Recent Film Restorations

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Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#351 Post by Stefan Andersson » Sat Jan 18, 2020 5:43 pm

More info on VCI´s resto of the uncut "Rain" (1932):
https://www.vcientertainment.com/rain/

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senseabove
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#352 Post by senseabove » Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:25 pm

Seems like they're going all in on UDH, as Le Chat Qui Fume also announced they're planning a BD/UHD release of Lino Brocka's Bayan Ko

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tenia
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#353 Post by tenia » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:14 am

They're also restoring Zulawski's Possession in 4k, most likely with a UHD release in the end, and they've found about an hour of deleted shots.

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#354 Post by Stefan Andersson » Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:31 pm

Berlinale Classics 2020 announced:
https://www.berlinale.de/en/press/press ... 33438.html

Il bidone (The Swindle)
Italy / France 1955
by Federico Fellini
with Broderick Crawford, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart, Franco Fabrizi, Sue Ellen Blake, Irene Cefaro
World premiere of the digitally restored version (DCP 4K)
Il bidone might be the closest Fellini came to creating a genuine genre film, but what begins as a caper movie turns into a tragic, existential drama. Set in post-war Italy and tracing the glaring contrast between rich and poor, Il bidone is considered Federico Fellini’s last neo-realistic film with a touch of Kafka. The world premiere screening of the digitally restored version is in honour of the director, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 20, 2020, and of the 30th anniversary of Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation.
The 35mm camera and sound negatives, as well as the original fine-grain were used to restore the full-length version of Il bidone that was presented by Fellini at the Venice Film Festival in 1955. The restoration was undertaken by the Cineteca di Bologna and The Film Foundation in collaboration with Titanus, with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation. Restoration works were carried out at L'Immagine Ritrovata in 2019.

Bushido zankoku monogatari (Cruel Tale of Bushido)
Japan 1963
by Tadashi Imai
with Kinnosuke Nakamura (in 7 roles), Satomi Oka, Kyoko Kishida, Misako Watanabe, Yoshiko Mita
World premiere of the digitally restored version (DCP 2K)
Historical episodes from generations of a samurai family graphically reveal the barbarity of the feudal system in medieval Japan, exposing parallels to the modern achievement-oriented society. Imai’s film won the Golden Bear in 1963. The digital restoration was funded by the Toei Company, Ltd. on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Berlinale, and carried out by the Toei Lab Company; Toei will also be celebrating its 70th anniversary next year. The primary element used for the restoration was the original 35mm negative.

Daleká cesta (Distant Journey)
Czechoslovakia 1949
by Alfréd Radok
with Blanka Waleská, Otomar Krejča, Viktor Očásek, Zdeňka Baldová, Eduard Kohout
World premiere of the digitally restored version 2019 (DCP 4K)
The film traces the path of Czech Jews to Germany’s extermination camps, using the fictional narrative of a family from Prague. The narrative scenes are combined with clips from Nazi propaganda films, newsreels and Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph des Willes (Triumph of the Will) from 1935. Director Alfréd Radok, who was himself interned in a work camp and lost close relatives to the concentration camps, created an artistically effectual portrayal of the horrors of the Holocaust. The digital restoration was supervised by Národní filmový archiv, Prague and carried out at Universal Productions Partners (UPP). Both sound and image were digitised from the duplicate positive preserved by Národní filmový archiv, Prague. Missing parts of the image were retrieved from a nitrate print from the collection of La Cinémathèque de Toulouse, which was preserved at CNC.

A Fish Called Wanda
United Kingdom / USA 1988
by Charles Crichton
with John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken
World premiere of the digitally restored version 2017–2019 (DCP 2K)
A fast and furious romance in Britain’s best comedy tradition. A London barrister is seduced by an American jewel thief who hopes she can use him to find out where his client hid the loot from their heist. At the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, Park Circus will be presenting the world premiere of a new 2K restoration of the MGM Studios’ production A Fish Called Wanda. The restoration was carried out by Arrow Films; the original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution on a pin-registered Northlight Scanner at Pinewood Studios.

