'West' blu ray May 31

[dave jenkins]

The discussion, which is interesting, continues: http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=340751#p340751

[Walton]

I'm looking forward to hearing from any forum members who buy the blu ray. I'm all the way down in Australia so it'll take a long time for it to hit our shores. I might have to order it from Amazon...

[The Peacemaker]

Having seen the Scorsese restoration in Manhattan four years ago, I can say from experience that the new cut version does not feature all of the missing shots from the Italian cut. It did contain all the additional footage in the first scene and I think a few shots of the extras in the cheyenne/harmonica encounter scene, that's it. I personally think the reason for many of the shots not included in the restoration is because of the audio. If the shots were left out even for original American distribution, I doubt any English audio was recorded. Most of the shots are on average 10 to 15 seconds long so most of them do not feature dialogue, but a for the extended shot of Jill's entrance, there are numerous passengers speaking as the camera dollies, obviously in Italian. Also, I noticed the music ("Bad Orchestra") begins and ends at different intervals in the Italian version, as well as a few other scenes where additional footage remains. So I'm assuming this is probably the reason for much of the shots being left out, however it's anyone's guess.

I pre-ordered the blu-ray, so I should be receiving it sometime later this week. As soon as I view the movie, I will confirm if they add even more footage to the Scorsese restoration, but I highly doubt it.

[dave jenkins]

Blu-ray in da house!

[Lil Brutto]

I'm about to head out and purchase my copy! 

[stanton]

Having seen the Scorsese restoration in Manhattan four years ago, I can say from experience that the new cut version does not feature all of the missing shots from the Italian cut. It did contain all the additional footage in the first scene and I think a few shots of the extras in the cheyenne/harmonica encounter scene, that's it. I personally think the reason for many of the shots not included in the restoration is because of the audio. If the shots were left out even for original American distribution, I doubt any English audio was recorded. Most of the shots are on average 10 to 15 seconds long so most of them do not feature dialogue, but a for the extended shot of Jill's entrance, there are numerous passengers speaking as the camera dollies, obviously in Italian. Also, I noticed the music ("Bad Orchestra") begins and ends at different intervals in the Italian version, as well as a few other scenes where additional footage remains. So I'm assuming this is probably the reason for much of the shots being left out, however it's anyone's guess.

To make this again clear, as there still seems to be some confusion.
This long 177 min version which was released on Italian DVDs is not the Italian version which was released theatrically in 1968. The original Italian version is most likely the same 165 min version that was released in most of the other countries (if there weren't made further cuts like in the English version).

This 177 min version appeared in the mid 90s and was a restoration done by a guy called Claver Sallizato.  This restoration was probably done from a private copy from Leone (but I'm not sure of the actual origin of this version), but it is not necessarily the DC, but more likely only an alternative cut.

As far as I know Scorsese wanted to restore the original theatrical cut, which only differs slightly from the English version featured on the Paramount DVD.

[Novecento]

This 177 min version appeared in the mid 90s and was a restoration done by a guy called Claver Sallizato.

I didn't know the name behind this 177min version. Who is this guy?

Blu-ray in da house!

.

Oh yeh!

[stanton]

I didn't know the name behind this 177min version. Who is this guy?
.

I have no clue, as I have no clue where he got this version from. Ask Titoli ...

Here's btw again the link with all the differences presented very detailed and with screenshots between this alternative  long version and the English version on the Paramount disc. But now in English:

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4208

[dave jenkins]

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) - 11/10. First Blu-ray viewing; first viewing of the Scorsese cut. It turns out that if you blink several times in the first 13 minutes, you miss all the added footage. Still a great film, though. And the disc's image looks very, very good.

[drinkanddestroy]

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) - 11/10. First Blu-ray viewing; first viewing of the Scorsese cut. It turns out that if you blink several times in the first 13 minutes, you miss all the added footage. Still a great film, though. And the disc's image looks very, very good.

1. how many minutes is the blu-ray?
2. is there anything significant here that is not in the regular 165-minute dvd, or is it all basically minor stuff I wouldn't even notice if I wasn't paying close attention lookin for it?

[Dust Devil]

It turns out that if you blink several times in the first 13 minutes, you miss all the added footage.

Obviously, you didn't watch the end credits very carefully.

[Walton]

Dave - how did the blu ray image look compared to the dvd?

[Leonardo]

It seems we are getting the 166min Scorcese restoration along with the 165min one  .

Can't help thinking about an old Leone interview in Diego Gabutti's "C'era una volta in America" (page 37) , when he talks about OUTITW: "People very often ask me whether  my personal print of the movie contains  scenes which had not been added in the final theatrical release" he said grinning "You see? It's like everybody wants me to add a little piece to it..!"
But I think the definite answer about missing scenes in OUTITW is in Franco Ferrini's  book "L'antiwestern e il caso Leone" published in 1971. There is a part of an interview with Leone dedicated to cuts and missing scenes of all his westerns, and concerning OUTITW Leone says (page 42): "The scene with the laundry owner's wife and the sheriff is missing, another one in the barbershop, which was particularly funny" The interviewer then asks about the massacre scene (Morton's train) and Leone says: "No, that one I left out on purpose, it was more important to show the result rather than how it happened".
On page 43 Ferrini writes: "It should be kept in mind that Leone's personal print is slightly longer than the theatrical release. It has two scenes which were not added. The first one showing Harmonica rising after being wounded at the train station. This scene was not in the original script and we publish now the description based on Leone's personal print. The second one is about Brett McBains hunting scene with his son Timmy; it's much longer and detailed compaired to the commercial release.
As Ferrini had access to Leone's personal copy of the movie, I guess it is reliable.
Incidentally, the book contains the original full script for DYS, as well as the script of the missing footage of OUTITW.

[dave jenkins]

Obviously, you didn't watch the end credits very carefully.

True, what did I miss? I just watched long enough to make sure that Cheyenne's theme returns (which it does).

[dave jenkins]

2. is there anything significant here that is not in the regular 165-minute dvd, or is it all basically minor stuff I wouldn't even notice if I wasn't paying close attention lookin for it?

I'd say "basically minor stuff I wouldn't even notice if I wasn't paying close attention lookin for it."

That said, it's not like you have to choose between buying one version or the other, they come together on the same disc.