Looks wonderful!
“You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?” - Juror 8
“Silence, Earthling! My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan!” - Calvin “Marty” Klein
Looks impressive.
Good work!
And I only just really became aware of this project. It’s a very interesting discovery this print and obviously your intentions are to restore the US cut.
So what to do with these extra pieces of footage?
Basically it seems the film could now be possibly complete now minus the 5 minutes scene in the Socorro Sequence.
That first deleted scene is 100% proper it’s not a deleted scene really it’s very good editing it feels like a mistake that it has been excised whilst the skeleton scene feels pretty rough and does not add much.
Although nobody has yet found those missing 5 minutes Socorro Sequence basically It does make you believe that it’s out there. Somone in Italy has it.
Do you have the Tuco torture scene undamaged?
Is there any plan for an alternative version other than US cut also?
Good work!
And I only just really became aware of this project. It’s a very interesting discovery this print and obviously your intentions are to restore the US cut.
So what to do with these extra pieces of footage?
Basically it seems the film could now be possibly complete now minus the 5 minutes scene in the Socorro Sequence.
That first deleted scene is 100% proper it’s not a deleted scene really it’s very good editing it feels like a mistake that it has been excised whilst the skeleton scene feels pretty rough and does not add much.
Although nobody has yet found those missing 5 minutes Socorro Sequence basically It does make you believe that it’s out there. Somone in Italy has it.
Do you have the Tuco torture scene undamaged?
Is there any plan for an alternative version other than US cut also?
I think the intention is to also release the cut that the print features, right?
EDIT: Well, based on the OP, maybe not. I was hoping for both.
“You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?” - Juror 8
“Silence, Earthling! My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan!” - Calvin “Marty” Klein
Although we are only looking at a few snippets here one of them is totally convincing as being the real deal and that is quite amazing in it’s own right.
Basically yeah very cool find and considering they went to the trouble of trying to reassemble the Italian cut but in English there is a lot of worth to those small bits of footage and sound mix. It is an unexpected find. But apart from the remains 5 minutes left to be found it seems this film is just about complete Now.
The priority is to release the International Cut, which is the version that has not seen an official home release since 1998 and definitely does not deserve to be forgotten.
Here are more comparison pics: http://imgur.com/a/eBJdO
This gives you an idea of the basic difference between MGM’s “teal” skies and what it looks like on the print. They also did some major color manipulation on the credit sequence.
The priority is to release the International Cut, which is the version that has not seen an official home release since 1998 and definitely does not deserve to be forgotten.
Here are more comparison pics: http://imgur.com/a/eBJdO
This gives you an idea of the basic difference between MGM’s “teal” skies and what it looks like on the print. They also did some major color manipulation on the credit sequence.
Thanks for the info!
“You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?” - Juror 8
“Silence, Earthling! My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan!” - Calvin “Marty” Klein
Here are more comparison pics: http://imgur.com/a/eBJdO
never had the opportunity to watch this masterpiece in 35mm but yep, from first VHS I had, I always remembered first shot of opening titles like that - more toward orange than maroon.
this is going to be so epic.
You really only need to hang mean bastards,
but mean bastards you need to hang.
John ‘The Hangman’ Ruth
Hello everyone. Recently came across this amazing project. Wasnt able to register here until now but all i can say is im absolutely fascinated by it. Is it still possible to make a contribution?
Any updates? Thank you.
The newly announced 50th Anniversary of GB&U by Kino Lorber has the following new bonus feature announced:
• M.O.S. Deleted Scene of Blondie in the desert finding skeletons
Did they acquire it from you? Or just “borrowed” it off your Vimeo?
Interesting…
This should be added to the extended cut really though?
I think it’s obviously a mistake or silly chop that this footage has been left out. Seems to be a bit strict in slightly extending the extended cut. As it was never a directors cut anyway.
But also this…
4K transfer of the Extended Cut
Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio
No more dubbing?
What do you mean by no dubbing? The very nature of the way the film was produced requires dubbing no matter what.
the “new dubbing” as they did not have the audio for the extended scenes in the extended cut. So they made a “dub” and altered the soundmix in a makeshift way. They even got an impersonator for Lee Van Cleef.
Gunshots sound effects were also altered I believe.
So unless they found the original sound mix for the extended scenes?
They already had the original sound mix on the extended scenes on a silent update of the current 4K Blu. They do have the original Italian mono elements. There’s no way around newly dubbed extended scenes, however.
I was hoping that some lost sound mix elements were found from this restoration.
The Italian cut did have an English sound mix but it was lost?
Anyway good work on getting this out officially. The thought that springs to mind for me is making a better dub with better new technology. That voice reproduction or mimicking software.
Sounds like decisions have been made already though.
The Italian cut did have an English sound mix but it was lost?
No. That’s basically a wrong assumption of how these films were made.
They were filmed without sound recording on set, as the films were later entirely dubbed in each of the languages they were released in. For the longer Italian version, the Italian dub was recorded in Italy. For the (shorter) US version, the English dub was recorded in the USA. During filming, every actor spoke his native language.
