Blu-ray to be released Dec 2013

[dave jenkins]

As everybody on this board knows, there are two different English-language versions of the  Juan-against-the-wall scene. That's the scene where Mallory rescues him from the firing squad by blowing up the wall and then swooping in to pick him up on his motorcycle. Just before blowing the wall Mallory gives Juan a heads up, by first whistling his theme, and then speaking a warning. In one version the warning is "Short fuse" but in others it is "Duck, you sucker."

Years ago when I had the MGM laserdisc I had audio that provided the "Short fuse" warning. On subsequent home video versions I think we've been getting the "Duck, you sucker" comment.  I just checked, and that is what's on the audio of both the MGM blu and the Kino blu. The new UK import from Masters of Cinema, with the original English mono, has "short fuse."

Interestingly, the disc with the Italian language version also uses "short fuse"  (or words to that effect . . .  something something cord.) Is there any alternative Italian language versions? If not, I'm going to assume SL wanted "short fuse" and that the use of "Duck, you sucker" was a later John Kirk substitution.

[dave jenkins]

Watched the supplements last night. Props are due Mike Siegel, whose copies of production prints were used in 3 featurettes, with an additional segment dedicated to the posters and lobby cards in his collection. The images are truly beautiful, a real treat to view. Thanks so much, Mike!

[mike siegel]

Thanks Dave! Originally I had planned to produce these 4 featurettes for the US KINO Blu-ray (I had produced similar featurettes for all three KINO Dollar Blu-ray's), but they forgot to tell me about a release date so it was too late... I'm glad they saw the light of day now anyway, thanks to EUREKA!

[noodles_leone]

As everybody on this board knows, there are two different English-language versions of the  Juan-against-the-wall scene. That's the scene where Mallory rescues him from the firing squad by blowing up the wall and then swooping in to pick him up on his motorcycle. Just before blowing the wall Mallory gives Juan a heads up, by first whistling his theme, and then speaking a warning. In one version the warning is "Short fuse" but in others it is "Duck, you sucker."

Years ago when I had the MGM laserdisc I had audio that provided the "Short fuse" warning. On subsequent home video versions I think we've been getting the "Duck, you sucker" comment.  I just checked, and that is what's on the audio of both the MGM blu and the Kino blu. The new UK import from Masters of Cinema, with the original English mono, has "short fuse."

Interestingly, the disc with the Italian language version also uses "short fuse"  (or words to that effect . . .  something something cord.) Is there any alternative Italian language versions? If not, I'm going to assume SL wanted "short fuse" and that the use of "Duck, you sucker" was a later John Kirk substitution.

For the record, the French version, supervised by Leone, says "short fuse" (m?che courte). But I don't think it tells us anything, as "DYS" wouldn't make any sense in French.

[Novecento]

It's hardly idiomatic in English either.

[noodles_leone]

Yeah but it isn't even the title in the French version.

[Novecento]

I know, the French title is definitely the best. And was, at least, what Leone wanted (whether it was original intent or not, as we've discussed elsewhere)

Surely, however, there is a somewhat idiomatic way to say "keep your head down" in French? I suppose "baisse la t?te" would mean more like "hang the head low" though?

[noodles_leone]

Baisse la t?te would work great in a literal way (it is actual french) and would also (somewhat) work in metaphorical way, but it doesn't sound great.

"Baisse la t?te, ducon/cr?tin/connard" would sound a bit better but I wouldn't know how to direct an actor to say it and make it sound good. It's probably doable with talented voice actors though.

[dave jenkins]

Apparently, KL is bringing this out on 4KUHD. Not sure when.

[uncknown]

Three years without a comment!

 Guess this film has fallen from favor.
Even I don't love it as much as I used to- except for the music.

[cigar joe]

Three years without a comment!

Guess this film has fallen from favor.
Even I don't love it as much as I used to- except for the music.

It way better than most of what they are making nowadays, lol.

[uncknown]

It's a unique film for sure.
I guess the pacing issues seem more obvious to me in my maturity.
Also, I didn't get that Leone was satirising the leftist filmmakers of the era. Now, this element detracts from the film a bit.
The last part of the film,  from the arrival in Mesa Verde,  is Leone at his peak!

[stanton]

Hmm, but the directing of the train assault is mediocre. No match for the brilliant mass shoot-outs in Corbucci's The Mercenary and Companeros.

And The Mercenary too can be viewed as a parodic comment on political westerns (and films)

[noodles_leone]

That shouldn?t distract you from the fact this is one the most powerful movies ever made, though.

[stanton]

It is one of the reasons that DYS is not a powerful film. There are others.