Ostatni etap (The Last Stage)
Poland 1948
by Wanda Jakubowska
with Wanda Bartówna, Huguette Faget, Tatjana Górecka, Antonina Górecka, Maria Winogradowa, Barbara Drapińska, Aleksandra Śląska
World premiere of the digitally restored version 2019 (DCP 4K)
Ostatni etap was one of the earliest films to tackle the subject of the Holocaust and was shot partially on location at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The director realistically depicts the everyday horrors of forced labour and mass extermination, but also resistance by the women prisoners. The restoration by Poland’s National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute, Warsaw, in cooperation with Tor Film Production, was based on a duplicate negative, since the original camera negative was lost. The restoration was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Das Wachsfigurenkabinett (Waxworks)
Germany 1924
by Paul Leni
with Emil Jannings, Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauss, Wilhelm Dieterle, Olga Belajeff
World premiere of the digitally restored version 2015–2019 (DCP 2K) — with audio description
Harun al-Rashid, Ivan the Terrible, and Jack the Ripper feature in this fantastical three-part omnibus film directed by Paul Leni. It was a magic moment in silent filmmaking, between an art adventure and fun fair. The screening is a cooperative venture of the Berlin International Film Festival and the Deutsche Kinemathek, working with ZDF and ARTE. The film will be shown on February 21 at 5.30 pm with live musical accompaniment by the Ensemble Musikfabrik from North Rhine-Westphalia, conducted by Elena Schwarz. The new music, composed in 2019 by Bernd Schultheis, Olav Lervik, and Jan Kohl, was commissioned by ZDF/ARTE. The digital restoration was funded by the German Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM). (See Press release November 19, 2020)

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senseabove
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#355 Post by senseabove » Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:45 pm

A Fish Called Wanda
...World premiere of the digitally restored version 2017–2019 (DCP 2K)
...At the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, Park Circus will be presenting the world premiere of a new 2K restoration of the MGM Studios’ production A Fish Called Wanda. The restoration was carried out by Arrow Films...
A world premiere of a restoration... that was released on disc two years ago?

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tenia
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#356 Post by tenia » Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:55 pm

I wouldnt be surprised to learn it has never been shown in theaters so far.

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#357 Post by Stefan Andersson » Fri Jan 24, 2020 3:32 pm

Interesting post on Nitrateville, re: the new deal between Kino Lorber and Universal:

"Based upon various posts here, the Park Circus catalog, and other related news articles, here's a list of silents that have been restored or are being restored by
Universal and thus could be a part of this deal:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
Straight Shooting (1917)
Hell Bent (1918)
Delicious Little Devil (1919)
Outside the Law (1920)
A Tokio Siren (1920)
A Chapter in Her Life (1923)
K-The Unknown (1924)
The Reckless Age (1924)
The Home Maker (1925)
Oh, Doctor (1925)
Skinner's Dress Suit (1926)
What Happened to Jones (1926)
Sensation Seekers (1927)
Finders Keepers (1928)
Man, Woman, and Wife (1929)
Modern Love (1929)
The Shakedown (1929)

The Love Trap (1929), which was released on DVD under Universal license by Kino in the early 2000s, has been confirmed by the Kino rep at the blu-ray forum not to be a part of this deal."

Source: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29352


Bret Wood posting on the Silent Era Facebook website, Jan. 22, 2020:
"Since everyone's talking Anna May Wong today, it's a good time to announce we're preparing a release of her 1923 film DRIFTING, directed by Tod Browning, restored by the George Eastman Museum. Anthony Slide recorded his commentary track earlier this week, and Phil Carli is working on the score."
Source: https://www.facebook.com/Silent-Era-Web ... 207096615/

Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#358 Post by Stefan Andersson » Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:18 am

Dave Kehr on MoMA´s To Save and Project film festival:
https://hyperallergic.com/538404/momas- ... ugh-money/

More on To Save and Project, by Imogen Sara Smith:
https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/phanto ... -plae-kao/

Trailer for Cohen´s 4K resto of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcnLjk- ... e=emb_logo

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#359 Post by Stefan Andersson » Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:39 pm

Programme for this year´s Toute la mémoire du monde festival of restored classics, Cinematheque Francaise:
https://www.cinematheque.fr/cycle/toute ... 0-570.html
Showcases Paul Grimault animations, Columbia westerns, Isabella Rossellini and more.

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#360 Post by Stefan Andersson » Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:45 pm

David Hare on a 4K, 2018, Eclair resto of Lancelot du Lac - see Jan. 29, 2020 post:
http://filmalert101.blogspot.com/
Released in Japan on blu by IVC.

Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#361 Post by Stefan Andersson » Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:26 am

Maurice Tourneur´s "Broken Butterfly" (1919) restored from a French 35mm dupe neg:
http://www.fondation-jeromeseydoux-path ... 3T19:00:00

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tenia
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#362 Post by tenia » Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:38 am

I've seen the restoration at Lyon in october 2019. It's very good looking.
The movie itself was awful though, plagued by one of the most laughable male lead performance I've seen in quite some time. And the poor guy isnt helped by Tourneur who too often relies on him conveying all the emotion in static close up shots of his face, except he's incapable to doing so.

