Example: Die freudlose Gasse

From filmstandards.org

Revision as of 12:15, 5 April 2011 by Dbalzer (talk | contribs) (Created page with "''From the TC 372 Workshop Compendium'' ==Working from original sources== {| style="float: right; border: 1px solid #BBB; margin: .46em 0 0 .2em;" |- | valign="top" width=...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

From the TC 372 Workshop Compendium

Working from original sources

<mediaplayer image='http://filmstandards.org/media/joyless-init-img.png'>http://filmstandards.org/media/joyless-commented.flv</mediaplayer>

The scenario

Let us assume tho following: A DVD copy of a film arrives in the archive. Neither the provenance nor the label gives any clue other than that this may be a version of Die freudlose Gasse, directed by G.W. Pabst in 1925.

Since the copy is viewable, we can inspect its contents and make some observations. Our observations will guide us in the descision whether to treat this as a separate cinematographic work, as a variant of Die freudlose Gasse, or merely as a new manifestation of the initial release.

Observation Relevant to Action Rationale
Not the initial distributor Manifestation New manifestation Could be just a copy for foreign distribution.
Distribution title different from original Manifestation or Variant New manifestation, possibly new variant New title alone would not justify a new variant.
Mentions a soundtrack, original is known to be mute Variant New variant A major addition.

Introductory text must have been written several years after initial release

Variant

Possibly new film work

Could be a "film about a film". However, this text and added music appear to be the only major additions.

Text on a sign explained on an inserted image

Variant

New variant

Minor addition, common in foreign distributions, not enough to justify a new work.

Soundtrack clearly not from pre-1950

Variant

New variant (of a variant?)

Soundtrack cannot be compared to that from the

             initial release of the variant. Conjecture alone may not
justify a further variant.

Intertitles replaced by translations

Variant

New variant

Translation alone does not alter the artistic content. Therefore, no new work.

Tinting too homogenous for an original. Must have been applied electronically.

Manifestation

New manifestation

Uniform monochrome tinting is a minor change.

Total duration just 60 minutes, i.e. less than half of the original.

Variant

New variant

Apparently an abridged version, but neither a trailer nor an excerpt.