It's a wonderful life

[maynard]

I really want this one.

Can anyone give me some info on the release? Quality, subs and so forth.

Thanks.

[Zippyfan]

It hasnt been released yet. I hope the picture quality is good!

[The Driver]

www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=71545

I notice there is also a colourised or maybe that should be colorized. It'll be interesting to see where the UK distributor -Universal Pictures- got their elements from.

Anyone else not like this film? I tried the SE DVD a few years back and hated it. Maybe I have a cold heart or something but I disliked the lead character. He was an idiot and a thief. I like my thieves to be like Michale Mann's in Heat and Stewart stole from people whose money wouldn't be insured -unlike the money stolen in Heat or our very own bank thieves lately. Just not my bag (I love old movies but just not this one).

Merry Christmas

[Douglas R]

In what sense did the lead character (James Stwart) steal money? Are you sure you actually watched the film?

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by The Driver

He was an idiot and a thief........Stewart stole from people whose money wouldn't be insured

Obviously there is another darker cut of this movie that I have never seen.

Originally Posted by Douglas R

Are you sure you actually watched the film?

I'm guessing either no or not very intently.

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

Obviously there is another darker cut of this movie that I have never seen.

That's the first time I've smiled reading this forum

Didn't he steal money? Maybe I'm misremembering things. I get the B&W Bluray.


From IMDb:
George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as we see in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000 loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth, literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?

[Eeeper]

What I find amazing about It's a Wonderful Life is that it originally didn't make a heap of money and wasn't considered a "great" film when it first came out. It's only after repeated (read: endless) showings on TV at Christmas that it began the classic it is today. It remains for me a timeless story and, regardless of extras or colourized versions, it deserves to be on everyone's DVD/BD shelf if only as a relief from the inevitable in-laws.

I, for one, will be buying it in time for Christmas.

All together now:

"Attaboy, Clarence. Attaboy."

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by The Driver

That's the first time I've smiled reading this forum

Didn't he steal money? Maybe I'm misremembering things. I get the B&W Bluray.


From IMDb:
George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as we see in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000 loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth, literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?

Uncle Billy, and absent minded employee of the Building and Loan, mislays the money (which is found and kept by the dastardly Mr Potter) on the same day an inspector comes to audit/check the books of the bank. This is what sends George into his spiral.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

Uncle Billy, and absent minded employee of the Building and Loan, mislays the money (which is found and kept by the dastardly Mr Potter) on the same day an inspector comes to audit/check the books of the bank. This is what sends George into his spiral.

No only that, but George tells Potter that he himself misplaced the money, in order to deflect the blame from Uncle Billy. Hardly the characteristics of an "idiot" and a "thief".

[The Driver]

Thanks for the info I'll be getting this for sure.

Isn't it strange this film has such a grand following yet it fell into true public domain in the USA? Some of these companies really are rotten.

[Melodious Thunk]

I hope the print they've used for the BD is as good as the one I've seen at my favourite cinema the past few Christmasses. It's become a family tradition for us to watch it close to Christmas. I'm not even religious but it never fails to put me in the Christmas mood!

And hey, any excuse to stare longingly at Gloria Grahame...

But I will *never* watch the colorized version. It's beyond me why anyone would want to see such beautiful b/w cinematography ruined like that.

[samdaman94]

I picked this up today, and watched the colour version just to check it out, and I personally thought it really worked. They did a very good job in my opinion. Sure, it's classic in b&w, but I recommend you do check out the colour version as it's perfect.

[maynard]

Originally Posted by samdaman94

I picked this up today, and watched the colour version just to check it out, and I personally thought it really worked. They did a very good job in my opinion. Sure, it's classic in b&w, but I recommend you do check out the colour version as it's perfect.

Can you give some info on the release? Quality, subs and so forth.

Thanks.

[samdaman94]

This is all the stuff it says on the box that might interest you maynard....

ORIGINAL AND COLOUR VERSIONS

MAIN FEATURE
VIDEO - 1080p High-Definition Pillarbox 1.33:1
AUDIO - English Mono 2.0
SUBTITLES - English SDH

SPECIAL FEATURES
(Theatrical Trailer, Trivia Tracker and Picture Comparison)
VIDEO - 1080/p High Definition
AUDIO - English Mono 2.0

Black and White Film Running Time - 2hrs 10mins approx
Colour Film Running Time - 2hrs 11mins approx


I thought the quality was fantastic, on both the colour and b&w editions. Definately the best colourised film I've ever seen. The 'Picture Comparison' was a nice touch, kinda like PiP, you can watch it in colour with a little box playing the film in b&w at the same time in the corner. I'm not sure what else to say except I was very impressed with this bluray, and I would highly recommend it for any collection!

Hope this helps!

[maynard]

Thanks samdaman!

[samdaman94]

No problem

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by samdaman94

This is all the stuff it says on the box that might interest you maynard....

Can you double-check languages and subtitles on the disk proper?

TIA.

[samdaman94]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Can you double-check languages and subtitles on the disk proper?

TIA.

Certainly. The back of the box is correct, there is an english subtitle track and an english audio track - that's it. On the menu, there is just...

SUBTITLES > ON/OFF (no other languagues, just english)

and there is no sign of changing the audio track. I played a part of the film and you cannot change the audio track, and there is only the one subtitle track.

hope this helps
samdaman94

NOTE TO PEOPLE IN US - This is the UK release, and the US release could be different.

[Grubert]

Thanks a lot! Seems that the US edition is the way to go for me - if it drops in price just a little.

[samdaman94]

No worries