For those who get the MGM channels on cable, like I do with DirecTV, or for those who have Amazon Prime, there’s a version of a movie I never thought I’d get to see that’s going to be available to download and record this weekend.
well done, Tom. I also saw the pathetic cut they released when the movie first came out and I've seen the Director's Cut (actually, I'm not sure if THIS version is actually the one Bertolucci wanted, but it's probably close...I've heard of longer versions ). and yes, it's a significant experience to watch it. I'veseen it compared with "Gone With the Wind" in terms of size and sweep. of course, GWTW is pretty much unwatchable today, despite all the money on the screen.
the long version of "1900" IS demanding enough to be a little harder to watch as frequently as a lot of other movies I like to check out at least once a year. for example, I watch "The Conformist" (Bertolucci's earlier, much tidier and equally superb take on what Fascism does to people with a possible career-best performance by Jean-Louis Trintignant, who was always sensational) at least once a year, and it's a gift that keeps on giving. it's almost embarrassing to tell people that I've seen "Last Tango in Paris" about 22 times, although the last few times, it began to get a little old (except for Brando's magnificent, heartbreaking monologue, which was completely autobiographical).
a small (and probably silly) warning about "1900": when it came out, a few people I knew made comments like "the screenplay came right out of Moscow," etc. this kind of thing has never been an issue for me at all and, in my opinion, such comments indicate profound philistinism. but when he made the movie, Bertolucci was very much a proud Italian Communist. but, then again, so was half of Italy (and most of the best directors). that's not hyperbole...Italian filmmakers in the '50s and '60s were actually required to make sure that half the crew they hired had to be Communists.
and they're ALL great! just be sure to have lots of popcorn, and keep hydrated. it's plenty immersive, but a certain commonly used intoxicant can make it even more so.
If only there were a way to get those "autocrat lovers," those who desire to be embraced/controlled by a cult leader, to watch it. Alas, most who will watch it already know the warnings from Orwell, Burgess, Eco, Dorothy Thompson, et. al.
As for Donald Sutherland, an actor who has yet to get his due, I would recommend his performances in Jules Fieffer's "Little Murders" (with the wonderful Vincent Gardenia) and "The Eye of the Needle."
it's also good you left out a description of Sutherland's horrifying behavior...it would, indeed, have ruined it (somebody ruined it for me when it came out...it might even have been Pauline Kael).
and I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention two other magical words you left out, which apply even more intensely to "The Conformist:" Dominique Sanda (!!!).
you mean you can't stream at ALL? I had what I killed a "brain-dead smart TV" for a long time and if it takes an HDMI connection, and you have WiFi, you can stream. of course, a friend gave me this 65-inch monster almost a year ago, and it's plenty smart. now, if I can figure out how to save money....
I can stream some on the TV; otherwise I must use the MacBook Air's smaller screen, which is still better than the size of the iPhone's. But I rarely do much streaming anyway. I do not want a new TV. I'm okay with what I have.
Call me a Luddite, but I'm annoyed that in the next month or so I'm going to be forced into changing my AT&T copper internet line for fiber, which will entail a new receiver in the living room and a "Joey" in the bedroom, plus DVR screens that I will find annoying. I like to read words, not choose among images. I've had very few problems with the copper line, and I've heard awful stories about AT&T's fiber service. Maybe I'll be lucky with it.
My 50 Mbps copper service works fine for me. I’ll be forced into 300 Mbps theoretically for the same price, but I’ve been hearing tales of poor service with the upgrade. Time will tell. I’m not going to have a choice (which is one of the reasons I’m resisting it for as long as I can).
years ago, I discovered the Google Chromecast device, which is unobtrusive and easy to use and will let you stream just about anything from another screen. I doubt it's more than forty bucks. I also have a Firestick, which lets me stream EVERYTHING, but is glitchier and, needless to say, is made by Amazon, about which many of us have deservedly negative feelings. my stunning hypocrisy is easy to spot...
Maybe... I’ll try. Thanks for the tip. I’m back in Seattle, land of my birth, on Sept 13 for a month long ‘we are not dead yet, don’t touch our stuff’ tour. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on some movies and TV shows then. Trading immersion to another corrupt and scary political scene will be,if not restful, at least different. I will go to the top of the Smith Tower, the tallest building of my youth, and find out if I can still see forever. 😻
actually, it's also available to buy, and it's not very expensive, probably because it's still (and will probably remain) a niche offering. I just checked and it's a bit more expensive than I thought, but the "three-disk Collectors' Edition" is multi-format and goes for about twenty bucks.