Calvin
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#363 Post by Calvin » Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:45 am


Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#364 Post by Stefan Andersson » Mon Feb 10, 2020 1:40 pm

New Laurel & Hardy restos forthcoming on Blu and DVD from Sprocket Vault.
Restos produced by Jeff Joseph with UCLA and LoC.
Randy Skredtvedt and Richard W. Bann have contributed to the extras.

Details:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/commun ... vd.365530/

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#365 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:20 pm

This seems to have flown under the radar, perhaps because it's not part of the festival's "Classics" lineup, but Berlin will be premiering a 4K restoration of Jia Zhangke's Xiao Wu: https://www.berlinale.de/en/programme/p ... =202012567

Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#366 Post by Stefan Andersson » Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:25 pm

Upcoming Mary Pickford restos:
https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/blogs/archi ... nouncement

Info on the Mary Pickford archive at UCLA:
https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/collections ... ction-ucla

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#367 Post by Stefan Andersson » Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:01 am

"Khavah" (1919), later called "Broken Barriers", the first film version of Sholem Aleichem´s Tevye stories, restored:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com ... 9a7071fae3
https://www.filmlinc.org/films/broken-barriers/
http://www.jewishfilm.org/Catalogue/fil ... riers.html

Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#368 Post by Stefan Andersson » Fri Feb 21, 2020 7:43 am

"Les rendezvous de l´été" (1966), Lampin´s "L´Idiot" (1946) and Pierre Préverts "Voyage surprise" and "L´affaire est dans le sac" are restored (the Prévert films in 4K) and out on DVD in France (Doriane Films).
See various posts here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/dorianefilms/posts/

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#369 Post by Stefan Andersson » Sun Feb 23, 2020 12:50 pm

Grants from the German Federal Film Board towards restoration of 23 features, plus shorts, animation, documentaries and more:
https://www.professional-production.de/ ... -filmerbe/
Includes 40s Käutner films, Heller Wahn (1983) and Leben und Leben (Eichberg, 1916).

CNC grants of Feb. 10, 2020, for digitalization and restauration of films:
https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/aides ... ne_1026750
Includes films by Gance, Lenica, Borowczyk, Margheriti, Audry, Perec (Un homme qui dort), Baratier.

4K restos of El Bruto and Gavaldon´s La Barraca upcoming from VCI:
https://www.vcientertainment.com/el-bruto/
https://www.vcientertainment.com/la-barraca/

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#370 Post by Stefan Andersson » Thu Feb 27, 2020 1:57 pm

Made in Hongkong (Fruit Chan) - 4K resto, first US release upcoming -- trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... e=emb_logo

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#371 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Thu Feb 27, 2020 2:08 pm

For those who aren't likely to get this in their local theater, the restoration is out on BD. Good transfer and decent price for an HK Blu: https://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_det ... ctID=16554 I guess it might be worth holding out to see if Metrograph do their own Blu, but so far they only have one video release (Downtown 81, due out next month) and it's DVD-only.

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#372 Post by Stefan Andersson » Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:39 am

Report from this year´s Noir City festival:
https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/noir-c ... rnational/

Mentions two 1950s Argentine films, restored by the Film Noir Foundation. One film is based on Nicholas Blake´s novel "The Beast Must Die".

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#373 Post by Stefan Andersson » Sat Mar 07, 2020 7:08 pm

At MoMA -- a series of restored Edison and Biograph titles, featuring Mack Sennett, Bert Williams, Lillian Gish and others:
https://www.moma.org/calendar/film/5199?locale=en

Stefan Andersson
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Re: Recent Film Restorations

#374 Post by Stefan Andersson » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:20 pm

Lucian Pintilie´s "The Oak" has received a 4K restoration and re-release:
https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/videogr ... d-politics

Stefan Andersson
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Recent Film Restorations

#375 Post by Stefan Andersson » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:55 am

Info about the Austrian Film Museum´s restorations:
https://www.filmmuseum.at/jart/prj3/fil ... ode=active

A resto of Blind Husbands, from 35mm nitrate print, is listed as a work in progress.

Details on their resto of Ozep´s The Living Corpse (1929):
https://www.filmmuseum.at/en/collection ... _ivoj_trup

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