I’d assume a review for these versions would be on dvdbeaver.com or any other DVD review site.
The Amazon link you posted is now over $130. The link below is more reasonably priced for a new copy. Based on the cover art it is probably the same version.
http://www.amazon.com/Chimes-At-Midnight-Orson-Welles/dp/B000NELAK2/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1284749760&sr=1-2
My copy has Spanish subtitles but the cover art is the same so I suspect it is the same as the Portuguese version. I got mine from Spain through Amazon (US).
The transfer is very good but I doubt it is a true restoration. There is some minor dirt and scratches and there is a bit of gate weave (film frame bobs up & down slightly) throughout. Stuff that is easily fixed in a restoration. None of this is detracts from the experience. IMO. This is hands down my favorite Welles film and my favorite Shakespeare adaptation.
The audio is very good also. Sync is o.k. but not perfect; but it never is on a Welles film shot in Europe. Dialog was always replaced in post, as was the custom in Europe.
This won’t play on most US set-top DVD players, but this is not a problem if you don’t mind watching on a computer. I’ve even ripped an iPod/iPhone version which looks and sounds fantastic for an indy film of this era.
I actually picked up this copy not too long ago—http://www.amazon.com/Chimes-At-Midnight-Orson-Welles/dp/B0012BUT70/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1284765108&sr=8-1.
I suspect that it’s probably the same version that you have, just without the Spanish subtitles. From the way you describe the transfer quality, it sounds about the same. The copy I got is a DVD-R, but that’s not an issue for me.
Thanks for the heads-up on your copy.
I got that Nostalgia Family DVD..it’s pretty good quality. The sound on that film is famously off so it’s hard to tell. Nevertheless, it’s as good a version as we’re likely to get for now….imo
My Favorite Version!
It’s playing at the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville, New York a week from this coming Monday. Looking forward to seeing it.
I just recently found out that this film has been canceled at the Jacob Burns Film Center on Monday the 27th due to rights issues. I believe one of Orson Welles’ daughters was supposed to come.
Does anyone know about this R2 release that is supposed to come out Feb. 28th? It’s through Cornerstone Media so I have no clue to as how the dvd will be.
LowProfile
Has anyone here seen any copies of Orson Welles’ “Chimes at Midnight” on DVD that were decent in quality? I’ve seen a couple of different versions on DVD, and I’m wondering if anyone has seen both or can comment on the quality of either one.
The first is distributed by Nostalgia Family Video, and is available here: http://www.nostalgiafamilyvideo.com/browse2.asp?prodID=5742&Cat=25
The second is an import (apparently from Brazil) that will play on R1 players. It’s amazon.com listing is here: http://www.amazon.com/Chimes-At-Midnight-Falstaff-Regions/dp/B0007X6KM2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1279340255&sr=8-2
Has anyone seen either both or one of these? What’s the quality like? I’d like to purchase a copy of this film, but I don’t want to get burned by a lousy public domain copy.