Reviewers on Amazon and some posters here mention a commentary special feature. I've looked at every available DVD version including the 2013 BluRay of this film and none of them mention a commentary version. Can anyone tell me where to locate the DVD of this movie that includes the commentary?
shareI have this 2003 Warner DVD version and it has the commentary feature:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Haunting-Julie-Harris/dp/B00009NHB6
Amazon doesn't list the commentary on their page (not unusual they do stuff like this many times- frustrating). The "commentary" is worthwhile and interesting to fans but it's not like many DVD or Bluray commentaries in which the participants talk during a lot of the film- rather it's broken up if I recall correctly into a discussion with actor Richard Johnson, a separate one with actress Claire Bloom and director Wise (discussing the lesbian element) and the screenwriter Nelson Gidding, and another one with Julie Harris which sounds like it could have been from an interview not recorded for this DVD.
Here's the newer 2010 Warner DVD release- looks like the same contents as the 2003 I have:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/the-haunting-dvd/18862693.p?id=22159&skuId=18862693
Thank you I did find the DVD with the commentary and just finished it. The recordings of all participants - Robert Wise, Julie Harris, Claire Bloom the actor who plays Dr Marquay (who I noticed is not even mentioned as being on the commentary on the DVD) and Nelson Gidding who wrote the screenplay each seem to have sent in their own individual recordings for placement on the DVD. Perhaps Robert Wise and the Dr Marquay character were present for the viewing of the DVD while doing their audio, but I don't mean they were together. I mean they seem to be commenting on the movie directly while its playing. The two women comment about the time each of them respectively appears on the screen, thus Julie Harris is first. Each woman very politely and gracefully comments mostly positively on their experiences while filming. Julie in particular explains some of the hardships with weather and the 30 minute drive each day to and from the set. They talk about how they worked and felt about each other, during and after the film. But it was very disappointing to me they had no further comment during the entire movie than that opening comment each actress made. I love commentaries where the actors are together with other people commenting while the movie is being played and laugh and joke with each other - naturally hearing more than one person doing a monologue keeps you attention longer. The commentary on Sense and Sensibility from about 1995 I think with Emma Thompson and another lady connected with the film was particularly funny and extremely fun to watch. In the Garbo collection two male commentators who appear to be movie historians and appear to be both gay as well do a commentary on one of her lesser known but perhaps better movies titled The Mysterious Lady. It is extremely funny and enlightening about so many aspects of Garbos life and the making of the movie. That is what a good commentary does - it informs and entertains. The Hauntings commentary came a bit short on those points and its a pity because they wont be doing a new one, but I have no regrets on purchasing and listening to it. If you're a fan of the movie you really will want to hear the commentary.
shareRichard Johnson who plays Dr. Markway is listed on my DVD as one of the participants in the "feature-length audio commentary", as well as Russ Tamblyn who played Luke. "Feature-length audio commentary" is a stretch in my opinion, and like several other films the actor commentaries aren't always done with the actors commenting while watching the film for the most part. Johnson seems to talk more about his career (a potential original James Bond) than the movie- though he is quite easy to listen to- great voice. Julie Harris' bit I believe was taken from an interview recorded years earlier. Sometimes these film commentaries are a hodge-podge of audio complied by DVD or Blu-ray producers from different sources. Honestly I can count on a few fingers really good commentaries and one of the best in my opinion is the one for CASABLANCA by critic Roger Ebert.
shareYou're right about Richard Johnson and he was interesting but did talk quite a bit about things other than the movie. I did forget about Russ Tamblyn who gave a good commentary. You may be correct about the two womens comments - they may have been taken from other sources. I did enjoy hearing Robert Wise. Julie teases us by saying she and Wise had a different idea about the role of Eleanor but she stated she was in no position to differ from him and therefore his idea prevailed. Of course I'm very curious about her notion of the role and how that may have impacted the film. But as I said I am happy to have the DVD and the commentary.
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