I just started watching JEAN DE FLORETTE and was really upset with the transfer on this title (and presumably on its sequel, MANON OF THE SPRING).

The first strike against it was that this 2.35 title was NOT enhanced. I could live with that fault, but not the second.

My big complaint is that the subtitles were printed BELOW the picture, so for those of us with widescreen sets, you cannot read the subtitles unless you elect to watch the film 1.33.

LAST OF THE MOHICANS had this same problem, but Fox wisely remastered it and made it anamorphic AND placed the subtitles IN the picture.

I would hope that MGM would remaster this classic title!

Well if you want to get REALLY mad, MGM released it Europe in anamorphic format but
decided to give us the non-enhanced version. The fact MGM actually had an enhanced version available (Europe got it before us) and chose to give us the non-enhanced version really ticks me off.

MGM truly sucks.

MGM is insane, why even bother putting these awful transfers out. They wont sell much. What good is it to create bad will among consumers. I will not purchase any more MGM discs, any. I will not support a corrupt and morally bankrupt studio. I just can't understand the mentality behind these releases. Who made these decisions? Whoever it is should find another pursuit. This is borderline evil to release crappy product at any price.

I'm french speaking so it's not a problem for me but I'll have to check out those subtitles. I agree that this is inexcusable on MGM's part.
I was going to recommend the excellent Camille Claudel (also from MGM) but I guess I'd better check these subtitles first.

OK, so I have to ask. Are those subtitles something that you can turn on and off from the DVD options? Just like if you have a movie in English but with subtitles in multiple languages, or are they "hardwired" to the image?

I'm asking because I was thinking of buying Jean de Florette (and Manon des Sources), but I just can't stand the subtitles when I don't need them, and if there's no way to turn them off, then I'm definitely passing. Of course, with what I've heard about not being anamorphic in the US but being anamorphic in Europe, I'll probably pass anyway :-(

Ilopis, in answer to your question, you CAN turn the subtitles on or off.

But if you want them "on" then you'll have to view them on the black bars below the picture.

Sorry, but those are your only options.

Ilopis, in answer to your question, you CAN turn the subtitles on or off.

But if you want them "on" then you'll have to view them on the black bars below the picture.

Sorry, but those are your only options.

On a positive note, their recent The Bride Wore Black release is very nice. Truffaut in his Hitchcock mode, good transfer of the original l.66:l aspect, score by the great Bernard Herrmann, Jeanne Moreau in the title role (maybe just a little past her prime and a little too old for the role,but she's great anyway). The transfer is well done, subtitles are fine. Trailer the only extra.(Maybe I'm just trying to appease myself because I've been looking forward to Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring for so long and the dvds are disappointing. I haven't cracked open Babette's Feast yet, I hope that one's OK.

On a similar note, did anyone see Truffaut's Story of Adele H? How's the DVD?