Senso [DVD] [1954]

Finally we have a transfer of this extraordinary emotionally powerful film which is full length and with high quality video and audio. Of course it is Region A locked and will only play on multi-region or chipped blu ray recorders in the UK. That said you will not find a better restoration anywhere with English language subtitles. Extras are fascinating too and include the 90mt English language version as well as some other fascinating material.

PRINT IS FINE BUT YOU MENTIONED LANGUAGES ITALIAN AND ENGLISH, WHICH IMPLIED THAT THE DVD ALSO INCLUDED THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (NOT DUBBED!) SOUND TRACK. INSTEAD IT ONLY CONTAINED SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH, WHICH IS O.K.

This is a Christmas Gift and I shall not know until my friend, who listed it, opens it on Christmas Day.

Fine

THIS DVD IS A SHAME - THERE ARE 3 MINUTS CUTS - IS NOT RESTORED - IS UNWATCHABLE. DO NOT BUY. SENSO IS AVAILABLE UNCUT AND RESTORED IN BEAUTIFUL EDITION IN FRANCE, USA and Italy. Even one pounds is too much for this version.

This current issue of Senso is truncated as other reviewers have noted. However, what is equally unacceptable is the parlous state of the film stock used for this transfer to DVD. The Technicolor, in the original, was sumptuous, rich and saturated just as Visconti and the Technicolor consultants wanted. He was a wizard at giving his colour films a painterly quality that enhanced the story line in a seductive and thrilling manner. The eye was entranced, the cutting was impeccable and the whole mood evoked was the sum of many parts including the cinematography. This current DVD is faded with a colour consistency that is annoyingly haphazard and wavering. The cuts 'enhance' this travesty version of a masterly movie that is much loved by a host of frustrated devotees. We patiently await a complete restoration that will be a revelation to several generations who have not seen the original. They will have skimmed through pathetic reissues like this and will have wondered what the fuss is all about. The neglect and current abuse of this world heritage film is a scandal. This is the companion to Visconti's The Leopard. Both are concerned with the Risorgimento at different ends of Italy i.e. Venice under collapsing Austrian Rule in Senso and the twilight of the old order in the Sicily of The Leopard. An opportunity to view both of these films in restored versions has been lost. So, enjoy the BFI restoration of The Leopard and pray for a triumphant resurrection of Senso!

Visconti's 1954 film features some marvellous set pieces and promised more that would come later in his films of the next decade. The film opens at the Venetian opera house with the potent atmosphere of the call to arms that graces Verdi's `Il Trovatore'. It's 1866, and the Austrians are about to be expelled from their Venetian territories in favour of a united Italy. After the opera performance, an Italian countess discusses her cousin's forthcoming duel with an Austrian officer: "I dislike it when people act melodramatically without considering the serious consequences of an impulsive action, or of an action dictated by unforgivable thoughtlessness." Unfortunately, it is the countess herself who is about to do just that by falling in love with Franz.Unfortunately, Franz proves to be - and freely admits to being - a coward, a gold-digger, a user, and a drunken deserter. The action moves to the countess's country estate at Aldeno, where we see Franz scrambling for gold coins on the floor at the countess's feet as he consoles her with sickly-sweet words, "My poor sweet love". The last act of the tragedy is set in Verona, where the countess's humiliation by Franz reaches a climax with terrible repercussions, just like an opera by Verdi or Puccini.The film has some wonderful framing of shots as well as examples of Visconti's notorious attention to period detail. Some of the shots in Venice are bleached of colour. Was this intentional? There is often a sepia effect too. It has been suggested that the colour problems may have been due to having three directors of photography for the film. The film could probably do with a degree of remastering, but is very watchable as it is now, all the same. The later battle scenes are in vivid colour, by contrast. The large set pieces are well choreographed. Indeed, originally the film was intended to focus on the battle of Custoza against the Austrians, but Visconti could not overcome strict censorship issues, with the Italians being a little nervous about their history in the recent World War II. (Visconti would have better luck with `The Leopard', which covers the same period of Italian history, but from a Sicilian angle.)The soundtrack is dominated by extensive extracts from Bruckner's seventh symphony, especially the second movement: tragic music, yet also contemplative, warm, and full of wonder. It's as if the music and the film were made for each other, and there has been some skilful music editing here. Having said that, some see the beautiful shots and music as being intentionally at odds with the sordidness of the relationship between the countess and Franz.As with many of Visconti's films with English soundtracks (and even those that have Italian ones) the dubbing can be problematical; so much so that one wonders who, if not the actor, is actually speaking the words one hears coming from the mouths of those seen on screen. `Senso' is no different in this respect. According to Henry Bacon - in his book `Visconti: Explorations of Beauty and Decay' - the director originally eyed Ingrid Bergman and Marlon Brando for the roles.

I bought the Italian Cristal 2 disc DVD version,( 2011 ) advertised with no english subtitles, but hoping that the bonus disc might have contained the American version that has an awful transfer to DVD on the 2007 release. This way, at least i would have a soundtrack in english. Sadly, it didn't. I don't understand a word of Italian, but the quality of the film, which is beautifully restored to glorious saturated colour, more than makes up. If you read up on the story line, then it's not actually that hard to follow the plot...and you get to learn a little Italian !!