NitrateVille.com

Ohboyohboyohboy -- I hope this isn't a duplicate topic, but I did a search and nothing turned up that looks like it...

Having just pre-ordered Chicago from Flicker Alley thanks to the thread about that, I happened to check the Amazon link for that too, and was led to a link about an upcoming Region 1 3-disc Fantomas set being released Kino in August. I've been kinda busy, but I didn't know a thing about this until just now, and I'm just thrilled to la mort.

I've had terrible problems with Disc 1 of the R2 Artificial Eye set, (never any problems with Disc 2), such that I now have three copies of that set and only one of them works adequately -- sooo frustrating.

Anyway, the listing's up on Amazon, but I don't see anything about this release on Kino's website, even using the search, and my google-fu's failing me here, too. Anyone got more info? Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Fant%C3%83%C2%83% ... MLMLKZ8JA6

No specs have been released, so it is unknown as of yet if it is a more recent restoration of the film.

As for the Artificial Eye set, I have it, and it's wonderful(inexpensive too!). No technical problems for me. Sorry to hear about the issues on your end.

Thanks for that. I'da thought this would have been more of a big deal 'round here, but mebbe it just hasn't sunk in yet. Seems like kind of an important release.

Seems kind of pricey too, in any case, given the relatively low cost of the AEye set (I guess I own the only two defective copies of Disc 1 of that). I'm guessing it's being sourced from Gaumont's own materials?

I think it's a bit underwhelming given how long the Artificial Eye set has been out. So unless it's a new restoration it strikes me as redundant, why not put out Tih Minh or Barabbas instead.

Not redundant at all; a lot of fans in the U.S. aren't region-free, ya know. I'm region-free, but haven't yet picked up this title, so I'll be going for the Kino.

I understand that some folks aren't region free (if you aren't it is something you should seriously consider), but the AE Fantomas has been out over 4 years and for the price difference between the AE and the Kino you could by a region free player.

I've been considering the Artificial Eye editions of both FANTÔMAS and LES VAMPIRES, and the fact that they retain the French intertitles in their releases is a big plus in their favor (at least for me). Kino tends to release their foreign silents with English intertitles. I wonder if this will also be the case with this upcoming FANTÔMAS edition?

I don't see that changing. I think all of their foreign silents have English intertitles.

I heartily recommend both the AE sets, they make a nice team with the Flicker Alley Judex!

myrnaloyisdope wrote:I understand that some folks aren't region free (if you aren't it is something you should seriously consider), but the AE Fantomas has been out over 4 years and for the price difference between the AE and the Kino you could by a region free player.

It's probably old hat to most people here, but it is always worth checking out if you can make your DVD-player region free. For quite a few models that can be done with a simple sequence of commands on the remote. To see if your players can be converted just google the exact name of your player and the words code free hack or region free hack. I find it works best on cheaper and no name models.

It would rock/swing/jump my world if the Feuillade Fantomas serial came out here! I've wanted to get it for a while but the French Gaumont DVD release is prohibitively high.

I love Feuillade but realized during the MOMA show three years ago that a lot of his best bits are when he has written himself into a corner and has to write himself out. Then he simply pulls something out and everyone behaves as if it is perfectly normal. Iused to think it was French, but it's not.

Bob

davidgasten wrote:It would rock/swing/jump my world if the Feuillade Fantomas serial came out here! I've wanted to get it for a while but the French Gaumont DVD release is prohibitively high.

Hm, it seems like a bargain to me...

~Roger

OK, "Was". The last I checked it was only available as a French import and ran like €45 or something like that, and it didn't even have English subtitles. That's prohibitive for my budget. £11.99 is definitely a lot better; thanks for alerting me to this!

myrnaloyisdope wrote:I think it's a bit underwhelming given how long the Artificial Eye set has been out. So unless it's a new restoration it strikes me as redundant, why not put out Tih Minh or Barabbas instead.

I would kill for BARABBAS. Saw it at Pordenone in 2000 and was spellbound throughout as I seldom have been.

Mike S.

But you have to agree, FANTOMAS and LES VAMPIRES were also great at Pordenone in 2000.

Classic Flix now has artwork and details available.

-Harold

Harold Aherne wrote:Classic Flix now has artwork and details available.

-Harold

I love the mock-vintage pulp aesthetic. Excellent cover.

Oh, nice artwork, yeah! Nice period lettering, and the dagger has been restored to Fantomas's hand -- I never could figure out who took it out or why in the case of the AEye packaging.

Another mystery is -- how is it that it's still up for pre-order at Amazon at $71.99, while ClassicFlix is selling it at 27.99? That's kinda crazy. Needless to say, I chose ClassicFlix.

Can't wait! (Though I know I've gotta...)

There's a trailer up here now:

http://www.kino.com/trailers/

Also, not sure if this has been mentioned:

In addition, this Kino box set brings as special features two rare Feuillade short films, The Nativity (1910 - 14 Min.) and The Dwarf(1912 - 17 Min.), as well as an exclusive audio commentary track by film historian David Kalat and the 10-minute documentary Louis Feuillade: Master of Many Forms.

<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Os0YYbDXPMI?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Os0YYbDXPMI?fs ... 0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>

GREAT trailer!

Mazamette wrote: Another mystery is -- how is it that it's still up for pre-order at Amazon at $71.99, while ClassicFlix is selling it at 27.99? That's kinda crazy. Needless to say, I chose ClassicFlix.

Pre-order price at Kino is $24.47.

A review is up at DVDTalk for Kino's version of these films:

Fantomas

Amazon $31.49 does not sound like $71.99 to me. But DeepDiscount is $24.47.

My pre-order copy just arrived on my desk minutes ago- I can hardly wait to get home. Unfortunately some of the case was broken but the discs seem undamaged.

Hope the score is not as bad as the DVDtalk review indicates. As I remember, the score on the AE was pretty good.

moviepas wrote:Amazon $31.49 does not sound like $71.99 to me. But DeepDiscount is $24.47.

Deep Discount says mine has been shipped. I'm also worried about the music but can always lower the sound. Have the first novel also, should probably read that first.

If you've got the 1970's translation of the first Fantomas novel you might be underwhelmed. It was a remarkably flat affair, probably in part due to the translation. The second reissue was no better- the publishers conflated two novels into one and did a sloppy job.

I'm going to listen with Kalat's commentary- it might be better than the music

I was a bit surprised when the $24 preorder price went up to $31.34 after Taxes and shipping. I'm used to the less expensive shipping and no tax of Amazon. But it doesn't much matter. I'm excited to finally have a copy of Fantomas, though I haven't watched it all yet. I LOVED Judex and sort of loved Les Vampires, I hope to at least like Fantomas. I do like the packaging, It looks great. Though I always kind of wonder what to do with 'slip-covers' Anyway this one is pretty innocuous. By the way I think the music they've used for it is really very good.
sp

San Francisco. What's this tax & shipping. I thought Amazon was Free Shipping in USA or is it over $25? Taxes? I didn't think Amazon had to charge taxes to California. I know goods shipped to Colorado now have to be filed by on-lines and tax charged by the state to residents. If this is so all good things eventually come to an end. At least for export no taxes are charged for Australia and we pay none to our customs under A$1000. But I have been charged in error when something mistook Australia for a VAT country which they corrected. We have a free trade agreement with USA for easy passage of goods.

To top it off I got the French version DVD set years ago but still want the US version just the same. I have a later TV version also but typically there were no English subtitles.