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BOYCOTT New Olive Films release of 'FACE TO FACE'

posted 13 years ago by chefjoseph
12 replies | jump to latest

This release (8/30/11) is disgraceful. It looks like a bad VHS TRANSFER FROM THE 80's and the sound is simply awful. This is an important film. You can't take a print in terrible condition (like this one obviously was) and just throw it out onto DVD with no digital picture or sound restoration. I was an Associate Producer and Film to Tape transfer supervisor for Criterion in the early 90s and the first thing I did was scour every possible place on the planet for the best print. If Olive Films is going to license important and long unavailable films like "Face to Face" effectively making them unavailable to Criterion or ANYONE ELSE, they should at least put in the care, time and effort that the film deserves. I have been waiting for F2F for many years and frankly, I wish I had not spent 29.00 on this DEPLORABLE release. NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!" Call OLIVE FILMS and tell them why you refuse to buy "Face to Face" 630-444-1757

[–] johnyzero_2000 13 years ago

What do you expect from Paramount that studio has total disregard for their prints and when VHS was going on they seem to select the worst print to have it put on video. So why should we be so surprised that the DVD are no better? Hell no special features of any kind!

[–] green2u 13 years ago

I saw this listed for $24.95 on Movies Unlimited's Web site (who claim they are reputable). However, they don't give the name of the distributor. Thanks for giving me a heads up as I fear it might be Olive Films. Like yourself, I have been waiting YEARS for this DVD--hopefully from Criterion Collection.

[–] Stirchley 12 years ago

^I actually watched this yesterday on my new DVD from Olive Films. Like the OP, I too have waited decades for this movie to be available. Why Criterion has never done this is beyond me.

I have to differ a little with the OP though. The very first few minutes of the movie I admit I was a little alarmed at the sound quality, but then it rectified itself completely and was fine for the duration of the movie.

Honestly, I thought the movie looked fine and, in parts, I was thoroughly enjoying Sven Nykvist's cinematography. Trust me, if I had hated the production values, it would have gone straight back to Amazon.com.

If this is going to be the only DVD produced of FtoF, then I recommend the Olive Films release. I do not think you will be disappointed.

[–] mulholland_empire 12 years ago

i dnt think this is going to be on criterion anytime soon. for now the olive dvd that came out is fine by me. maybe one day criterion will release this on bluray but its prob not going to be for a while.

[–] Aunt-Peg 12 years ago

The recent DVD release was taken from the best available print. It's important to remember that this was originally made for television, so it never going to look fantastic.

I'd rate the picture quality of the Olive video as 5/10. It's watchable and acceptable. There is a lot worse out there.

[–] Gus-69 12 years ago

Erm, The Magic Flute and Scenes from a Marriage were also made for TV and their DVDs do not have such a bad audio quality.

To be honest, video-wise, I did not think Olive's rendering of Face to Face was too bad. I've seen a lot worse.

----------------------
http://mulhollandcinelog.wordpress.com/

[–] dalldorfw 10 years ago

Hey, at least your copy has awful sound, the DVD I'm trying watch has no sound at all. I tried it on the DVD player and computer with the volume up full blast and I'm not hearing a thing. Not even a score.

[–] cyberbaboon 10 years ago

i have a download of face to face with far better sound quality so obviously materials were available. it's true that the sound is horrific on the olive films release, it just sits in my bergman collection more as a token than anything and i watch the download instead.
face to face so needed the criterion treatment, this is one of my favourite things by bergman. oh well.

[–] dalldorfw 10 years ago

I usually hate watching movies online (fan of physical media), but this is a rare exception. I ended up watching in on YouTube. TubeTube was better than the DVD! YouTube!

[–] eo_guy 10 years ago

What bothered me the most was the change in aspect ratio of the film to 1.78:1 from its original 1.66:1 (approx). It was especially evident in the assault scene early on in the film as Ullmann's head crossed the edge of the frame and looked wrong, considering the skill of the cinematographer involved.

- David

Breaking Down Bergman
http://www.youtube.com/breakingdownfilms

[–] DVDExotica 10 years ago

Seeing as how this is the only available version, I bought it.
Please, give us an alternative.

[–] jrhpax 9 years ago

I borrowed this DVD from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. It's the worst excuse for a DVD I've ever encountered.

I didn't like the film much, either (although I'm a big Bergman fan in general). So the experience was a total bummer.