Verrrry long shot here, but no harm asking...
Some of you may remember the 1982 Arena about Orson Welles. Before my time, obviously, but I have a copy on DVD-R. This was followed by a BBC2 season of his films, I believe. I recall seeing Kane, Ambersons, ToE, Macbeth and The Trial. (Oops. So it wasn't before my time. But I was scarcely out of nappies.)
Anyway, it appears that Othello was also screened during this season. I don't remember that one. There's a complicated situation with Othello. It's owned by Welles' daughter, Beatrice, and in 1992 she commissioned an appalling 'restoration'* of the 1955 US cut of the film. This is the version on DVD, and in fact she's done her level best to nix all trace of other versions.
(*Appalling because it stutters and pauses, the music was --inaccurately -- re-recorded, the dialogue sync and dubbing was messed around with and it was all mixed in stereo.)
The original US cut was released on LD in 1995. It was a good print, with acceptable sound sync (apparently, the print the restorers worked from was faulty in this respect), good picture, etc. Beatrice had it pulled pretty fast. As far as this version goes, fortunately, people have dubbed it onto DVD, and recently I finally managed to get old of it. Great! But it's actually NOT Welles's original cut (though he did make this cut)...
The 1952 European cut was recently shown, in English language, at the Welles retrospective in Locarno, Switzerland. Nice to know it still exists, huh? But the chances of Beatrice allowing a wider public release looks pretty remote at the moment. Too bad, because this is what Welles intended -- spoken credits, slightly different editing throughout, and apparently a better film for these things.
Okay, to the point. It has been said that it was THIS version that BBC2 screened in 1982. Never before and never since, but it was shown this one time.
Hence to the title question! Did anyone out there tape it? Or know someone who did? Does the tape still exist? If so, I'd like to help get it into the hands of people who are enthusiastic about owning a copy, first step being having it transferred to DVD-R.
Anyone who can help, OW rarities are on offer in return! These include the original '55 Othello, an excellent TV print of Chimes that is superior to the Spanish DVD, the Conrinth Mr. Arkadin, OW's short films (Vienna/London) and the Magic Show.
Oh, and if you can't help, here's a thread to talk about Orson, anyway. ;-)
― _chrissie (chrissie1068), Monday, 22 August 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)
I'm open to trades. I just ordered a DVD writer, so I guess it depends on my getting it to work. ;-) (Haven't received it yet.)
Also, to anyone interested, I'm expecting to get Filming Othello, Rosabella, Sketchbook, Fountain of Youth, Lear and a few other things sooner or later. And I *do* have the '75 AFI tribute show, which I forgot to mention, and the little Charles Lindbergh clip he dedicated to a friend with AIDS (very moving, that one).
BTW, I'm also seeking the Merv Griffin appearance and The Orson Welles Show. I know they're out there, I just haven't located DVD dubs of 'em yet.
Incidentally, private e-mail's okay!
― _chrissie (chrissie1068), Tuesday, 23 August 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)
five months pass...