81 Variety Lights

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Martha · #1 Post by **Martha** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 10:16 pm

A beautiful ingenue joins a tawdry music hall troupe and quickly becomes its feature attraction in Fellini's stunning debut film (directed in collaboration with neorealist filmmaker Alberto Lattuada). Featuring Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife and frequent leading lady, Variety Lights introduces the director's affection for the carnivalesque characters that frequent the cinematic landscape of such classics as Nights of Cabiria, La strada, and La Dolce Vita. Criterion is proud to present Variety Lights in a beautiful digital transfer.

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Napier · #2 Post by **Napier** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:57 am

Well Criterion the cat is out of the bag.Gary Tooze has just posted his dvdbeaver review of this film.It is not HD sourced!Probably copied from their laser disc. At least we didn't pay $39.95 for it.I feel slighted!

BWilson · #3 Post by **BWilson** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:31 pm

I can't find Gary's review. Link?

(Edit: Thank you.)

BWilson · #4 Post by **BWilson** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:31 pm

Having reviewed well over 100 Criterion DVDs, I had always thought every single one was HD-sourced (we also call this "film-sourced" as opposed to "video-sourced"). Variety Lights, on the other hand, was claimed to be taken directly from the original 35mm fine-grain master (see last large capture for extensive 'combing'). There is a slim chance that it was taken from their old laserdisc. It looks very rough. There is a fine scratch down the center of the screen for many segments of film. It tends to leave and annoyingly return. I also notice shimmering and edge enhancement. Criterion's usual care was not taken for this 2000 release. By their usual high standards, this is quite sloppy. No extras, great subtitles. Nothing along the lines of their other Fellini releases. This is my lowest score ever for a Criterion DVD - *** out of *****

"I had always thought every single one was HD-sourced"

You thought wrong pal. Most of their early releases were not sourced from HD masters. Criterion never claimed to be using HD masters. I respect Gary's site, but how can he not know this?! He actually seems surprised to discover that they used the same D2 source as the laserdisc!

What gives?

Dylan · #5 Post by **Dylan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:44 pm

I don't understand the criticisms of the image, which (especially from the screengrabs) is pretty damn good. Far from the worst image transfer of CC, how about Salo (and I'm sure there are others)? Great film too, by the way.

Dylan

colinr0380 · #6 Post by **colinr0380** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:53 am

BBC report on the death of Alberto Lattuada aged 90

lord_clyde · #7 Post by **lord_clyde** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:33 am

I rented this last Christmas and loved it, but I couldn't afford to buy it at the time. Yesterday I went to the same video store and saw it priced at 1.99!! I checked the sticker from the last rental and it was due back 12/27/2004, meaning I was the last one to rent it. So there is my bargain of the week.

blindside8zao · #8 Post by **blindside8zao** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 12:44 pm

I hope you're not talking the Criterion version

Lucky. I did find the Samurai boxed set used at EBgames for 15 dollars though, complete with inserts, so I shouldn't be talking. Unfortunately I haven't found a used criterion DVD there since, except for armageddon and royal tenanbaums.

BTW, enjoy, I really do like this movie.

lord_clyde · #9 Post by **lord_clyde** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:47 pm

blindside8zao wrote:I hope you're not talking the Criterion version

Awesome Welles · #10 Post by **Awesome Welles** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:17 am

Is this going out of print? or has it said that for a long time, because there certainly seem to be plenty of copies out there...

mogwai · #11 Post by **mogwai** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:26 am

You must've missed this thread.

Awesome Welles · #12 Post by **Awesome Welles** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:15 am

Yes I did, thanks. I though I wasn't affected due to Studio Canal's licensing deal with Optimum in the UK.

colinr0380 · #13 Post by **colinr0380** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:01 pm

The Criterion Contraption review

manicsounds · #14 Post by **manicsounds** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:53 am

out of print, from a post on DVDTalk

Dr. Mabuse · #15 Post by **Dr. Mabuse** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:13 am

Confirmed

kaujot · #16 Post by **kaujot** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:10 pm

Criterion themselves announced it ages ago, didn't they?

Dr. Mabuse · #17 Post by **Dr. Mabuse** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:27 pm

Checking my archive, you´re correct sir. It was annonuces OOP in november 2007 along with Port of Shadows, Le Corbeau, og Quai des orfevres .

Narshty · #18 Post by **Narshty** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:48 pm

The new Essential Arthouse edition (and Criterion spine re-release?) is described as having a "New, restored high-definition digital transfer". I hope so, because this is one of Fellini's best.

R0lf · #19 Post by **R0lf** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:59 am

Can anyone post a review to the new Essential Arthouse release? Is it a new transfer?

knives · #20 Post by **knives** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:41 pm

Same transfer.

#22 Post by **domino harvey** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:13 pm

It's exactly the same except different liner notes, you got the stick end of the stick

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