Reservoir Dogs (1992): Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction

[dvdmike]

You wanna know the funniest thing? RD was shot for 1.85 with the idea that it was straight to video in square format (open matte as is the bonus disc on the french release, the only copy in the world with the correct color timing).
After the first disastrous screening, Tarantino decided to "save" his film by widescreening it hence the horrible cropping on most shots.
In the first screening, I think he went 1.37:1 because he thought this was very Godard but it didn't work.
So he suddenly decided this film was 2.39:1.
Ironically, this move saved the film. If he didn't do this, this would have not launched his career.
In cinemascope, this was "cinema". In 1.85 or 1.37 this was straight to video fare.

This info have never leaked out because he rewrote history on the spot. But I know people who were there who know. Love Tarantino btw.
You can't blame a guy who is trying to make it for minimising his mistakes.

French disc?

[MrBrown]

French disc?

There is a French DVD release with an 1.33:1 Version on 2nd Disc. The Version is even more open matted than the open matted US Disc.

[dvdmike]

French disc?

There is a French DVD release with an 1.33:1 Version on 2nd Disc. The Version is even more open matted than the open matted US Disc.

What does the disc look like so I can find it?

[MrBrown]

French disc?

There is a French DVD release with an 1.33:1 Version on 2nd Disc. The Version is even more open matted than the open matted US Disc.

What does the disc look like so I can find it?

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0001NDG6G/

[PDB]

Btw I was listening to film podcast and one of the guys in it went to the same showing you did Falcon.

Now he didn't offer any thoughts about the color but did say being QTs personal print that it didn't even have the Miramax logo. I found that interesting.

[Stamper]

Hi man, willing to help, maybe we can add a few subs in here. I think I can provide french subs and maybe mixes if you don't have them.

I think both fullscreen discs, french & US, are close to the look of the film you're trying to get. You can reference them, but as far as I'm concerned, your caps look perfect.

[pcm]

I dunno why they bothered mixing this into 6.1 don't think I heard surrounds once id rather hear in org mix. looks much better tho

[The Aluminum Falcon]

Apologies, this project took longer than expected. But, now, it's available in the usual places! Updated original post with new screenshots. 

I did decide, after all, to include the original theatrical mix from the US LD as the primary audio. It's a good track and, for those of you that prefer the remix, I retained the JP BD's 5.1 Dolby True HD sound.

It is a fairly radical departure from the Blu-Ray look with much deeper contrast. Saturation and yellow cast isn't quite as pushed as I had in my initial test photos; flesh tones were a bit too much in my first version, and I'm not sure if the bulb was causing the print to appear overly warm. I was hesitant to amp up the yellows as much as I did, especially considering I could find no home video releases, foreign or otherwise, to support what I saw. Regardless, I may do a possible V2 in the future where the yellows are stronger.

The primary references were photos I took during the screening (slightly off due to auto-white balancing and the obvious low-light conditions), as well an open matte Russian DVD, whose contrast matched what I saw dead-on. My memory was also used as a secondary source, which actually is fairly legitimate, if I may declare in this case, considering that I started color-correcting an hour after I saw Tarantino's print. 

The project's subtitle, once "Color Timing Restoration," has now been changed to "Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction." I have no proof that this was the 1992 theatrical look. 

---

On an entirely separate note, that's a very cool anecdote from Stamper about the intended aspect ratio! I love the film, but framing does seem unnaturally tight a lot of the time. This was particularly evident on the big screen.

So inspiring was this anecdote that I've also uploaded a little side-project... Reservoir Dogs (1992): Open Matte Sundance Premiere Reconstruction!

a 1080p upconversion of a PAL open matte DVD with 35mm grain plate, synced LD theatrical audio, and just a tad bit of color-correcting. Wasn't trying to aim for the look of Tarantino's print this time 'round, merely a warm, balanced look as the PAL DVD has the slightest of blue pushes. 

The PAL DVD has an interesting palette with many varied hues, including teals not seen in other transfers. The color is decidedly not like the one at Tribeca, but interesting nevertheless.  However, the contrast is pretty similar, also bringing out the film's shadowy look. As mentioned before, it's entirely possible that Tarantino's print is unique, and I could picture a theatrical (or even the premiere) print actually looking very much like this.

Screenshots:
- Comparison with JP BD - 
JP BD

Premiere Reconstruction


JP BD

Premiere Reconstruction


JP BD

Premiere Reconstruction


- Standalone Screenshots - 






Hopefully, this gives as some semblance of Reservoir Dogs looked like in its premiere. Whichever release ends up gracing your screens, I hope you'll agree with me that Reservoir Dogs is far from the bland looking movie the BD would have us believe.

Welcome any thoughts, as always.

That being said, this is my last custom release for a bit, but may consider doing a V2 of both a few months from now depending if there is particularly strong feedback on the questions below:

• For Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction, I wonder if I could have pushed the warmer tones a bit farther. It would be pushed a bit more like my initial screenshots while still keeping a careful eye on the flesh tones.
   
  
• For the Open Matte Premiere Reconstruction, I wonder if there's another release with more images on the side... perhaps the French DVD mentioned last page?
  

Regardless, enjoy!  

[Stamper]

Cool, the open matte screening was Sundance, not Cannes. You may want to rename your release! Didn't I MP you the french disc?

[Evit]

I recently digitalized the Italian VHS that was struck directly from 35mm (a recent purchase of mine). If you think it might be useful as color reference...