MovieChat Forums > Topaz (1969) Discussion > You must see the DVD version

You must see the DVD version

posted 20 years ago by rsgre
13 replies | jump to latest

I see that people here have already mentioned it, but you absolutely must see the DVD version, before making a final judgement on this film. It includes all the footage that was cut, and becomes a much more coherent story. It's too bad that all that location footage and attention to detail, fell rather flat in the end. The lack of a strong screen presence, a rather poor music score, and an indecisive ending didn't help either. It's too bad, I felt that Hitchcock was really trying hard on this one, but he just couldn't make the pieces fit right....
Steve G.

[–] rsgre 19 years ago

I'm just replying to my own message to re-enforce my own contention that you must see the expanded DVD version, before passing final judgement. The ending was perhaps the weakest point of the whole film...which one would have been best? I guess the viewer is left to decide that for himself...

Regards,

Steve

[–] richard-III 19 years ago

I have the dvd version with the several different endings, which is great to watch. To me, Michel Piccoli going to Russia is the nicest twist ending; the duel is nice too but strange, and the ending as we know it with the suicide is a bad patch-up that could never satisfy me - you can see the editing making up for footage not filmed.

"When there is no more room in the Oven,
the Bread will walk the Earth."

[–] rsgre 19 years ago

Thanks for your comments Richard III. I guess this is a perfect example of the DVD version rescuing a mediocre film from oblivion. My regard for this film increased considerably after viewing the DVD. Now if only Hitchcock had recalled Bernard Herrmann for one more chance...who knows? Maybe the film would have even a better reputation today! Oh well....that's show biz...!

Regards,

Steve

[–] richard-III 19 years ago

Yes, I agree that the film gains from being on dvd, with its picture quality and possibilities. It's fine to have it in my Hitchcock collection.

"When there is no more room in the Oven,
the Bread will walk the Earth."

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rsgre 18 years ago

Thanks Filmson, and you are very welcome. You are right about the music score on this one. The score really stinks, and doesn't help the film one bit. Hitch should have given Bernard Herrmann one more chance to redeem himself, and he might have been desperate enough to deliver the goods (something like the score for North by Northwest)! Hitchcock got really stubborn & stupid as he got older. Oh well...that's show biz...!

Regards,

RSGRE

[–] alxnrth 18 years ago

Actually. Hitchcock & Herrmann "broke up" when Hitch disliked the score Herrmann composed for Torn Curtain. Hitchcock had told Herrmann to write something more commercially marketable & Herrmann refused, instead composing what he pleased. John Addison was then assigned to score it & this mediocre film ended up with what I consider a mediocre score. Herrmann's rejected score was eventually recorded by Elmer Bernstein & I must confess I'm not too fond of it either. I first saw Topaz during its initial release and liked it then and still like it now, but I'm eager to see the expanded DVD.

Dale

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pdeany1234 18 years ago

The majority of this film was compelling -- the ending was poor and almost too trivial for the rest of the film. I personally liked the use of actors unknown outside the US but I am sure that this doomed the film to poor reviews at the time of its release. The film is also a strange mix of tragedy and rather trivial humor which is kind of jarring -- the torture and murder scenes in Cuba somehow don't jibe with the silly conclusion - - but maybe they do make a comment on the reality of undercover operations -- huge sacrifices for often insignificant results.

[–] rsgre 18 years ago

Thanks for your comments pdeany1234. The extended DVD version redeems the weaker edited version originally released. The inconclusive ending and the poor music score detracted from it's potential...that's show biz...!

Regards,

RSGRE

[–] tdconr2 18 years ago

I recently watched the DVD version, never having seen the film before, and I have a rather trivial question. What's the deal with the opening credits? The lettering clearly doesn't look original--it looks too modern and plain for a film of its time, especially one made by Hitchcock.

[–] rsgre 13 years ago

Took another look again tonight, after many years, not bad at all, even Maurice Jarre's goofy music score fits in with the French undertone of the story, although there are places where it serves no useful purpose.(Main theme keeps playing after opening credits...why? The scene has changed to Copenhagen, and the same silly marching music is playing ? Very sloppy scoring.) And the Juanita De Cordoba/Rico Parra scene at the end seems way too melodramatic. Looks like 10 years after "North by Northwest", Hitchcock wanted to do a real life spy drama. The uncut DVD version redeems the film, I knew something was missing when I saw it in a theater in 1969. Much better now...

RSGRE

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 13 years ago

Yes, the film is beautiful on DVD . . . it must be remembered about that ending businees---there is no proof against Piccoli (or Topaz)---I believe that is one of the major problems in resolving the issue at the end---what do you do?. . . the novel is so very different from the film . . . the most imaginative ending is the duel scene . . .