The Robe gets a Blu-ray release for Easter 2009 using 4K master scan

[HDTV1080P]

The Robe Blu-ray

The Robe Blu-ray Review

Many film experts are now saying that modern films need 6K scans and that 4K scans are not enough to capture the resolution and quality of modern films. Perhaps 4K is good enough for the 1953 Robe that uses old film stock and lower quality camera lenses. The older films have less film resolution compared to modern day film technology.

Quote
"With many film aficionados proclaiming that film’s resolution is at least 6K, was a scan at 4K sufficient to capture all the information? “We did testing with Fox to demonstrate that it was enough,” says Inchalik. “The rule of thumb is that you should digitize at twice the resolution to get everything. First, you have to think about the smallest piece of grain, since it’s the grain that captures the photons of light and turns it into dye or silver. The other factor is how good the lens is that’s able to focus light onto the film plane. For The Robe, the grain was larger because it was older film stocks. The lenses of that era also reduced the resolution.”

The Robe BLU-RAY is scheduled for a Easter 2009 release

Quote
"The restoration of The Robe took three months to complete. Lowry Digital delivered digital LTO tape, multiple preservation negatives for different archives, and HD masters. Belston, who says he is “thrilled” by the restoration, reports The Robe will get a Blu-ray release for Easter 2009. “A restoration is a labor of love,” says Inchalik. “If you haven’t seen the 'before,' you’ll never realize how far it came. Everything is judged by the final result.”

Entire article can be read at the following link
http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/currentissue/10226.html

[doctorD]

Cool...Glad to see this.

You know Lowry Digital, the company doing the restoration for this movie, will be making some serious money if they become the choice company to restore old movies like this. They are the company that restored the previously released James Bond movies. They did a great job! So heres hoping the Ten Commandments and others will be getting their turn for release on Blu ray.

[davcole]

I can't wait to see what they do with this one. The DVD I have is pretty horrid as far as picture quality. It will be interesting to see if they do some sort of audio restoration. I'd love to really hear the fidelity of Alfred Newman's magnificent score.

[stockstar1138]

very nice.

[bluskies]

Yet more news from classicflix.com about the upcoming Blu-ray version of The Robe (the items marked in bold are supposedly exclusive to the Blu-ray edition:

BONUS FEATURES

Introduction by Martin Scorsese

Commentary with Film Composer David Newman and Film Historians Jon Burlingame, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman

The Making of the Robe

Gallery

Interactive Pressbook

*Vintage Celebrity Introductions by Richard Widmark, Susan Hayworth, Robert Wagner, Clifton Webb and Dan Dailey*

*The CinemaScope Story featurette*

*From Scripture to Script: The Bible and Hollywood featurette*

*BONUSVIEW picture-in-picture mode:*

*The Robe Times Two: A Comparison of Widescreen and Standard Versions*

*A Seamless Faith: The Real-Life Search for The Robe featurettes*

*Inspiration*

*The Clothes of Christ*

*Clothes in Biblical Times*

*Clothes of a King*

*A Seamless Garment*

*The Robe on Page & Screen*

*The Robe and Politics*

*The Robe in Our World*

*The Robe in France & Russia*

*History vs. Drama*

*Audio Interview with Screenwriter Philip Dunne (1969)*


*Movietone News*

*CinemaScope Hailed by Public and Press*

*Broadway Hails The Robe in CinemaScope*

*The Robe (Christian Herald Award)*

*Millionth Patron Sees The Robe*

*CinemaScope and The Robe Win Oscars*


*Trailers / TV Spots*

*Poster Gallery / Lobby Cards*

http://www.classicflix.com/details-a...daac1540c6fe09

[Red Hood]

Lowry is amazing, seeing there equipment and all those g4s and g5s on the Dr. No special feature was amazing. Wish they would show more.

[eChopper]

My God this transfer is incredible.

Raised from the dead, Lowry have pulled a rabbitt out of the hat with this one.

Fine grain left intact, no visible color bleeding (at 50"), incredible detail, and its not soft. A few of the night time/indoor scenes aren't as good , as to be expected.

This reminds me of The Searchers in overall picture quality.

DTS-HD master audio but the surrounds are non existent. Dialogue is clear.

Ill check tonight if it plays on my region B player

Bravo Fox!!! & Bravo everyone at Lowry!!!

[Blu Titan]

Can't wait to get this baby in my hands should look awesome!

[davcole]

Originally Posted by eChopper

My God this transfer is incredible.

Wow, i'm jealous!!!

[eChopper]

Mwuhahahahahahahahhahahahaha (rubs hands evily)

Its region locked. There were a few scenes where the surrounds got a bit of a workout on further checking

[Seretur]

Modern films need larger scan area because today's film stock and lenses are sharper? Um, talk to Anthony Dod Mantle, the most recent Oscar winner, who shot much of Slumdog using digital cameras. And besides, most modern films are only as sharp as their digital intermediate is.

There is much to be said for quality of the Golden Age Hollywood films, and remember, there is no such thing as linear progress out there. But okay, that sweeping introductory statement aside, this was a good read. I'll definitely get The Robe.

[eChopper]

ive just had a chance to finish the whole movie.

Theres several scenes where the characters have a yellowish hue. ( a la The Searchers)

Its clear that some reels survived the passage of time better than others, but given what the restorers had to work with its a miracle they got it looking this good.

This is the first time in twenty five years ive seen The Robe- I was terrified of the Caligula character then and i'm terrified of him now!

[Pirate King]

This is a great movie. I will pick this up as soon as it is released. As you know, The Robe was the first movie filmed in Cinemascope.

[Clark Kent]

I recommend people at least rent this movie. It is a great movie that looks to have been properly released on Blu-ray to its full potential. This was one of the first movies to be shown in widescreen.

[cynatnite]

This is one of the few religious type movies I enjoy. This is going on my 'gotta have' list.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by eChopper

DTS-HD master audio but the surrounds are non existent. Dialogue is clear.

EChopper

You mentioned that the surrounds are non existent. Now that you have seen the entire Blu, do you still feel the same? Seems strange that a DTS-HD Master would not have a great audio.

[Octavio]

I saw this movie several years ago and enjoyed it mildly, however my dad is a HUGE fan of this film. Actually a couple of years ago I gave him as a present both "The Robe" and its sequel "Demetrius and the Gladiators" on DVD.

The Robe and Quo Vadis on HD would be a nice present for my dad's birthday.

[eChopper]

on my 5.1 setup my rear speakers were rarely used but i checked them with test tones so it must have been the way it was recorded/mixed. I dont have an audiophile set up and I only listended to the 640 kbps DTS track . Someone at HomeTheatre forum did a good write up on The Robe

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by eChopper

on my 5.1 setup my rear speakers were rarely used but i checked them with test tones so it must have been the way it was recorded/mixed. I dont have an audiophile set up and I only listended to the 640 kbps DTS track . Someone at HomeTheatre forum did a good write up on The Robe

Thanks

I'll go and take a look





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[PowellPressburger]

Has anyone grabbed any at stores? Best Buy states they do not have store pick up for THE Robe?