Thanks for the details, Oksana. This is probably what we had in the library. The prof's copy (which I haven't viewed) would be even better since it would be French standard (SECAM). It's also kind of reassuring to know that, while this is a rare item, there are a few copies around.
Judy From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Oksana Dykyj Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 10:25 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] L'Inhumaine The Bois D'arcy archival restoration dates from 1986. The VHS has excellent visuals and sound (for a VHS). The NTSC copy I have came from a PD distributor. The film is indeed very long but then again how often do we get a chance to see an ensemble production such as this: Paul Poiret did the costume design, Robert Mallet-Stevens did the architectural design, PIerre Chareau was responsible for some of the furniture, Rene Lalique for some of the objects, Fernand Leger designed the sets for the laboratory sequences. Claude Autant-Lara and Alberto Cavalcanti also contributed various design elements. It's a veritable who's who of design in the gestating pre-art deco period right before the 1925 Paris exposition. The film is rather significant historically for this purpose rather than for its narrative. The credits on the restoration indicate that Darius Milhaud did the score for the film in 1925 but that it was subsequently lost and the Bois D'Arcy restoration credits its original musical score to Jean Christophe Desnoux. The producer of the 1986 restoration is La Boite a images, and director Jean Dreville was responsible for the tinting and toning in the restoration. I love this movie: it has a dining room where the eating area is on a kind of moat surrounded by a pool and Jaque Catelain tools around in a beautiful Bugatti. Art Deco heaven to be sure. Oksana At 08:45 AM 23/08/2011, you wrote: Another side note, even if the VHS was produced prior to GATT (1998) taking effect, the score would almost surely be under copyright. You would be surprised how many pirates of films that might be PD then use copyrighted scores. Many years ago Kino was a decent settlement with a company that literally ripped of the Kino version of STEAMBOAT BILL JR which is indeed a PD title. Perhaps the funniest one was a major chain that bought a ripped off version of QUEEN KELLY. The even left the KINO LOGO on the DVD (while putting in a crappy box). On Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 7:10 AM, Shoaf,Judith P <jsh...@ufl.edu<mailto:jsh...@ufl.edu>> wrote: I have thought about the ins and outs of treating the item as public domain though I didn't think of section 108 because I'm just a language lab, not a library. The first 1/2 hour is in fact available online; last night I watched about 15 minutes of it and found that viewing it in a small window helps with the "torn and dirty pages" quality Jessica mentions; also, it has a terrific performance of the score (by Milhaud) which I presume dates from a postwar recording/performance (i.e. not PD) and really helps to juice up the strange rhythms of the film. I am not sure I could make a better digital copy from the tape, and NTSC VHS from SECAM VHS is not likely to be much good either. Apparently there was an NTSC copy in the media library, and I think that probably means it was released in the US at some point. Apparently a prof who has left UF took it with her and it is now on its way back. I will look to see whether it's a US release with English subs. The professor's 80's SECAM copy is probably the best option--I assume it is based on the restoration/orchestral performance used to make the online video, but it would be better visual quality. I think that the professor is likely to agree with Jessica about the film being boring--she told me she has never watched the whole thing but wanted to use it for the class because of the subject matter (Paris fashion in the movies). My impression is that the reason the online project only presents the first half hour (about 1/5 of the whole film, I gather) is that this is the bit that has the moderne costumes, sets, and special effects which make the film "important." (The other interesting thing is the sci-fi/horror themes!) Jessica, you mentioned a recent restoration, but nobody has said anything about a DVD release. Does anyone know if it has been picked up for release? Has anyone seen the restoration--it would be interesting to know how well it "reads" in terms of the visuals...? Judy VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors. -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) jessicapros...@gmail.com<mailto:jessicapros...@gmail.com> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
