obviously not since it has now gone out of print :(
What the hell? When did they lose the rights to this? Why are they losing the rights to such great films?
Glad I snatched up the standard release a year ago. Anyway Criterion might get the rights back to this one since it’s a Studio Canal title, but I don’t know, they might not. Best to grab a copy of Le Mepris before the retailers stop having copies.
I have a copy too but this makes me worry they will continue to lose great titles.
perhaps its out of print simply because its going to be re-issued alongside a potential blu-ray?
Shit! This was my most anticipated bluray release by Criterion! I can’t believe it’s OOP. First “Ran”, now this? I’m truly sad now
Ah, just saw the standard version yesterday. What a film! I would so love to see a Blu-ray release. Should be gorgeous, especially in Capri.
There’s one on its way, not criterion though.
http://www.optimumreleasing.com/dvd.php?id=1162
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mepris-Blu-ray-Brigitte-Bardot/dp/B002BC9YYS
Looks like Contempt is a part of this Studio Canal BS with Lions Gate. Lions Gate is releasing a Blu-ray of Contempt this month.
Rumor has it that this lion’s gate bluray of it has no English subtitles. Anybody know if that’s true?
http://www.studiocanal-collection.com/titles/5
lists English as a subtitle
Contempt and Ran both come to bluray via Lionsgate on the 16th of feb.
Sadly nothing close to a criterion treatment it appears, overseas they are already complaining.
I’m watching the Lionsgate Blu-ray right now, and switching back and forth to the Criterion DVD to figure out the changes. There are english subtitles, but they have been changed from the Criterion subtitles. At some points the subtitles seem less edgy, contain more slang, while at others, the Lionsgate Blu-ray actually has subtitles at parts where the Criterion DVD doesn’t even translate the french (specifically, the scene where we first meet Jack Palance’s character, it actually creates a totally different mood). The image quality is not leaps and bounds better than the Criterion DVD, so if you can hold out, I would suggest renting this before making the purchase. I’m working on my review for criterioncast.com.
Ryan,
If I wished to buy just one copy of Contempt (and I was uninterested in film analysis, actors’ profiles, etc.), would you recommend that I buy: the Lionsgate bluray, or the Criterion? I’ve seen the Criterion version, and I can’t imagine that I might prefer a different “mood,” but, who knows, maybe the added dialogue provides a deeper (and more accurate) insight into Godard’s intentions. And what about video quality alone, does the bluray provide a better video than the very good Criterion? Thanks, Steve Perlowski
I’ve been singing the praises of blu-ray whenever I get the chance. This new release of Contempt has gotten mixed reviews to put it mildly. Read this review and also read some of this writer’s other reviews for perspective. He seems to know what he’s talking about.
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1501/contempt.html
According to this reviewer, the Lionsgate blu-ray is a POS. Rent it first.
Strawdawg,
Thanks for the tip. I should get my blu-ray copy from Netflix by the weekend. I’ll let you know what I think.
It’s a shame Lions Gate released a subpar blu ray when we all know Criterion would have outdone them by far.
The Bluray disc is not half as bad as the HiDef Digest review would suggest, IMO. The colours are beautiful and natural, but sharpness varies from scene to scene, which I suspect is just the state of the original film (I haven’t had a DVD of this movie to compare to – but then, neither did the HiDef Digest reviewer).
Some of the outdoor scenes in Contempt are razor sharp with lovely colour. The audio is not outstanding but it never will be – remember this is a movie that is over 40 years old.
Sure, perhaps Criterion could have done a better job. We’ll never know. The Studio Canal release is pretty good, with very little in the way of dirt or specks.
I would say if you like the movie in particular or Godard in general, you should get this disc.
The extras, though brief, are pretty good too. I thought the interviews with Fritz Lang were stunning.
I just hope they don’t cut corners on Mulholland Drive. It’s not like that one is going to get a second chance anytime soon.
I watched the Lionsgate blu-ray version of Contempt last night, and would confirm what Bugsy had to say a few days ago. The video quality is superior to the Criterion version, although there are a couple of very brief (meaning only seconds long) night shots which have a lot of texture to them. There are also a few spots where the dialogue appears to have been recorded in a huge hall, but I’m inclined to believe that the acoustics in the rooms in which the audio was actually recorded are to blame here. For me, it actually adds to the mood of the film. I expect that I’ll end up buying the cheaper Lionsgate blu-ray, instead of the Criterion release.
I agree with Bugsy and Perlo, the StudioCanal isn’t too bad and nowhere as bad as that dick from HiDef Digest would have us believe. I watched it last night and I thought that the picture, especially the colours, were wonderful at times.
I must say though it’s “only” at the level of a very good standard DVD (although the grain is pleasingly denser on the hi-def format). Could Criterion have done a better job with a Blu- release? Yes, I’ve no doubt about it, but this is a great buy nonetheless. Some nice extras too although I’d have liked a commentary. That’s the only thing better about Criterion’s old DVD in my opinion.
It’s nice to know that the OOP titles going to StudioCanal/Lionsgate may be decent releases. At least the titles aren’t really going OOP for us N. American fans. I feel stupid for spending so much money to get many of these titles Criterion is losing when they’ll be available on Blu- via Canal soon, but I’m glad to give Criterion my vote so to speak.
By and by, are others having any luck with the BDLive content on this StudioCanal Blu-ray? It says it’s “not activated” when I try to access the feature.
Peace.
double
Having just seen this tonight (the Lionsgate BD) I found myself wondering if Criterion’s release would of been better. I found the transfer slightly lazy (as in it was directly taken from one source rather from several) There is a wide gap of quality from scene to scene shot to shot and sometimes the change is distracting.
But for my first viewing, it was a fantastic treat! What a film, i found it to be riskier and bolder than the other Godard I have seen.
Comparing it to Criterion’s DVD of film from that Era. I found the 8 1/2 standard DVD to be much cleaner and overall better picture.
Not a fair comparison by any means, I hope a few more people weigh in. Being able to do side by side comparisons.
Has CRITERION fully lost the lisence on this? If so those 2 editions may be all we have to go on for a while?
(SIDE NOTE. WHAT IS THE MUSIC PLAYING IN THE LIONSGATE BD. IT"S NOT FROM THE FILM!?)
You can still buy the criterion DVD on Amazon
Greg Gasiorowski
Is this one still pending?