ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC September 08': Criterion have thankfully corrected the instability flaws of the  of the Second Sight transfer with a typical rock-solid one on a dual-layered, progressive disc coded for region 1 in the NTSC standard.

The Criterion is pictureboxed transferred (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review) with a black border circumventing the framed image. There is less flickering than the other two Ophuls DVDs - released simultaneously (La Ronde and Le Plaisir) and detail seems a notch higher - especially in background information which tended to get lost in the overly dark UK release. Compared to the boosted PAL edition Criterion have kept the contrast levels quite low and it seems to have greatly benefitted the visual presentation. Without a lot of fanfare the Criterion image is far superior - a lot more so than the screen captures below will indicate.

Audio, a mono track, is again unremarkable but clean and clear enough. The Criterion's subtitles are expectantly removable (unlike the UK edition).

On the extras front Criterion have included both supplements offered on the Second Sight DVD (Tag's magnificent 17-minute Video Essay and the Alain Jessua interview aka 'Working With Max Ophuls') as well as a whole lot more. First off a top notch commentary from film scholars, Susan White and Gaylyn Studlar, bona-fide Ophuls experts disseminating their bountiful knowledge. They seem to work well together - giving different 'takes' at times. Out of the blue we have a 15-minute introduction by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson! He gives his take on Ophuls and shows admiration for the masters extensively choreographed tracking shots. There are three interviews; the 25-minute one on the Second Sight DVD with with Ophuls assistant director Alain Jessua interviewed by Robert Fischer in Paris in 2005. A second, almost 7-minutes long, is presented with co-writer Annette Wademant from 1989 hosted by Martina Muller. There is a third, 8-minutes long, with assistant decorator Marc Frédérix also interviewed in 1989 by Martina Muller. Kind of fun is the 5-minute interview with novelist Louise de Vilmorin on Ophul's adaptation of her story. She is humorous outspoken in this excerpt from French television from 1965. Finally included is a booklet featuring a new essay by Molly Haskell, an excerpt from costume designer Georges Annenkov's 1962 book Max Ophuls, and the nicely appointed 78-page source novel, Madame de, by Louise de Vilmorin. Wow!

What a package, what a film - strongly recommended! 

***

 

ON THE SECOND SIGHT: Another Ophuls DVD from Second Sight. Dirty in spots it shows some edge-enhancement and moiring from contrast manipulations. The image is extremely thin and fragile and many have reported extreme artifacts that make it virtually unwatchable - this is despite being dual-layered. More negatives are the subtitles are non-removable (but can be erased via re-burning). Of all the Ophuls DVDS just brought out I would have expected this to be a prime candidate for a commentary. The featurette - Working With Ophuls - and Tag Gallagher's Video Essay are both fine supplements - certainly interesting in their own right. Overall this is another must-have DVD that we haven't compared to existing versions, but will do so.

The film is essential and this DVD represents it inadequately but we will be on the watch for superior editions - hopefully soon!

Gary W. Tooze