does anyone know of DVD listing yet?

I saw this film when it came out in 1970. Even then there was some sort of convoluted deal with the distribution of it, since it was produced in Italy as well as in Germany and in France, I believe. The result was - and remains - that the film one sees is usually the badly dubbed English version; the original Italian version has always been hard to find. The few times I've seen the Italian version in the theater, the prints have been very bad with some horrible splicing. I have heard many others make the same complaint. I was not surprised when I found a VHS of the film only to find that its condition too was deplorable. Its one of the best movies of the 1970s, its cinematography so potent that it set off hundreds of imitators, Trigtignant has never been better (nor Bertolucci) and still all one can find is a crappy dubbed version or an Italian version in very bad condition. So the problem here has existed for decades and had something to do with the original distribution and/or producers' squabbling.
I would be very happy to be wrong, but I am resigned to the idea that it may be a long long time before this film can be seen in any acceptable format. One would think that Bertolucci could flex his muscle on this but then he may be ashamed that his stellar achievement was made over 30 years ago and that his present attempts are comparatively banal.

This is a flim I truly love and can watch again and again. While Bertolucci's Last Tango In Paris, 1900 and several others are also masterpieces, there's something just alluring -- if that's the right word -- about The Conformist. Problem is, every video version (I've never seen it on the big screen) I have seen appears to have been struck from an old, almost washed out print. Even so, it hardly detracts from the overall quality of the film. There is laserdisc, but no Criterion Collection, and it's definitely not available on DVD. I think we -- all those like minded imdb members -- should write Paramount and Bertolucci himself, requesting that a Bertolucci DVD Box Set be made and released, featuring his best titles. This would probably be the best way for them to release Conformist on DVD. Bertolucci deserves a box set anyway. Barring that, the only option is to burn a copy!

First of all, I have to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for putting this post up. Finally I see other people who want to see this movie on dvd as much as I do. I remember watching this movie in a film class and how amazed I was left by its beautiful cinematography and its wonderfully told story. I sometimes do a search on this movie hoping to see it on dvd, but it hasn't come true. The sad thing is, that even a vhs copy is hard to find in a video store. I consider this one of my favirote movies of all time and I can't hardly recommend it to no one cause I know they'll have trouble finding it. I think those that watch it should consider themselves lucky. This and Life is Beautiful are my favirote Italian moives of all time.

For those who really really want this great film released on DVD, contacting Bernardo Bertolucci directly may be the best way. Some impassioned letters or e-mails may start the ball rolling. Let Mr. Bertolucci know how much you love his film and how much you'd like to see it get a much deserved release on DVD, with supplemental material if possible! Following is contact information for Bertolucci's agent:

Jeff Berg
International Creative Management, Inc.
8942 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
E-mail: [email protected]

Send letters/e-mails to: "Bernardo Bertolucci C/O Jeff Berg"

I thought I had read on here somewhere that the original release print was cleaned and restored recently at Paramount - with the original Italian dub - and supervised by someone in the know - I want to say Storaro, but isn't he dead?
Anywho, if that is the case, then P'mount could be forging ahead either with a rerelease of the giant italian classic, OR readying it for DVD release. In every case, a note to the Mount and/or to BB's agent is well advised...
z

well I have just won the widescreen subtitled bid of this on e-bay

**thank you for telling me about this!**

while I realise that the quality of the prints may be questionable, just being able to see the film again (I've ONLY seen it at the cinema) anyway I can is worth putting up with this and sooooo much more.

although, I'll be sure to keep everyone informed on the print quality issue when it finally arrives in Australia.

my granny can now breathe a big sigh of relief (you know, from that lucrative granny selling craze!)

A representative from Paramount used to frequent a DVD message board I'm a member of... he would ask what titles people were interested in, and let us know what titles were in the works. I posted many many times about The Conformist and he never replied once. There seems to be some deep dark secret keeping this movie from seeing the light of day - bad blood between Paramount and Bertolucci?

Either way, we'll never get an uncut version of 1900. Paramount has a strict R-rated release policy. They don't release uncut or NC-17 pictures on DVD. Insane.

For what its worth, I emailed Mulvaney from criterionco.com, and his reply was something along the lines of

"We would love to release The Conformist. Unfortunately, we don't own the rights to the film."

Somebody still has them, and whoever it is, needs to realize the demand for this amazing film.


- "Crime is only a left handed form of human endeavor."