The masterpiece that shattered Hollywood
New 2K restoration
In 1870, a new graduating class from Harvard celebrated with pomp and panache the promise of a bright future. Twenty years later in Wyoming, the paths of two of its leaders cross again. Now sheriff of Johnson County, James Averill sees his authority challenged by the Cattle Breeders' Association, which includes his former friend Billy, who has become a cynical and cowardly man. The association stigmatizes the European immigrants who came in large numbers to settle in these virgin lands. Supported in secret by the federal government, the breeders drew up a black list of immigrants to be slaughtered as an example. Lonely, Sheriff Averill stands up against this programmed massacre, endangering his own life as well as that of the woman he loves, a foreign prostitute named Ella...
In 1978, when Journey to the End of Hell sounded the triumph of auteur cinema in Hollywood, its director Michael Cimino undertook a crazy project, in love with grandeur and authenticity, which retraces one of the most scandalous episodes of the creation of the United States. Thus was born La Porte du paradis , a river story set in the heart of vertiginous landscapes, mixing the lyricism of great Russian literature and the romanticism of the masterpieces of David Lean. Taxed with anti-Americanism and megalomania, Cimino immediately passes from the rank of adored genius to that of cursed filmmaker; his film still symbolizes today the bankruptcy of United Artists, the famous studio founded by Charles Chaplin and DW Griffith. Nevertheless, La Porte du paradis remains a work with a unique breath carried by prodigious actors (the young Isabelle Huppert, radiant alongside Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, Jeff Bridges, John Hurt) and dedicated to the omnipotence of cinematographic expression. . An unmissable monument, finally presented in an integral version and restored in 2K digital!
AN UNPRECEDENTED RESTORATION SUPERVISED BY MICHAEL CIMINO
This digital restoration of Heaven's Gate was produced by The Criterion Collection, under license from MGM, with support from Park Circus and Colorworks. Heaven's Gate was first distributed in a 219 minute version, released in 1980 on a small number of 70mm prints, before being cut to 149 minutes and released more widely in 1981. The original negative having itself shortened during the process, it could not serve as a basis for this restoration of the long version. Fortunately, before being retouched, the negative had been preserved on JCM color separation matrices, ie backup elements corresponding to each of the three colors of the film: yellow, cyan and magenta. These masters were scanned at 2K resolution at Colorworks in Los Angeles and then digitally reassembled to reproduce the colors of the original negative. From these scanned elements, Michael Cimino was able to create the present version of 216 minutes. The cardboard and intermission music were removed and some scenes were refreshed during editing. The Criterion Collection did additional work to color correct and completely remove dust and scratches, and restored the soundtrack from the 6-track magnetic mix. All color grading and image and sound restoration was directly supervised by Michael Cimino.
THE GATE OF PARADISE
(1980 – Colors 216 mins)
new 2K restoration
BLU-RAY (HD) EDITION:
. INTRODUCTION BY MICHAEL CIMINO
. VINTAGE AND 2013 TRAILERS
DUAL DVD COLLECTOR'S EDITION :
DVD 1
. THE MOVIE (PART 1)
Original version with French subtitles
2.40 format respected • 16/9 compatible 4/3
Duration: 111 mins
. INTRODUCTION BY MICHAEL CIMINO
. RETURN TO PARADISE (48mn)
Produced in 2013, a river and exclusive conversation with Michael Cimino directed by Michael Henri Wilson, author of Eastwood by Eastwood
. RESTORATION
. VINTAGE AND 2013 TRAILERS
DVD 2
. THE MOVIE (PART 2)
Original version with French subtitles
2.40 format respected • 16/9 compatible 4/3
Duration: 97 mins
. 4 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH:
. Kris Kristofferson (9 mins)
. Isabelle Huppert (23mn)
. Jeff Bridges (17 mins)
. David Mansfield (8 mins)
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2 BD • HIGH DEFINITION MASTER • 1080/23.98p • AVC ENCODING • Original DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Version • French Subtitles • 2.40 format respected • Colors • Film Length: 217 mins
2 DVDs – NEW RESTORED MASTER
Original Dolby Digital 5.1 Version • French Subtitles • 2.40 format respected • 16/9 4/3 compatible • Colors • Length of Film: 208 mins
Released November 20, 2013