There never was an English mix for the scenes from the Italian cut in the first place. The actors had their notes on what they spoke when they played their scenes (and as Clint Eastwood pointed out in an interview, he always kept his notes as he feared the Italians might lose them - and they surely did).
The Italian cut did have an English sound mix but it was lost?
No. That’s basically a wrong assumption of how these films were made.
They were filmed without sound recording on set, as the films were later entirely dubbed in each of the languages they were released in. For the longer Italian version, the Italian dub was recorded in Italy. For the (shorter) US version, the English dub was recorded in the USA. During filming, every actor spoke his native language.
There never was an English mix for the scenes from the Italian cut in the first place. The actors had their notes on what they spoke when they played their scenes (and as Clint Eastwood pointed out in an interview, he always kept his notes as he feared the Italians might lose them - and they surely did).
Ah okay I understand a bit better now. I have not watched the new version on Blu-ray but some scenes the actors speak Italian in others the actors speak English. Now I really understand the need for the US / International cut. As some scenes use alternate takes in Italian cut vs US cut or at least that is what I read. So you might for instance have English language dubbed over an Italian version piece of footage and it does not match the lips.
Interesting points on lip synch after watching a few clips too. I imagine to do with the English dub put to the Italian cut. great film I will go and fish out my old DVD tonight.
Edit
Re-buying the old DVD just now that I sold.
The newly announced 50th Anniversary of GB&U by Kino Lorber has the following new bonus feature announced:
• M.O.S. Deleted Scene of Blondie in the desert finding skeletons
Did they acquire it from you? Or just “borrowed” it off your Vimeo?
Either they “borrowed” it or maybe they were tipped off by the info provided on the blog that there is one documented print in the hands of Cineteca Nazionale that might have had the same unseen footage but no one bothered to check it before. It’s possible they had that print re-inspected and subsequently scanned if it contained the footage. However, it doesn’t explain why it’s “M.O.S.” considering the CN print should have sound. It’s also possible they came across another source for the “skeleton shot” and other footage. We’ll know the answer when the KL BD/DVD is released.
According to info from Kino:
The 4K master will be the same master, we’re looking into the yellowishness of the master and see if we can make some improvements. We’ll make further announcements later.
MGM found the M.O.S. deleted scene and offered it to us as an extra, that’s all I know.
Why is restoring the international cut the first priority here? That version is already immediately accessible in HD right now. Shouldn’t releasing the print as-is be the most important thing from a preservation point of view? Are you planning to do that after the international cut?
sry m8
They were filmed without sound recording on set, as the films were later entirely dubbed in each of the languages they were released in. For the longer Italian version, the Italian dub was recorded in Italy. For the (shorter) US version, the English dub was recorded in the USA. During filming, every actor spoke his native language.
Even if they had recorded audio on set they would still have needed to re-dub everything in post.
[ Scanning stuff since 2015 ]
Any update?
So, get the Kino Lorber Blu-ray disc or wait for this custom BD?
Poita mentioned Kino is getting something wrong but didn’t elaborate.
KINO’s press release of the new Blu-ray, for those interested. Poita has stated they’re already getting things wrong.
Coming August 15th on DVD and Blu-ray!
Note: We’re hoping to add one or two more extras
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (50th Anniversary Edition) – with reversible art
Special Features (Disc 1)
4K transfer of the Original “161 minute” Theatrical Cut
New Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
“Trailers From Hell” with Ernest Dickerson
M.O.S. Deleted Scene of Blondie in the desert finding skeletons
Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio
Trailers for Sergio Leone Westerns
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio
Animated Image GalleriesSpecial Features (Disc 2)
4K transfer of the “179 Minute” Extended Cut
Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio
Audio Commentary By Acclaimed Film Historian Richard Schickel
Audio Commentary By Noted Cultural Historian Christopher Frayling
Leone’s West: Making Of Documentary
The Leone Style: On Sergio Leone Featurette
The Man Who Lost The Civil War: Civil War Documentary
Reconstruction The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
II Maestro: Ennio Morricone and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Featurette
Deleted Scenes
Original U.S. Theatrical Trailer
Original French Theatrical Trailer
English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Monowith optional English subtitles
Besides the color correction (removing the yellowishness) we also made the following corrections and adjustments to create our 161 Minute cut of the Theatrical version:
The “flip cut” transition/optical wipe from “Tuco talking to Blondie and taking a bite of his cigar to being hung” was restored to its original version
The fadeout to black of the “gun shop owner with the sign in his mouth” scene is now a cut to exodus scene.
The fadeout of the “Blondie passing out as Tuco is bringing him water” scene happens exactly 1 second later than how it was on old MGM DVD release of the Theatrical Cut.
The dissolve from “night” scene to “coach arriving at the mission” scene now fades up from black
The shot of the train leaving the station (with Tuco and Wallace on it) was supposedly longer in the US theatrical cut, before cutting directly to Tuco in the train and not dissolving out earlier to the early morning camp scene – Our 4K of the 161 minute cut matches the old MGM DVD of the theatrical cut exactly.