Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Luchino Visconti: The Quest for the Impossible (56:32)
• Trailer (3:43)
• PLUS: Booklet featuring a new essay by Pasquale Iannone

DVD included

Bitrate:

 

 

 

The Film:

David Thomson has called Luchino Visconti's penultimate feature (1974) a “maudlin portrait” of the director's homosexual relationship with actor Helmut Berger; that may well be the case, but the film is at least as revealing in Visconti's conflicted response to his aristocratic roots. A retired American professor (Burt Lancaster) is hustled into renting an apartment on the top floor of his Roman palazzo to a haughty marchesa (Silvana Mangano); she promptly hands it over to her airy, bisexual lover (Berger), who scandalizes the professor with his sexual escapades (one involving the marchesa's daughter and her lover). Visconti rolls out some heavy left-wing proselytizing in the last half hour, but what really hits like a hammer is Lancaster's realization that these awful people are the only family he's got.

Excerpt from the NY Times located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Conversation Piece comes to Blu-ray from The Masters of Cinema group in the UK after being first released by both Raro and Gaumont (France). Unlike those this is cited as a "1080p transfer of the film from a brand new 2K restoration" and is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate. While not looking exceptional - it does offer an authentic representation - looking film-like - heavy with texture - in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. It's fairly flat but has a rich contrast and is consistent. This Blu-ray offers a valued HD presentation. Dynamically imperfect but pleasing.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are given the option of an Italian audio track or English - both in linear PCM (24-bit). Conversation Piece was shot in English, dubbed in Italian, and subtitled back into English for its theatrical run. Viewers will appreciate the option. The score by Franco Mannino (Visconti's L'innocente, John Huston's Beat the Devil, and Riccardo Freda's Murder Obsession) buoys the narrative and the audio sounds clean with some richness.  There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Extras :

Masters of Cinema include some extras - a ten-minute, archival, interview with critic and screenwriter Alessandro Bencivenni and an almost hour-long documentary on the film - originally produced by Gaumont (France) and found on their Blu-ray edition. It offers interviews with Renata Franceschi, Helmut Berger and Stefano Patrizi, writer/director Jean-Claude Missiaen and others involved in the production. Plenty of detail and there are optional English subtitles. We also get a trailer and a liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by Pasquale Iannone. The Dual-Format edition includes a DVD.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Conversation Piece is a such an interesting film - and Lancaster gives another impressive performance. It's a rather disturbing mediation on solitude, bourgeoisie privilege and confronting reality. There is so much in this layered narrative.  What a fabulous choice for MoC to release on Blu-ray. In its own superb and precise manner - the 1080P presentation is authentic and the package with extensive booklet, documentary, interview etc. makes a valued purchase - essential for Visconti fans. Very strongly recommended! 

Gary Tooze

August 18th, 2016