I caught a film print that screened tonight at the Harvard Film Archive and had the exact same problem. I originally attributed it to the low quality of the print itself (full of dirt, scratches, specks, hisses, crackles, pops, etc.), the Shakespearean dialogue, Welles mumbling most of his lines, and my own, sometimes poor, hearing. Though a quick glance around online seems to render this somewhat common among viewers.Mr Sausage wrote:On the other hand, the sound track was so murky, coupled with the Shakespearian dialogue and the accents, that 65% of the time I couldn't follow a single word being said. When people are using words and phrasing you’re not as familiar with, muffling the sounds makes figuring out what they're saying nearly impossible, where a more familiar use of English would have made the task bit easier. At least it gives you some templates or frames of reference.
Made the whole thing a desperate chore to watch, and I ended with no real enjoyment from the movie. I can’t help but wish for a DVD as well.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I genuinely found it impossible to understand what was being said, no matter how hard I tried. I eventually gave up and just focused on the visuals, which admittedly contain Welles' usual great eye for framing. And the film's famous battle sequence is indeed rather well done.
This is a film I'd like to see again at some point in a restored print and with English subtitles.
EDIT: Just spot-checking the version uploaded to YouTube, the sound is significantly better. Still poor, but definitely better. Truth is, I probably should have walked out after realizing how bad the sound was.
Any idea if Macbeth or Othello have similar sound issues? Was considering seeing those when screening later this week.