I just found it on Amazon Prime US and am watching it now. It is the extended version. 5+ hours! Dubbed in English but with Italian accents 😁. First 20 minutes so rich in content and visual detail, I am overwhelmed. May have to pace myself.
...a little post scriptus...how do you record streaming content? I've seen that there are big hard drives for this, but last time I checked, they were sort of pricey.
I have another little bit of related trivia (and cause for regret)...right after "Last Tango" (and as he was getting ready for "1900"), Bertolucci was desperate to make his own version of Hammett's great "Red Harvest" (which had already supplied the plot for "Yojimbo"). remember that Hammett had been a party member who actually did some jail time--in very bad health--for defying HUAC. with the fabulous personnel Bertolucci was using at that time (nobody EVER made more gorgeous-looking movies...Storaro had actually written a fucking TREATISE on the psychology of color), it would have been something wonderful.
speaking of Storaro, he was such an acknowledged master of lighting by the time he shot "The Conformist" that I assumed he'd been a DP for decades, when it turns out he's less than ten years older than I am and he'd done "The Conformist" when he was about thirty...the mysteries of genius remain mysterious.
well done, Tom. I also saw the pathetic cut they released when the movie first came out and I've seen the Director's Cut (actually, I'm not sure if THIS version is actually the one Bertolucci wanted, but it's probably close...I've heard of longer versions ). and yes, it's a significant experience to watch it. I'veseen it compared with "Gone With the Wind" in terms of size and sweep. of course, GWTW is pretty much unwatchable today, despite all the money on the screen.
the long version of "1900" IS demanding enough to be a little harder to watch as frequently as a lot of other movies I like to check out at least once a year. for example, I watch "The Conformist" (Bertolucci's earlier, much tidier and equally superb take on what Fascism does to people with a possible career-best performance by Jean-Louis Trintignant, who was always sensational) at least once a year, and it's a gift that keeps on giving. it's almost embarrassing to tell people that I've seen "Last Tango in Paris" about 22 times, although the last few times, it began to get a little old (except for Brando's magnificent, heartbreaking monologue, which was completely autobiographical).
a small (and probably silly) warning about "1900": when it came out, a few people I knew made comments like "the screenplay came right out of Moscow," etc. this kind of thing has never been an issue for me at all and, in my opinion, such comments indicate profound philistinism. but when he made the movie, Bertolucci was very much a proud Italian Communist. but, then again, so was half of Italy (and most of the best directors). that's not hyperbole...Italian filmmakers in the '50s and '60s were actually required to make sure that half the crew they hired had to be Communists.
Well, that explains how he was able to do the final scene so well. A perfect take on Italian politics of the 70s.
now THAT'S true.
Thanks for the heads up Tom. I have Amazon Prime. It sounds amazing, and what a great cast.
and they're ALL great! just be sure to have lots of popcorn, and keep hydrated. it's plenty immersive, but a certain commonly used intoxicant can make it even more so.
Thanks for the advice David! Much appreciated
If only there were a way to get those "autocrat lovers," those who desire to be embraced/controlled by a cult leader, to watch it. Alas, most who will watch it already know the warnings from Orwell, Burgess, Eco, Dorothy Thompson, et. al.
As for Donald Sutherland, an actor who has yet to get his due, I would recommend his performances in Jules Fieffer's "Little Murders" (with the wonderful Vincent Gardenia) and "The Eye of the Needle."
Yes to both of those.
I'm a big "Don't Look Now" fan, myself.
Sutherland is one of those guys who, regardless of the project he's in, is always good. Sometimes the only thing that is.
Until this moment I thought I was alone. Once again, thank you TC.
it's also good you left out a description of Sutherland's horrifying behavior...it would, indeed, have ruined it (somebody ruined it for me when it came out...it might even have been Pauline Kael).
and I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention two other magical words you left out, which apply even more intensely to "The Conformist:" Dominique Sanda (!!!).
True - she was amazing.
