It seems as though there should be a Criterion DVD for 'The Trial', seeing as it is a great film by a great auteur, and it doesn't have a very good DVD release already. Does anyone know, if there is one in the works?
And what is the best DVD available, currently?
That would be something. I would suggest going to criterion's website and writing Jon Mulvaney. I would love to see a Criterion release for this film.
"What's wrong with showing a guy getting his head cut off?" -Humphrey Bogart
I have 2 different dvd's of The Trial. One is a `StudioCanal` release, the other is a `Laserlight` release. Do not get the Laserlight version whatever you do: the transfer is awful, and it's not in widescreen. The StudioCanal version has a very good quality transfer and is in widescreen. My disc does not have any extras on it, but according to posts on another thread on this board (entitled `Studio Canal Version vs. Milestone`) there is also a 2 disc set also released by StudioCanal which has many extras on it.
Just make sure you don't get the Laserlight version - I bought it because it was cheapest, but this was a waste of time because it was so poor I just went on to buy the StudioCanal version.
The two disc studio canal version was released in france un the title Le Proces. They later released a movie only disk in france and the UK.
This would seem like a obvious choice for Criterion; they did it in the LD era, they just began doing Welles dvds last year, it's one of Welles' public domain films so no fighting Beatrice Welles on it. But if we see one, might not be for a while.
[deleted]
There isn't exactly a Criterion version on LD, but there was a Widescree GOLD Edition issued by The Roan Group. The Transfer from the 35mm negative is really exceptional and it is kept in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio (except for the opening pin-screen sequence). It also features Welles original trailer and the (butchered) Desilu stills opening. Anyway, if you can get hold of a LD player I thoroughly recommend this wonderful version released by The Roan Group.
Not that I wouldn't also love a criterion release of The Trial, as they were finally able to release The COMPLETE Mr. Arkadin.
ugh-- Laserlight's films are the worst. I have the public domain Mr. Arkadin and it is virtually unwatchable. I nearly spilt my pants when Criterion released the 3 disc set.
I have an excellent version of The Trial, but I can't remember the name of the production company. It came packaged with The Stranger under the title "Citizen Welles". The Stranger is good quality, by the way, though it looks somewhat digitized. Since it isn't one of my favorite OW project and I don't watch it very often, it doesn't bother me.
the dvd i have is HORRIBLE, so i'd be very willing to fork over 35 bucks for a criterion dvd of this film.
shareI vote for a criterion 2-disc release too. Maybe then they will search for the scenes which were cut before it's release and include those.
share[deleted]
If you hop over to the messageboard for "The Other Side of the Wind", which is an unreleased Welles movie from 1972 that has been caught in legal hell ever since then but which is getting closer to being untangled and released, someone asks about Criterion. The poster contacted them, and he was told that Criterion has already released all the Welles movies they had the rights to, and they have no plans on acquiring the rights to any more movies from Welles.
shareBut most of Orson's films are in the public domain, so why would they have to worry about rights?
shareCriterion doesn't like to do films where they can't find the best elements/slash original prints
shareBut this film has had at least one "new print" theatrical re-release in the US. I remember seeing it at the Castro in SF less than 10 years ago and it's played there again since then in the last year or 2 (which I unfortunately missed). So it can't be that hard to get a hold of.
I have the Milestone Collection (1998, Image Entertainment) DVD, which is supposed to be the best of any of the R1/US releases to date. From its back cover:
This special letterboxed edition of The Trial was transferred from a pristine original 35mm negative, making the film available for the first time in its original widescreen format.
Although the quality of this dvd is better than any of the public domain releases (the ones you see for $5.98), the quality is still not that great. The letterboxing is actually part of the film (black bars on the top and bottom to make a large full screen size into 1:66) and so it looks like a VHS transfer rather than a 35mm transfer. The end result is that over half of your screen is taken up by letter boxing. This version does contain the pinscreen opening, as well as the alternate ('desilu') TV opening as an alternate choice. But this isn't worth just getting this disc for.
Well it IS indeed a great film by a great director.
I personally am amazed why this film hasn't been released by Criterion, since it's public domain and should not create any legal hurdles as such.
But the best DVD version is a 2005 Region 2 version. It's part of Studio Canal's 'DVD Classique' series. It's a thing of beauty with excellent sound and picture quality. Which is a must for a film as great as this. The compositions are amplified and mise-en-scene livelier.
There's one rub with this. The film when aired on Television in Europe was edited and for years has circulated around. This version eliminates the frame story opening sequence where Welles narrates 'Before the Law' which is extremely crucial as it sets up the mood of the film.
The version has two discs. The first disc which has supplements is the original one and includes a 'deleted scene' which does not have dialogue and a featurette in French(no subtitles). The print comes with a French track and an English track with optional French and/or English subtitles. In this version, the titles are in French so it's 'Le Proces' instead of 'The Trial' but otherwise there's no hitches. The second disc is in English has English titles but doesn't have the prologue which is extremely important.
How much is a good nights sleep worth?