Conversation Piece (Gruppo Di Famiglia In Un Interno) [Blu-ray]

The movie itself as well as Lancaster's acting is outstanding. However, as others have written, the pixels are scattered, impossible to watch, returned to Amazon

"Conversation Piece", Luchino Visconti's 1974 film, a film made due to the director's being ill, actually, I believe, he was recovering from a stroke, is more minor an end result than even "L'Innocente" which would come later in 1976. He died of a heart attack before "L'Innocente" was released. I reviewed "L'Innocente" as well and had a high regard for it. I liked "Conversation Piece" as well, but it did not have much of an intensity. Perhaps this film is best looked upon as the opportunity for Visconti to address his own life as the professor, as played by Burt Lancaster, is drawn upon to be somewhat autobiographical and the story for "Conversation Piece" was based upon an original short story by Enrico Medioli, who was a frequent collaborator on other scripts for Visconti and co-wrote the screenplay with Suso Cecchi d'Amico and Visconti. It's a well thought out script but not entirely successful in that the professor is merely inconvenienced by his tenants and any real effect upon his life by them is never achieved. Yes, he has them to dinner, but the tragic consequences are sort of trivialized as at dinner they can discuss their real involvement as the same old bourgeois only more dangerous because it is in disguise, as the professor explains, but the fact that the proceedings are all rather stagebound taking place in several sets no matter how intentionally its supposed to be like one of the paintings the professors analyzes, it is rather lifeless ultimately. I realize the professor's approaching death is being prophecized. And there is a hollow ring to the whole proceedings. Helmut Berger, Visconti's partner at the time, had an incredible debut in Visconti's 1969 "The Damned" and is again cast here. There is a hint that Lancaster's professor has latent homosexual feelings. But it becomes a father/son kind a bonding that barely takes effect. The only thing that survives again is the professor's well being among his possessions. It is apparently too late for him. Also starring Silvana Mangano, Claudia Marsani and Stefano Patrizi. Franco Mannini does the music again, as do Pasquale de Santis the cinematography and editing by Ruggero Mastroianni. Dominique Sanda and Claudia Cardinale appear in flashbacks of previous characters in the professor's life, now a part of his memories. It is too bad the Helmut Berger character could not have more invaded the sanctity of the professor's bedroom as one of these tableau. Raro Video has outdone itself with the Blu-ray for this film and provides a 16-page full color booklet with it. Technicolor.

Note: I have seen the film before and it is fantastic. If you are a fan of Italian films, then I highly recommend watching it. My negative review is specifically for this Blu-ray. The copy I received began skipping approximately twenty minutes in with the English audio. With the Italian audio, it will last until about the thirty minute mark before skipping to nearly the end of the film. I had requested a replacement copy since the first one I received also had this problem. However, when I tested the replacement, I made the mistake of using the Italian audio which made it past where the problems started on the English audio, making me believe that this version was fine. It wasn't until just recently when I just tried to watch the film that I realized the problems were still there. Bottom line: Great movie, but horribly produced and unusable disc. Do not buy this copy.

Conversation Piece (A.K.A Gruppo Di Famiglia In Un Interno, Family Group In An Internal) is a great movie! The story: A retired Amercian Professor who lives alone in a luxurious palazzo in Rome, Italy. When he is confronted by a vulgar Italian marchesa and companions-her lover, her daughter and her daughter boyfriend-he is forced to rent them an apartment on the upper floor of his palazzo. Before long his quiet routine is turned upside down and the introverted professor becomes entangled in his tenants' machinations. In the midst of this chaos each of the new neighbors' lives including that of the professor himself takes an unexpected but inevitable turn. Bluray quality: Picture quality: 3.5 out of 5 Audio quality: 3.5 out of 5 Languages: Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Subtitles: English Special Features: Original Theatrical Trailer Interview with film critic and screenwriter Alessandro Bencivenni Original English language Fully illustrated booklet by Mark Reyonds (15 pg.) Awesome, awesome Blu-Ray RaroVideo release of Conversation Piece! This is my 6th RaroVideo release in my collection!

"Conversation Piece" is director Luchino Visconti's 1974 examination of the solitary life of a retired American professor (Burt Lancaster) who lives alone in a luxurious palazzo in Rome. When he is confronted by a vulgar Italian marchesa (Silvana Magnano) and her companions -- her lover (Helmut Berger), her daughter (Claudia Marsani), and daughter's boyfriend (Stefano Patrizi) -- he is forced to rent them an apartment on the upper floor of his palazzo. Before long, his quiet routine is turned upside down and the introverted professor becomes entangled in his tennants' machinations. In the midst of this chaos, each of the new neighbors' lives, including that of the professor himself, takes an unexpected but inevitable turn. Because of the film's limited settings, it has a stage-bound look, though Visconti does emply flashbacks to provide insight into the character of the unnamed professor. The script deals with what it actually means to live, and the crowd of people who invade the professor's solitude serve as marked contrast to his quiet, introspective life. Lancaster is effective and turns in a rich portrait of a complex individual, far removed from the more popular swashbuckler roles of his early career or his big-budget Hollywood pictures of the 1960's. The newly restored Blu-ray edition contains an interview with film critic and screenwriter Alessandro Bencivenni and a fully-illustrated booklet.

Excellent performance of all the cast. This blu ray is excellent in contrast and color. The sound is corresponding with the original source. Excellent movie.

I am not qualifying the movie itself that I already know is one of the jewels of the European movie. My opinion is regarding the quality of the Blue Ray DVD; it is horrible. The first 5-8 minutes no problems, then suddenly, everything freezes...Then I started to play with the remote and suddenly it starts running again....then again freezes...and finally it completely stops. Impossible to watch such a great movie under those conditions. I tried to play the DVD in three different BlueRay DVD and the same problem in the three of them. I am returning the DVD to Amazon for a refund.

The truely self of Visconti is shown in all his mastery in the character of the professor.