The most dated commentary track
#1
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The most dated commentary track
I'm struggling with this idea, but I think it will make a good discussion. More "Movie" oriented than strictly "DVD", that's why I'm putting it in this sub-forum.
I recently listened to the commentary track to the 2003 movie version of The Singing Detective directed by Keith Gordon. The movie has a stellar cast of big names. The commentary was recorded right at the time of the film's release. The commentary contains so many elements that date it, and it could really use a new commentary because SO much has happened to its cast since 2003.
The cast:
Robert Downey Jr: Today he's a superstar, but on the the commentary the director frequently mentions how RDJ was considered un-hire-able, that he was coming off of all kinds of drug problems and erratic behavior and that his career was sunk.
Mel Gibson: He was so hot at that time that his decision to produce and star was what got the film green lit after 10+ years of development hell.
Katie Holmes: Absolutely no mention of Tom Cruise. That wouldn't happen for 3 more years.
Adrian Brody: The director mentions that when he cast the film and during shooting he had not seen The Pianist. The guy was about to shoot to stardom, and then sort of fizzle, but here he has a small roll.
Robin Wright Penn: Who has since gone back to just Robin Wright was obviously in her momentary relationship with Sean Penn.
It's just strange that one film contains so many actors who ended up in the center of enormous tabloid and gossip news and whose lives changed so much before or after this film.
Anyone have any other nominations?
I recently listened to the commentary track to the 2003 movie version of The Singing Detective directed by Keith Gordon. The movie has a stellar cast of big names. The commentary was recorded right at the time of the film's release. The commentary contains so many elements that date it, and it could really use a new commentary because SO much has happened to its cast since 2003.
The cast:
Robert Downey Jr: Today he's a superstar, but on the the commentary the director frequently mentions how RDJ was considered un-hire-able, that he was coming off of all kinds of drug problems and erratic behavior and that his career was sunk.
Mel Gibson: He was so hot at that time that his decision to produce and star was what got the film green lit after 10+ years of development hell.
Katie Holmes: Absolutely no mention of Tom Cruise. That wouldn't happen for 3 more years.
Adrian Brody: The director mentions that when he cast the film and during shooting he had not seen The Pianist. The guy was about to shoot to stardom, and then sort of fizzle, but here he has a small roll.
Robin Wright Penn: Who has since gone back to just Robin Wright was obviously in her momentary relationship with Sean Penn.
It's just strange that one film contains so many actors who ended up in the center of enormous tabloid and gossip news and whose lives changed so much before or after this film.
Anyone have any other nominations?
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The most dated commentary track
I think The Big Trouble In Little China commentary with Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. They touch upon the wirework in the film and talk about how it's hot to use nowadays and site Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon as an example. Crouching Tiger came out in like 2000. They also mention Kim Catrall and her being successful in Sex and the City and that had only come out 2 years prior. I reckon their commentary was from around 2001 or thereabouts.
That's also not to say that it's not one of the best commentary tracks of all time along with The Thing and Escape From New York.
That's also not to say that it's not one of the best commentary tracks of all time along with The Thing and Escape From New York.
Last edited by Why So Blu?; 06-18-16 at 01:15 PM.
#3
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Re: The most dated commentary track
That's a great example. I've heard that one and yes, several times they pat themselves on the back saying, "Doing stunts like this was popular in Asia, and we were way out ahead by using them in the US, and only now with CTHD are people becoming aware."
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The most dated commentary track
Listening to Kevin smith And Ben affleck on the Chasing Amy commentary talk about Ben's upcoming role in Good Will Hunting. I would call that pretty dated.
#5
Re: The most dated commentary track
Charlie Chaplin on the commentary track of CITY LIGHTS insisting talkies would never last.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The most dated commentary track
Oddly though, I'd probably be saying it today if a long-awaited movie or show were to be released on DVD only, not BD.
#7
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: The most dated commentary track
But it makes perfect sense if you were into laserdisc and remember the year or so before DVD came out- the laserdisc format was being killed by many before DVD had even been able to prove itself as a format.
#8
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The most dated commentary track
The commentary on the "Halloween" 25th Anniversary Edition which has John Carpenter, Debra Hill and Jamie Leigh Curtis was recorded in 1994 for the Criterion Collection LaserDisc.
I think the commentary by Danny DeVito for "War of the Roses" may have been recorded even earlier for its Laser Disc release.
I think the commentary by Danny DeVito for "War of the Roses" may have been recorded even earlier for its Laser Disc release.
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Re: The most dated commentary track
I think The Big Trouble In Little China commentary with Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. They touch upon the wirework in the film and talk about how it's hot to use nowadays and site Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon as an example. Crouching Tiger came out in like 2000. They also mention Kim Catrall and her being successful in Sex and the City and that had only come out 2 years prior. I reckon their commentary was from around 2001 or thereabouts.
That's also not to say that it's not one of the best commentary tracks of all time along with The Thing and Escape From New York.
That's also not to say that it's not one of the best commentary tracks of all time along with The Thing and Escape From New York.
Last edited by Solid Snake; 06-18-16 at 11:59 PM.
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The most dated commentary track
I seem to remember Richard Donner's commentary for Superman had a lot of "I truly believe Christopher Reeve will walk again" type comments. I'm starting to wonder if that's ever going to happen now...
#11
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: The most dated commentary track
I was just wondering how many commentaries by people who are now dead are out there. (Meaning commentaries recorded specifically for discs, stuff like Walt Disney archival audio doesn't count.)
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The most dated commentary track
^^^Any one of Harold Ramis's commentaries.
#13
Re: The most dated commentary track
Any others from the 1930s and '40s that anyone knows of?
#15
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Re: The most dated commentary track
King Kong was supposedly the first audio commentary. I've heard Fay Wray was on it, but I'm not seeing that backed up anywhere. Maybe Alan Smithee can pull his laser disc to check.
#16
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Re: The most dated commentary track
He is of course quite dead and left behind several audio commentaries.
#17
#18
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: The most dated commentary track
And that's actually one laserdisc I still don't have.
#20
Member
Re: The most dated commentary track
Listening to older commentary tracks is sort of like opening up a time capsule of sorts.
I always find Spielberg's commentary tracks so dated that they don't even exist.
I always find Spielberg's commentary tracks so dated that they don't even exist.
#23
Re: The most dated commentary track
King Kong was Criterion laserdisc spine number 2 and did contain the first ever commentary track, but not by Fay Ray or anyone involved in the making of the film. It was a scholar discussing the film. The first director commentary was Michael Powell on Criterion's release of Black Narcissus.
He is of course quite dead and left behind several audio commentaries.
He is of course quite dead and left behind several audio commentaries.
#24
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Re: The most dated commentary track
The first commentary track I recall hearing of was James Stewart discussing "Winchester '73"; however, it wasn't a commentary track in the strictest sense, it was a recording of a live discussion of the film (and his career in general) with the actor and it was transferred to the laserdisc as a "second audio". I remember not hearing of such a thing before and thought it sounded cool. I just looked up the film and it's also on the DVD.
#25
Re: The most dated commentary track
The first commentary track I recall hearing of was James Stewart discussing "Winchester '73"; however, it wasn't a commentary track in the strictest sense, it was a recording of a live discussion of the film (and his career in general) with the actor and it was transferred to the laserdisc as a "second audio". I remember not hearing of such a thing before and thought it sounded cool. I just looked up the film and it's also on the DVD.