My TV is too old to carry Amazon Prime, which I can view only on my MacBook Air, so I won't be able to record it, but I did add it to my Watchlist.
you mean you can't stream at ALL? I had what I killed a "brain-dead smart TV" for a long time and if it takes an HDMI connection, and you have WiFi, you can stream. of course, a friend gave me this 65-inch monster almost a year ago, and it's plenty smart. now, if I can figure out how to save money....
I can stream some on the TV; otherwise I must use the MacBook Air's smaller screen, which is still better than the size of the iPhone's. But I rarely do much streaming anyway. I do not want a new TV. I'm okay with what I have.
Call me a Luddite, but I'm annoyed that in the next month or so I'm going to be forced into changing my AT&T copper internet line for fiber, which will entail a new receiver in the living room and a "Joey" in the bedroom, plus DVR screens that I will find annoying. I like to read words, not choose among images. I've had very few problems with the copper line, and I've heard awful stories about AT&T's fiber service. Maybe I'll be lucky with it.
The fiber service on ATT is OK. Unless you're going to play video games online, you don't need to get the top of the line version.
My 50 Mbps copper service works fine for me. I’ll be forced into 300 Mbps theoretically for the same price, but I’ve been hearing tales of poor service with the upgrade. Time will tell. I’m not going to have a choice (which is one of the reasons I’m resisting it for as long as I can).
years ago, I discovered the Google Chromecast device, which is unobtrusive and easy to use and will let you stream just about anything from another screen. I doubt it's more than forty bucks. I also have a Firestick, which lets me stream EVERYTHING, but is glitchier and, needless to say, is made by Amazon, about which many of us have deservedly negative feelings. my stunning hypocrisy is easy to spot...
David, I do very little streaming, so for now I choose not to get those devices. Thanks for your input, though.
Can’t find it on Amazon Prime vid UK boo hoo. 🥹
Yeah, sorry, it's USA only I guess. Do you have any way to get MGM Plus?
Maybe... I’ll try. Thanks for the tip. I’m back in Seattle, land of my birth, on Sept 13 for a month long ‘we are not dead yet, don’t touch our stuff’ tour. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on some movies and TV shows then. Trading immersion to another corrupt and scary political scene will be,if not restful, at least different. I will go to the top of the Smith Tower, the tallest building of my youth, and find out if I can still see forever. 😻
actually, it's also available to buy, and it's not very expensive, probably because it's still (and will probably remain) a niche offering. I just checked and it's a bit more expensive than I thought, but the "three-disk Collectors' Edition" is multi-format and goes for about twenty bucks.
I just found it on Amazon Prime US and am watching it now. It is the extended version. 5+ hours! Dubbed in English but with Italian accents 😁. First 20 minutes so rich in content and visual detail, I am overwhelmed. May have to pace myself.
Thank you TC for this recommendation!
With a movie like this, watching in "episodes" may be the smart move.
THANK YOU for posting this!! I had long ago given up the hope of seeing this film again! I have amazon prime, and i just hope i can find it!! xx's
Search "1900 Extended"
I did get to see this. What sticks in my mind were the old "grandmas" running across the field with pitchforks. It was quite intense.
Paramount+ too.
put it on my watchlist
...a little post scriptus...how do you record streaming content? I've seen that there are big hard drives for this, but last time I checked, they were sort of pricey.
I download it from the streamer through DirecTV. My DVR has 400 hours of play.
ahhhhh LUCKY!
I have another little bit of related trivia (and cause for regret)...right after "Last Tango" (and as he was getting ready for "1900"), Bertolucci was desperate to make his own version of Hammett's great "Red Harvest" (which had already supplied the plot for "Yojimbo"). remember that Hammett had been a party member who actually did some jail time--in very bad health--for defying HUAC. with the fabulous personnel Bertolucci was using at that time (nobody EVER made more gorgeous-looking movies...Storaro had actually written a fucking TREATISE on the psychology of color), it would have been something wonderful.
speaking of Storaro, he was such an acknowledged master of lighting by the time he shot "The Conformist" that I assumed he'd been a DP for decades, when it turns out he's less than ten years older than I am and he'd done "The Conformist" when he was about thirty...the mysteries of genius remain mysterious.
oh well...
That could have been fantastic. "The Continental Op" - the man with no name.
What I don’t know is mind boggling. Thank you always.
the fat man with no name.