First Kubrick, now Scorsese

A few weeks back, Filmbrain was thrilled at finding a bootleg DVD of Kubrick's early works. Well, it has happened again -- this time with the early films of Martin Scorsese. Entitled Scorsese Assembled: Collected Works, it contains many of his early films, as well as some rarities, including an excellent documentary from UK television. The complete lineup (2 DVDs):

• American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince (1978): An hour long filmed interview with actor Steven Prince (he was the gun salesman in Taxi Driver) that is a real gem. In one scene, Prince tells a story that Tarantino would steal pay homage to in Pulp Fiction.
• What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963): NYU student film about a writer suffering from writer's block.
• It's Not Just You, Murray (1964): Another NYU film. Extremely imaginative short, clearly influenced by several of his favorite European directors.
• The Big Shave (1967): Scorsese's allegory about the Vietnam War. A guy shaves, cuts himself, and bleeds a lot. Fairly powerful little film.
• Italianamerican (1974): Scorsese has dinner with his parents. One of Filmbrain's favorite Scorsese films. Simply wonderful.
• Martin Scorsese Directs (1990): 75-minute documentary from UK television. Contains interviews with De Niro, Pesci, Keitel, Spielberg, etc.
• In Search of Kundun with Martin Scorsese (1998): 90 minute documentary on the making of Kundun. This was available on the European Kundun DVD, but not the American.

It also includes a commercial Scorsese directed for Giorgio Armani. Though not as rare as the Kubrick films (several of the early films were released on VHS some years back), Filmbrain is nevertheless thrilled to have them in his collection.

Comments

[Aaron]

OK, first of all, where the hell did you find that? And is the quality any good? I've seen "The Big Shave" and part of "Italianamerican," and am I making this up, or isn't "What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?" basically the foundation of what eventually became Who's That Knocking at My Door?

I still envy you.

BUT, more importantly though, the Il Mio Viaggio in Italia DVD set is not a bootleg, and if you've never seen it it's well worth your time. I've seen it twice (once in a theater, once on TV) and my DVD is already on its way to me.

[James Russell]

It's Not Just You Murray is one of my favourite Scorsese films. Not, admittedly, that I have many of those...

[Rashomon]

Hey, where can we get this treasure?

[Filmbrain]

The quality of the films vary -- they were most likely sourced from VHS tapes, though the Kundun doc looks very good.

I'm not sure about a What's a nice girl. . . and Who's That Knocking. . . connection -- haven't seen the latter in many years.

Thanks for the heads up about the My Voyage to Italy DVD. Saw this on TCM and was fascinated.

[Filmbrain]

Rashomon -- in the words of No. 2 -- That would be telling!

(Email me for the info. Don't wish to get anybody in trouble.)

[girish]

kudos to your dedicated archivism!

[ijs]

you do realize bootlegs are actually ILLEGAL right?

you should be ashamed of yourself, for not only supporting with your money but then publicizing blatantly across the internet, bootlegs which hurt legitimate filmmakers and DVDs.

[FIlmbrain]

I do not support the buying and selling of bootleg DVDs that contain material that is otherwise commercially available. The day a legitimate DVD of Scorsese's early short films becomes available, I assure you I'll buy it.

Too often the reason films don't exist legitimately on DVD is that the rights holder is either demanding too much for them, or they are tied up in some legal wrangling. In other cases, the rights holder just doesn't feel it's worth his/her effort as the chance for profit is slim. Jerry Schatzberg was forced to buy the bootleg DVD of his Puzzle of a Downfall Child for that is the only way he could get his hands on it.

I'm a film lover -- and will do whatever I can to get my hands on certain films. I don't feel ashamed about that.

[M. Hulot]

The Big Shave and Italianamerican were released on a Criterion laserdisc many years ago that is obviously long, long out of print, but they show up on Bravo from time to time.

[hugo]

i would love to take a look at this collection of scorsese's work, most specifically american boy. if you will, or can, could you help me get my hands on them.