A Christmas Carol (1951 - Alastair Sim - Scrooge) coming to Blu-ray Nov. 3rd

[DaveIN]

Originally Posted by LMonaco

My little review as promised. My recomendatio at this point is to wait for the VCI version - might be better, has a lot more extras & it’s a few dollars cheaper.

Many thanks for that review! I just read that the DVD version of the Emerald Version has ocassional horizontal lines in it from the transfer on a review from Amazon.com. That quenches it for me, I'll be purchasing the VCI version to replace the DVD only version.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

BTW, another GREAT version (though long OOP) is the Chuck Jones animated one from the early 70's. It also features Alistair Sim as Scrooge. It's way too short, only 26 minutes, but the art and atmosphere are incredible. It was an attempt to tell the story as Dickens did, with no embellishment, which the Sim version has a lot of. It actually won the Oscar for best short subject.

EDIT: Oops! I misunderstood paulsandhu's question.

Oops2: It was Richard Williams' version.
(Although Chuck was just as AF-artsy by that point in the 70's, so the confusion is understandable.)

And again, VCI's made themselves the self-proclaimed "expert" on the PD Alastair Sim, so trust their judgment and experience.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Oops2: It was Richard Williams' version.
(Although Chuck was just as AF-artsy by that point in the 70's, so the confusion is understandable.)

No confusion here sir -- Richard Williams directed, but Chuck Jones executive produced. It was made for his studio. It's often (and probably unfairly) referred to as Chuck Jones' version, I guess because he's so well known in the world of animation

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

No confusion here sir -- Richard Williams directed, but Chuck Jones executive produced. It was made for his studio. It's often (and probably unfairly) referred to as Chuck Jones' version, I guess because he's so well known in the world of animation

This version was on TV in UK every year when I was a youngster as part of the "Animated Classics" series.

Wish it was more readily available, although you can watch it on Youtube.

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by LMonaco

My little review as promised. First thing first. This is from the 2005 restoration, 86 minutes b&w 2.0 DTS HD MA, 1.33:1 Aspect ratio.

Amazon list this as color, and the cover looks like cheezy-assed Ted Turner colorized crap.

So, please confirm - this is Black and white only? I certainly hope so, because if it's colorized, I ain't buyin!

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Amazon list this as color, and the cover looks like cheezy-assed Ted Turner colorized crap.

So, please confirm - this is Black and white only? I certainly hope so, because if it's colorized, I ain't buyin!

From the VCI Entertainment website:

Product Details:
Format: Blu-Ray
Version: Full Screen
Rating: NR
Runtime: 86 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Year: 1951
Item: 9001
Region: NTSC
Audio: Dolby Digital
Color: B&W
Language: English

[BillyJack]

I heard that Alastair Sim was a rude man and WOULD NOT sign autographs and do interviews,etc. is this true? But he was great in this all-time Christmas classic!

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

I heard that Alastair Sim was a rude man and WOULD NOT sign autographs and do interviews,etc. is this true?

He shunned publicity - I don't see that makes him rude though. For him, it was all about the acting and his performance.

[BillyJack]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

He shunned publicity - I don't see that makes him rude though. For him, it was all about the acting and his performance.

Sorry, maybe "reclusive" would have been better wording!

[The Big Blue]

Or Scroogey.

[LMonaco]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Amazon list this as color, and the cover looks like cheezy-assed Ted Turner colorized crap.

So, please confirm - this is Black and white only? I certainly hope so, because if it's colorized, I ain't buyin!

The Emerald Edition (available in Canada only - unless your importing it) is in black & while.
My understanding is that the VCI version (domestic in the states) comes with 2 discs - 1 b&w blu & a colorized dvd plus other extras.

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by LMonaco

The Emerald Edition (available in Canada only - unless your importing it) is in black & while.
My understanding is that the VCI version (domestic in the states) comes with 2 discs - 1 b&w blu & a colorized dvd plus other extras.

Thanks for the reply - so you do not currently have the VCI version (the one for distribution in the US), correct?

Is there anything that leads you to believe that the VCI version (2-disc) will have better picture or audio quality??? (a different encode?)

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Thanks for the reply - so you do not currently have the VCI version (the one for distribution in the US), correct?

Is there anything that leads you to believe that the VCI version (2-disc) will have better picture or audio quality??? (a different encode?)

On the link I included in my response above to your original inquiry, VCI's site states:

"New State-of-the-Art High Definition Film Transfer from the original 35mm negatives – digitally restored picture and sound"

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

On the link I included in my response above to your original inquiry, VCI's site states:

"New State-of-the-Art High Definition Film Transfer from the original 35mm negatives – digitally restored picture and sound"

Wowsers! Just followed the link. It lists Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1

Color me intrigued, but because of other comments here, I may wait for a review just the same... (plenty of time before Christmas)

[beefytwinkie]

Does anyone know who played Fred's maid in the scene where Scrooge finally visits on Christmas Day?

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by beefytwinkie

Does anyone know who played Fred's maid in the scene where Scrooge finally visits on Christmas Day?

She has quite a following!

[LMonaco]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Wowsers! Just followed the link. It lists Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1

Color me intrigued, but because of other comments here, I may wait for a review just the same... (plenty of time before Christmas)

Don't get excited over the DTS HD MA 2.0,on the Emerald edition. I compared the PQ & AQ to the DVDs I had. It may have sounded like a decent upgrade but it's not a decent Blu. To maybe help better explain what the quality of this blu ray compares too, if you took out all the Alister Sim's Christmas Carol DVDS away from your collection - it would not surprise me if this blu is the WORST looking & sounding movie you have on disc - whether it is on blu or DVD. Stranger things have happened before but I can't see a worse looking or sounding blu coming out for sale to the public What scares me though is that they (VCI) might use the same 2005 restored transfer. I hope not. I pray that the people at VCI actually love this movie & treat as such.

[beefytwinkie]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

She has quite a following!

Whoa! Hey! I'm not alone.

[rezpekt]

DVDBeaver's review. Audio is lossy but picture quality looks very good.

[Russell_L]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

DVDBeaver's review. Audio is lossy but picture quality looks very good.

Those screencaps look positively amazing next to VCI's previous DVD release. Can't wait to get this!!!