterion do a new release of Othello. When I met with her at the Sedona Film Festival in February 2015, she told me she was excited Criterion was handling Othello and Chimes at Midnight because of their reputation for quality.

Although she did not have ownership of Chimes at Midnight, she did press and appearances for that Janus / Criterion release last year. She has a far different relationship with them in 2017 than in 1992.

[magadizer]

Not to mention that Beatrice Welles is herself on the CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT DISC in (what I thought was) a very charming interview.
I see no reason to assume ill will persists between her and Criterion.

[jbrooks]

Beatrice and her partners put lots of time and money into the 1992 "restoration." It would be odd and not "obvious" if she has now decided that the original (i.e. unrestored soundtrack) version is the superior version and that it should be the only version available on Blu Ray or DVD.

[magadizer]

Sure, but that was 25 years ago. Who knows how her opinions have changed, and what the business arrangements are regarding the new restorations and release.

[jbrooks]

Magadizer,

It sounds like you agree with me. We don't know how her opinions have changed or what the business relationships are. Does she still own the rights to the 1992 restoration? Did she sell them off? Has she been persuaded that the criticisms of Jonathan Rosenbaum and others were correct? Is she authorizing this Criterion release and getting a royalty or just not opposing it? Oja supposedly authorized Criterion's old laser disc (I think she even got a special thanks on the inside album cover). Has Oja authorized this one? Those are some of the questions to which I think the answers would be interesting.

And it hasn't exactly been 25 years because an updated version of the 1992 restored soundtrack version was the version distributed to theaters around the world in 2014.

[Ovader]

Curious if the silent film test footage Welles shot in 1948 to entice financing from potential producers still exists to be added to this CC edition?

[RayKelly]

We don't know how her opinions have changed or what the business relationships are. Does she still own the rights to the 1992 restoration? Did she sell them off? Has she been persuaded that the criticisms of Jonathan Rosenbaum and others were correct? Is she authorizing this Criterion release and getting a royalty or just not opposing it? Oja supposedly authorized Criterion's old laser disc (I think she even got a special thanks on the inside album cover). Has Oja authorized this one? Those are some of the questions to which I think the answers would be interesting.

I thought I addressed this in an earlier post, but I see it was light on details.
In an interview I conducted with Beatrice Welles back in March 2014 for Wellesnet, she told me she had instructed Julian Schlossberg, who worked with her on the 1992 re-release, to seek out a distributor for an Othello Blu-ray release. I subsequently spoke with Julian. While neither got into specifics, it was clear to me that although they were both very proud of the 1992 re-release, they had some long standing issues with the release. Beatrice's opposition to the Criterion laserdisc 25 years ago was very likely because she owned the title and the laserdisc was out in direct competition to her 1992 release. I believe Oja Kodar was thanked on the laserdisc for her assistance in providing Filming Othello scenes as an extra. (Oja does not own Othello.) In a December 2014 interview, Julian told me that Criterion wanted to include the 1955 U.S. release on the set, which I assumed would include the 1992 restoration. Instead, it will have the 1952 and 1955 versions side by side. Both are 4K scans. Obviously, Beatrice/Julian and Criterion agreed to forego the 1992 soundtrack. (BTW, I did not see the Carlotta 2K theatrical release, but heard second-hand that the audio had been altered.)
On a related note, when I arrived at the Sedona Film Festival in February 2015 to introduce some of her father's films with Beatrice, she told me she had just received a call that Criterion had obtained the U.S. rights for Chimes at Midnight from Mr. Bongo and that it would soon be made public by Criterion. She was positively giddy because of their reputation for high quality releases.
In January 2016, Janus/Criterion screened Chimes for an extended run at the Film Forum in New York. I attended the showing hosted by Beatrice and Peter Becker of Criterion. She had filmed an interview earlier that day for Criterion's planned Chimes Blu-ray and again had nothing but praise for the label.
On the matter of Filming Othello, I had suggested to Julian and Beatrice back in 2014 that it would be wonderful if that were included in a future Othello Blu-ray. (There were questions about rights and finding the best available elements.) I continue to cross my fingers and hope it is included.

[jbrooks]

Ray,

Thanks for the additional information.

I pulled out my laserdisc of Othello and Oja is thanked on the inside cover (along with others) and the cover also says the film is presented "under exclusive license from Oja Kodar."

The inside cover also includes a Jonathan Rosenbaum essay in which he suggests the laserdisc version is the 1952 Cannes version. He seems to have been unaware at the time that there was any difference between the 1952 and 1955 versions.

[RayKelly]

I pulled out my laserdisc of Othello and Oja is thanked on the inside cover (along with others) and the cover also says the film is presented "under exclusive license from Oja Kodar."

I spent considerable time last year looking at both the estate settlement and US copyright files attempting to determine what Beatrice Welles fully owns in terms of scripts and films. Othello was among the properties belonging to her.
The Confirmation of Ownership, signed by Welles six months before his death, specified a dozen unfinished projects he gave to Kodar. A pdf of that document, his 1982 will and the agreement signed by Oja and Beatrice can be found at http://www.wellesnet.com/unraveling-the-complex-estate-of-orson-welles-court-records-reveal-deals-trust-fund/

[jbrooks]

I'm not arguing that Oja actually had the rights. I'm just reading what the laserdisc says. Clearly, Criterion was under the impression that Oja had the rights as it licensed the film from her and put out a laserdisc without Beatrice's authorization. As the laserdisc was later withdrawn, presumably Oja's claim didn't withstand scrutiny.

[Roger Ryan]

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.

[DexyMan]

Wow, that is a big disappointment. For at least 15 years my feeling had been that I wouldn't ever see a Filming Othello release unless Criterion ever got the rights to Othello. Now that ship has sailed and maybe we'll get it someday but my hope for it is gone.

On a positive note I am still thrilled that we'll be getting both of the authentic versions of Othello after so many years of only the "restored" Othello. The Blu-Ray era has really turned a corner for Welles with the U.S finally getting superb releases of Chimes, Immortal Story, both versions of MacBeth and Othello as well as the complete Around the World and of course Other Side of the Wind (fingers crossed!!!!).

[RayKelly]

I'm not arguing that Oja actually had the rights. I'm just reading what the laserdisc says. Clearly, Criterion was under the impression that Oja had the rights as it licensed the film from her and put out a laserdisc without Beatrice's authorization. As the laserdisc was later withdrawn, presumably Oja's claim didn't withstand scrutiny.

And I was not arguing with your reading of it. Welles left a mess in terms of film and script rights and I am sure there are times Oja and Beatrice had to double check who owns what.

[jbrooks]

Welles left a mess in terms of film and script rights and I am sure there are times Oja and Beatrice had to double check who owns what.

You are surely correct about that, Ray. I would add, however, that even considering that mess, it has always struck me as very strange that Criterion put out the "Othello" laserdisc with only Oja's sign-off. The laserdisc was released after Beatrice's 1992 restoration had played widely in theaters to much acclaim. There had been a lot of press coverage concerning Beatrice at that time -- most of it noting that she had inherited the rights to "Othello." Given that, one would think Criterion would have been skeptical of any competing claim of ownership.

In any event, I'm glad they put it out. It was the best $49 I ever spent. That laserdisc has been one of my prized possessions, and I am very much looking forward to the Blu Ray upgrade.