Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 Novecento

TITLE CAPTURE - (MGM (2-disc) - Region 2, 4 - PAL TOP vs. Paramount (2-disc) - Region 1- NTSC BOTTOM

(aka "Nineteen Hundred (USA)" or "1900 - Gewalt, Macht, Leidenschaft (West Germany) (first part title)" or "1900 - Kampf, Liebe, Hoffnung (West Germany) (second part title)" )

directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
Italy 1976

An epic historical drama and meditation on class warfare Bertolucci's 1900 is also a metaphoric chronicle of the rise and fall of Facism in Italy during first half of the 20th century. Two men born on the same estate on the same day in 1901 portrayed by Robert De Niro as the landowner's heir and Gérard Depardieu as the son of a peasant grow up as friends and later become rivals during the time leading up to WW2.
This a very ambitious film that is highly flawed but still manages to convey its message and remain a compelling story thanks to some standout performances, beautiful cinematography and a typically rich score by Ennio Morricone.

Excerpt from Channel 4.com review located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 15, 1976 - France

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DVD Comparison:

MGM (2-disc) - Region 2, 4 - PAL vs. Paramount (2-disc) - Region 1- NTSC

(MGM (2-disc) - Region 2, 4 - PAL LEFT vs. Paramount (2-disc) - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	MGM Home Entertainment Region 2, 4 - PAL	Paramount Video Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	5 hours 2 minutes (4% PAL Speedup)	5 hour 15 minute
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.89M mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.89M mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate MGM
Bitrate Paramount Disc 1
Bitrate Paramount Disc 2
Audio	English, German, French, Italian (All Mono)	English, French, Italian (All Mono)
Subtitles	English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish and none.	English, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • No Extras DVD Release Date: May 17, 2005 Keep Case Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • "1900: The Story, The Cast" featurette • "1900: Creating an Epic" featurette DVD Release Date: Dec 5th, 2006 Double Standard Keep Case Chapters 24

Comments

ADDITION: - Paramount - Region 1- NTSC : This is all good news. The new Region 1 release is sharper, no distracting haze, better colors and more information in the frame, plus it has two decent documentary featurettes (about 14 minutes each).... and it is the longer European cut! Tack onto this the price and it becomes an essential DVD. Strongly recommended!

- Gary Tooze

***

This is the same transfer of the longer European cut that the Bravo channel aired in the US in the early 90's. The print is relatively free of scratches and dirt but is very soft and fuzzy with oversaturated color, especially on the red end of the spectrum. In addition there are some artifacts and a bit of ghosting that crop up now and then, particularly in the second half of the film. (See the last two screen captures for examples)

Due to the mixed critical reaction to the film this might be the best we can expect from MGM for the time being. Its a shame because, despite its many flaws, one of the major strengths of 1900 is its sumptuous visual style.

That said, it is good to finally have the longer version of 1900 on DVD. Previous video releases of the 225 minute cut in the US on VHS and Laser Disc look even worse than the one presented here. It is also somewhat better looking than the Artisan R1 transfer of another Bertolucci epic, The Last Emperor (see HERE). If you're a Bertolucci fan and/or a fan of historical epics this is worth having. out of