Bertolucci's 1900 (Novecento)

[Dust Devil]

By the way, does anyone else think that the International title "1900" is more than a bit misleading? I think Bertolucci said something of this nature.

For a movie that aimed on international audience the original title itself was a strange choice, IMO, furthermore making the international sound extremely maladjusted and bogus. The correct translation is ''The 1900s'', or something among those lines.

[titoli]

Oh yeh, guess it must have been that one. Il Gattopardo was made long before then in 1963.

Is it a good movie Titoli? I really enjoyed Il Gattopardo.

I'm not the best person to talk about Visconti, whose only movie I like is Bellissima. I can't say this is ugly but I can't say is a masterpiece. Probably there are Visconti's movies much worse like Lo straniero (which ought to be as boring as the novel: I systematically missed it) and Rocco, which i detest.

[Novecento]

Because he esteems him as an actor so much, obviously.

But what does that have to do with him being Canadian?

By the way, it just occurred to me that it seems ironic that the savior of America in the TV show 24 is played by his son Kiefer Sutherland who is a British-born Canadian. Of course it's all fantasy so doesn't really matter but it seems kind of like James Bond being played by a non-British actor.

[Novecento]

I'm not the best person to talk about Visconti, whose only movie I like is Bellissima. I can't say this is ugly but I can't say is a masterpiece. Probably there are Visconti's movies much worse like Lo straniero (which ought to be as boring as the novel: I systematically missed it) and Rocco, which i detest.

So you didn't even like Il Gattopardo then?

For a movie that aimed on international audience the original title itself was a strange choice, IMO, furthermore making the international sound extremely maladjusted and bogus. The correct translation is ''The 1900s'', or something among those lines.

Speaking of which, isn't the Italian for leopard "leopardo" rather than "gattopardo"?

[titoli]

So you didn't even like Il Gattopardo then?

Not particularly. I liked the novel much better.

Speaking of which, isn't the Italian for leopard "leopardo" rather than "gattopardo"?

Yeah, but that leaves you with a gattopardo in excess. 

[dave jenkins]

But what does that have to do with him being Canadian?

By the way, it just occurred to me that it seems ironic that the savior of America in the TV show 24 is played by his son Kiefer Sutherland who is a British-born Canadian. Of course it's all fantasy so doesn't really matter but it seems kind of like James Bond being played by a non-British actor.

Don't let the Canadian-American thing wrap you around the axle. The distinction is moot for practical purposes. Neil Young and William Shatner are two of the most prominent Canadian Americans there are, and both countries are proud to claim them.

[Dust Devil]

Don't let the Canadian-American thing wrap you around the axle. The distinction is moot for practical purposes. Neil Young and William Shatner are two of the most prominent Canadian Americans there are, and both countries are proud to claim them.

  Post of the week.

[Novecento]

Well, suffice to say Bertolucci employed North-American actors for the three main landlord/Fascist roles (Robert De Niro, Burt Lancaster, Donald Sutherland) and wanted a Russian, or possibly Russians although he only talks about Olmo, for the main Peasant/Communist role(s). Instead he used Europeans for the three main Peasant/Communist roles: Gerard Depardieu and Dominique Sanda (French); Werner Bruhns (German).

Consequently, Bertolucci's desired political statement was lost on Jenkins, myself and quite possibly everyone who watched the film. I only found out about the idea from listening to an interview on the US DVD with Bertolucci who himself seems to note how the statement no longer really meant anything. As for Donald Sutherland, whether Bertolucci knew or not, it is more than likely he would not have cared anyway. In any case, Bertolucci only actually commented on his desire for a contrast between Alfredo (De Niro) and Olmo (Depardieu) and simply talked about the other actors in terms of them being the most appropriate people he could find for the roles.

[T.H.]

What did Bertolucci say? You can't tease us like that, geeze.

[Novecento]

You mean you want me to transcribe that section of the interview word for word?

Maybe I'll fish out the DVD and do it sometime when I'm really really bored which isn't very often. You could just watch it yourself you know.

[T.H.]

just a brief summary from what you remember.

[Noodles_SlowStir]

Well, suffice to say Bertolucci employed North-American actors for the three main landlord/Fascist roles (Robert De Niro, Burt Lancaster, Donald Sutherland) and wanted a Russian, or possibly Russians although he only talks about Olmo, for the main Peasant/Communist role(s). Instead he used Europeans for the three main Peasant/Communist roles: Gerard Depardieu and Dominique Sanda (French); Werner Bruhns (German).

I think you're right.  I remember a little bit the discussion in the video interview on the disc.  I'll have to watch it again.  I also remember reading this idea in print more than once in interviews.  Just to add another thought.  I think Bertolucci gets away from this casting idea in a big way with the casting of Sterling Hayden as Leo Dalco (whether he felt he was the best actor for the part or whatever his decision).  I think his role is an important one since he's often contrasted to the padrone in the first half of the film.  He's basically the patriarch of the Dalco clan and really of all the peasants on the estate.  I think it turned out to be a great decision.  I always thought that Hayden was terrific in the film.  He definitely holds his own in the scenes with Lancaster. 

I realize you were kind of comparing three roles from both categories.  In addition to Leo Dalco, the Anita character played by Stefania Sandrelli is important despite her screen time.  She does fit in with the original casting approach. 

[Novecento]

Just to add another thought.  I think Bertolucci gets away from this casting idea in a big way with the casting of Sterling Hayden as Leo Dalco (whether he felt he was the best actor for the part or whatever his decision).  I think his role is an important one since he's often contrasted to the padrone in the first half of the film. 

Good point! And yes he does hold his own very well indeed.

I realize you were kind of comparing three roles from both categories. 

Yes and I stress that was me doing that. Bertolucci only explicitly mentions Alfredo and Olmo in this contrast.

[Novecento]

It's tough to choose a language when watching this. I always favor actors' own voices as much as possible so tend to go with whatever the main leads are speaking.

However, in spite of all the main actors providing their own English dubbing, I actually prefer the Italian audio for this one.

[drinkanddestroy]

I wanna buy this movie; I looked up on Amazon; there are many dvd/br options http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=1900


I noticed that the various options list at least 3 different aspect ratios for the movie (1.66:1, 1.78:1, and 1.85:1) I want to buy the disc with the correct aspect ratio.

Imdb (which of course is not very trustworthy) says the movie's correct aspect ratio is 1.66:1 (I know that is a common aspect ratio for Europeans movies; was it released in America in that aspect ratio as well)?

According to Amazon (whose technical specs can't necessarily be trusted either), the blu ray is 1.78:1; the 3-disc dvd's aspect ratio is 1.85:1, while the 2-disc dvd's aspect ratio is 1.66:1. However, according to DVD Beaver http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdreviews15/1900.htm the 2-disc version's aspect ratio is 1.85:1. (I despise Beaver but I occasionally use his site only to confirm a disc's technical specs and a list of bonus features. For anything else, he is useless).

So I am wondering if anyone knows about this stuff, and can help me choose the best Region 1/A version of this movie, and the one with the correct aspect ratio?

(I know that sometimes, Italian dvd/br's are listed as being Region 2/B, but are actually region-free. If you believe that the Italian disc is best and can assure me that it would play on my American blu ray player, then feel free to recommend that. But unless you are sure that the Italian disc is region-free, I am only looking for the best option among the American discs).

Thanks!

p.s. I'm sorry if this issue has been discussed earlier in this thread; I specifically did not read any previous posts because I have not yet seen the movie and I didn't want to read any plot spoilers.