leonardcohenforum.com

From yesterday's newsletter of Voiceprint (UK)

Leonard Cohen Bird On A Wire film due for DVD Release

Leonard Cohen has recently come out of seclusion once again to enthral audiences the world over. In 1972 the celebrated British film director Tony Palmer made a film with Leonard Cohen entitled Bird On A Wire. Like many films from the era it was thought that the original print had been lost, however whilst researching in a foreign television archive a copy of the original print was found. This print, in numerous film cans placed on two pallets was subsequently shipped to the UK and arrived two weeks before Christmas. It is now a matter of Tony Palmer going through the canisters and assessing the condition of the film and deciding how to restore the print to a standard that is fit for release. It is hoped that the finished film now including much in the way of bonus footage will be ready for release on DVD in 2010. The discovery of the film means that fans will now be able to see this marvellous film from an important era in Leonard Cohen’s career.

Oh, wow - these are wonderful news, I am sure I am not the only one who has ben after a copy of this film for ages! I hope it happens soon (yes, Jarkko, patience, I know... But...). Anyway, 2010 seems to be shaping up as gret year!

Great news! I hope we also see The Song of Leonard Cohen released on dvd too sometime in the not-so-distant future!

I will be looking forward to watch this dvd.

This is really wonderful news
I have bits and pieces of this tour on video but to have it all (hopefully) in continuity would be the best Just can't wait for the DVD to be available.
I wonder what other "finds" await us?

Sounds great! Still don't quite understand how films like that can just become lost... but there you go, so many things in this world I don't understand...

Can't wait. . . News to cheer me up on a cold snowy 'orrible day. Thanks..

How can films be lost?

Well, I had just taken a course in Film Studies at school, and was home on a break, when I went to a local library to see a showing of an old silent film. When I saw old, brittle looking film spool loaded onto the projector I warned Mom that we should sit away from the projector. And, sure enough, about 10 minutes into the film a strange point appeared on the screen. The point of light lingered for a second or two, then spread to eat up the entire view. I turned in my seat, and, sure enough, smoke was rising from the projector and a gunpowdery smoky smell wafted toward us.

Gunpowder. Old film stock degenerates into gunpowder with time. If film is kept dark, and cool it can sometimes be transferred to a more stable medium, but sometimes . . . nada.

I'm glad to hear this one has been saved and I look forward to seeing it.

But if you ever are in a situation like me at the old local library -- speak out! Ask the projectionist if he knows what happens to old film. I hope that the film which was lost that day was not the last copy.

*blubbers incoherently with stupid grin on face*

Yes! Wonderful, exciting news! I have tried, unsuccesssfully of course, to find a copy of that film, and now here it comes. . . Thank you to Jarkko for this great information.

Thanks a lot for this information, can't wait

Fantastic News! Thank you.
I saw this film for more 30 Years ago and now comes on DVD

First Isle of Wight, now this - wooohooo!!!!!

Great news! Looking forward to the release.
Leslie

Fantastic It will be great to see it without atrocious picture quality