Locarno Wrap-Up

[jaime marzol]

that was a terrible misfire what happened with othello, as well as what happened with kodar and don q. we know why don q was botched (FRANCO!)

I wonder how othello was botched so badly? all involved certainly had good intentions. maybe they were misguided? They really homogonized, digitized, and blunted the chilling, original score. And how could they think they they could improve on welles’ editing? The european othello is the othello of choice. I wonder why welles had to recut his film for the american release? Was it welles, or like desilu and the trial, certain cuts were asked for. the cuts didn't help the film, the european version is much smoother. would be great to have the european othello with sub titles

[jaime marzol]

on chimes:
so their legal struggles don't get in the way of people doing things with the film, though like anything else, where there are struggles, less people are willing to get involved. you lay out your cash then some beligerent owner gets pissed, won't sign, and your money is tied up for years.

i have a fabolous looking version of chimes, and a great looking version with an attempt at extras, but it falls way short.

[jaime marzol]

tony is right in his post i just read, that beatrice has been frightening away potential investors with all the legal stuff. too bad it has all gotten so twisted. the audience, and welles work are the big losers in the end

what was the ambersons thing like? was it a screening of roger's version?

[Gordon]

beatrice has been frightening away potential investors with all the legal stuff

Yes, it's a big issue.

Back to Locarno,

there must have been some thought or mention as to how non-attendees can order the book on The Other Side of The Wind

[Store Hadji]

Beatrice did the intro for the videocassette release of Othello. Not only does she look like her dad, but she's totally freaking hot. Is this off topic? I wanted to say something nice about Beatrice, that's all. She may have ruined the current commercial Welles market by holding everything up with legal challenges, but we insane and possessed collectors are trading copies of all those books and movies anyway. So what's the big deal? The rest of the world lost, but we didn't. Is that a consolation?

Hey jaime! What differences could you rattle off between the Euro Othello and the Voyager laser version. What cuts were made? What shots were used under Welles' spoken credits? How does the opening sequence play without the Welles narration from the US version?

Regarding BWS et al not approaching Francesco Lavagnino about the music for the restoration, they did credit him as composer for the CD music soundtrack released way back when (with liner notes from our friend James Naremore, who called the botch-job "the cinematic equivalent of seeing the grime lifted from a dazzling Renaissance fresco, or hearing a great but neglected symphony for the first time." He goes on to say there will never be a definitive or authorized Othello, because Welles never bothered to remix the soundtrack.) That was a long aside, but I wondered if Lavagnino ever got his royalties at least. And Alberto Barberis is listed as co-composer. Anyone know which scenes or sections of music he scored?

[jollytinker]

Hello.

Jeff or Roger, I assume you have copies of the little book with 'Wind' in it ... did you by chance get extra copies.. I could either purchase from you happily, or would either of you be able to scan and send via email if you don't have extras to toss about ... ? I'm sure if you say Yes, you are going to be flooded with this annoyance, so I understand if you can't. Anyway, anyone who has this version of the script now, send me an email and let me know..
Appreciated, R.

[Wilson]

I did not purchase any additional copies of the WIND book, as they were a bit too pricy (about $35). I'm hesitant about trying to photocopy the book, as it's tightly bound and I don't want to ruin the binding. I must admit a weakness for being a bit of stickler about such things. I will see if there's some way to make copies without ruining the book and then I'll report back. As for purchasing copies from the festival, I don't think there was any way to get copies aside from buying them there, and I don't believe they were doing any mail order sales. Never hurts to email and ask, I guess. They were giving copies to the guests and journalists in the festival welcome packs, so copies will no doubt appear in the secondary market at some point as well, not that that's a big help either.

[Wilson]

Additionally, those interested in getting the book should watch the Cahiers du Cinema site, as the book was co-produced with Cahiers, and they sell the Locarno-related titles in their online store. The WIND book is not there yet, but it's one place to check. I should mention that I was told at the festival that they were uncertain whether they would even be able to keep selling the book there due to potential rights issues that had arisen, so bear that in mind if doesn't appear anywhere else for sale.

[chrissie]

I'll tell you another problem with the restored Othello (I'm on commission from Bea and this is a ploy to make you watch it again and maybe this time the subliminal messages will work): it STUTTERS! It stutters, it jerks, sometimes the picture pauses for a split second between cuts, yada yada yada. Ignore the soundtrack (please ignore the soundtrack!), just focus on the picture, and you'll see this stuff happening a LOT.

On the one hand I think, 'Well, 1992, technology's come on a lot since then...' On the other, 'But, hold on, this was only a year before Jurassic Park! [Speaking of computer technology.]' So it isn't a perfect excuse.

It's a bloody mess. I just like any old excuse to say this. (But if it makes you watch it again, I still get the commission...)

[chrissie]

(I might add, the subliminal messages have clearly started working on Hadji. Already he's saying nice stuff about her. In a week he'll be telling you to buy multiple copies. :p )

(Incidentally, I do have a spare copy of the French release if anyone needs a decorative drinks coaster...)

[Roger Ryan]

Speaking of subliminal messages, if you listen to the DVD release of the "restored" version of "Othello" with headphones, you'll hear some airport control tower chatter (or maybe it's a sports broadcast) bleeding through the audio just prior to Desdemona's murder! I don't know whether I should blame the restoration crew or the DVD mastering house.

[jollytinker]

Thanks Wilson... I am a stickler for those things also, so I understand if you can't make a copy without horribly breaking the binding..

[jaime marzol]

crissie, if you have the french othello and think it's worth being a coaster, you don't have the right one. my french othello is miles better than the beatrice, and the voyager. `all it really needs is english subtitles.

if any one cares to write the subtitles in english i will gladly put them on the french version and you will have the best othello in the universe, and it's window boxed protecting welles' vision from tv overscan.

hadji, i'll send you the french othello, it's easier than explaining the differences. i'll tell you this much, the begining is not choppy like the 2 american othellos, it's as clear as can be.

[chrissie]

Ah, you misunderstood me. I went and bought the French DVD release thinking it might be *the* French version. (And as I said before, a certain Mr. Rosenbaum apparently did the same thing!) But, no, it's the Beatrice version. A pretty poor copy of the Beatrice version at that -- I thought it was the unrestored print initially, then I noticed the stuttering and pauses. (The sound is mono too, would you believe.)

Anyway, big waste of money, then! Good job it was cheap. But seriously, if anyone wants it as a 'collectible' -- or a coaster or a frisbee or a very big sequin -- you're welcome to it!

[R Kadin]

Jaime - it would be extremely fitting if, among its many accomplishments, Wellesnet could produce "the best Othello in the universe". And I'd love to be a participant in such an enterprise.

Between some middling language skills and my access to additional resources (including the Voyager LD) I could probably help put at least some passable titles together - or even edit/refine any draft English translations that any of our French-fluent members might like to contribute.

And I suspect I'm not alone.