The Bird with the Crystal Plumage – The Archive Conversation

[Daemonia]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

But anyway, we're getting off point - my point is this. If it was actually confirmed that the BU colours were wrong, could you envisage BU doing a replacement program like Arrow did for the Beyond. Reflect on that.

When BU initially released their Blind Dead set, there was an audio glitch on the second disc, it's like a loud 'pop'. BU offered replacements to all customers with a corrected disc. So, yes, I can envisage BU being every bit as helpful as Arrow.

[bgart13]

Not only did BU do that in the time it was released, but a couple years ago when I finally got the set I realized it was the first run with the glitches. I contacted them and was surprisingly told that, while the replacement program had been over already, they still had a few copies around and proceeded to send them to me. That's classy, IMO.

[the blob]

BU did one for the Christopher Lee set too, i think it was. Can't remember what the issue was now though. They even labelled it as 'non-pornograpic' or something on the envelope. Must've been worried about the 'Blue' and UK customs.

[Der Spieler]

Originally Posted by Djangooo

Knowing how the Italian popular film industry worked (actors not being paid when they were told they would, calling certain films sequels when they weren't etc) this doesn't surprise me at all.

That's kind of apples and oranges. I'm sorry but I doubt very much that Arrow didn't know at all what they were buying. They must have at least known that the master they were supplied was cropped, since they admit to having chased the BU master.

They just thought it was better than nothing and that they would advertise it the best way they could, hence the "presented in Director of Photography, Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio".

[Almar@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Der Spieler

That's kind of apples and oranges. I'm sorry but I doubt very much that Arrow didn't know at all what they were buying. They must have at least known that the master they were supplied was cropped, since they admit to having chased the BU master.

They just thought it was better than nothing and that they would advertise it the best way they could, hence the "presented in Director of Photography, Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio".

It's a case of a matter of course that Fran at Arrow checks out every option for each release before then deciding on the best possible version that is available - the point being some masters simply aren't for a variety of reasons.

I can only repeat to people that you don't generally get to see what materials are available and I know plenty of clients with rights and no materials at all - I know that sounds bonkers and that's because it is. Those aspects of the business are well beyond the control of what we can do here.

[Der Spieler]

Fair enough. I don't mean to put you down but you have to understand that certain shots clearly indicate that the movie was intented to be presented in 2:35.



The film was shot in 2-perf 35mm. The native AR on the negative would have been 2.35:1 or so. The 2:1 reframind proposed by Storaro is inacceptable.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Interesting post there, Dei Spieler. If that is indeed a shot composed by Storaro, could you enlighten us as to how he framed the entire film?

[Der Spieler]

I'm not quite sure I understand your question.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

I'm just wondering how you became such an expert on aspect ratios when the image you have put up to illustrate the difference between 2.35:1 and Storaro's work when the image itself isn't even 2.35:1!

Sorry for being picky 'n all!

[trench]

A link to the DVDBeaver review that contains the above screenshot posted by Der Spieler : The Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu-ray -Dario Argento