Original Othellos

[Vicvic]

Hello,

I have a copy of one of the original Othellos (the european one) but it's subtitled in french. I dont like to see it with subtitles because, for me, it kind of disturbs the musicality of the editing, you know (for films that have a great editing it's good to have optional subtitles but this was before dvd, so you have that constant tic-tac like a watch in front of your eyes, disturbing the movie behind, anyway)

My question is : since there is also a french-dubbed release of the same european original version (I have it too, the subtitled version came from tv and I bought the dubbed version in vhs), wouldnt it be possible to make a mix of both (f.ex. like these Star Wars fans who complained about the reeditings and so did themselves a remake of original versions), I mean take the sound of the subtitled version and the image of the dubbed version, and put them together (I dont know if its technically easy or not), so to have the original euro Othello, in english WITHOUT these annoying fixed subtitles ? I dont know how to do it myself so I'm just asking here, because it seems that they will simply never issue the original Othellos on dvd, so why wait for it.

By the way, I'm also searching for a copy of the second original version, the american one from laserdisc. Does anyone have it ?

Thanks a lot,
All the best,
Vincent

[A Sled in Flames]

Hello there, Vicvic. In response to your question, it would be relatively simple to make the English audio of the subtitled version match with the French version, surely much easier than those who "De-Specialize" Star Wars. Though your two Othellos are virtually the same version, they are probably different transfers, meaning slightly different timing so the audio won't sync perfectly with no editing.

You just need to "rip" the video of the French version onto your computer in a format which can be opened by editing software and in a quality high enough to determine what the characters are saying; you then "rip" the audio of the subtitled version. In some cheap video editing software, you can trim the audio where necessary in order to get it to sync, matching their mouths. You just then need to export the audio in an .ac3 format and then pair it up with a lossless version (an m2v video file) of your French version. Then you should have a DVD ready to burn. I have a feeling I'm making this whole thing sound more complicated than it is; there may be guides online that explain better.

There is one difference between the two versions: after Desdemona's death, there is a close-up of her dead in the French dubbed version. There is no corresponding shot in the subtitled version, presumably censored. You should handle this as you see fit. I don't believe there are other differences, but someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Alternatively, I believe there is a copy of the Othello European cut in English without subtitles floating around trade circles. If you're trying to get the American version of Othello (IMO, a superior edit), then you may as well try to get this one too and save yourself the trouble of syncing audio. Anyway, good luck, VicVic. It's a shame there's no official release, making this whole thing much easier.

[Vicvic]

Thanks. I'm not gonna do it myself and by the way I wouldn't want to mess with the non-syncing words, in my opinion the dreamlike aspect of Othello is very much connected with the so-called bad synchronicity of the words to the lips of the actors, like with the Fellini films.

[ ...Alternatively, I believe there is a copy of the Othello European cut in English without subtitles floating around trade circles.]

I'd like to find that. In which trade circle did you see it ? Does anyone owns a copy in this forum ?
And/or a copy of the american cut from LD ?
If so I'd be happy to buy or trade : I have f.ex. a 1h conference by Welles to the students of the french cinematheque, and maybe I could find other things.
You can write me here or at vic.p@bluemail.ch
Thanks
Best
Vincent