Joseph Losey's M (Columbia 1951) on blu-ray

[Richard--W]

I recommend Sidonis's blu-ray of Joseph Losey's M (1951). No reservations.

It comes in a thin blu-ray case inside a top / bottom loading slipcover that has the
same black cover-art.

The hi-def scan is excellent if not outstanding. Solid blacks, a broad range of shadow
detail and a resolute textured image. No complaints about the transfer. Losey's
version is almost entirely a location shoot. He makes the most extensive use of
Bunker Hill streets, Angel's Flight rail, the Santa Monica Pier and the Bradbury building
that I've seen in a single film.

The only language is English. French subtitles are burned in. Small white letters at the
bottom of the screen flash by quickly. Sometimes the white letters are faint against
bright white shirts and white walls etc. I don't find them bothersome. Losey's mise en
scene is so intense I didn't notice them half the time.

Singing, crowd noise and ambient background speech are not subtitled.

The film runs 88 minutes and 17 seconds. It appears to be uncut so far as I can tell.
The cover art says 85 minutes, but that's wrong.

The aspect ratio is correct at 1.37-1

The cover art and disc state region B. It loads easily in my region-B player, but it also
loads easily in my region A Panasonic and my region A JVC. This blu-ray is region-free.

If anyone has been put off buying this because of subtitles, I recommend you take a
chance. The film is too compelling and the blu-ray too good to pass by over a minor
imperfection.

[kishiro]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

The hi-def scan is excellent if not outstanding.(...)

I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. I love Joseph Losey's movies. But I could not stomach watching this. I had to stop after a couple of minutes due to the excessive DNR. The transfer was completely scrubbed for grain. Everything looked waxy. It's a shame imho. Hopefully someone else will release this un-molested in the us or uk down the road.

[Richard--W]

You're right it has been DNR'd but not completely scrubbed. I see grain.

What other option is there for this film?

[noirjunkie]

The transfer looks like garbage, and even worse, the French subtitles are burned into the picture. Avoid it at all costs.

For those who want to see for themselves, here's a link to the DVDBeaver review - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...51_blu-ray.htm

[Richard--W]

Everybody, please disregard noirjunkie comments. DVDbeaver doesn't say the transfer
is garbage. dvdbeaver's exact words:


The transfer looks superiors - but too digitized and no grain - brighter, far more
detail - more information in the frame.

Superior transfer he says, brighter, far more detail, more information in the frame.

I think he overstates the DNR. In fact his frame captures belie the criticism. Yes there is
DNR and that's unfortunate, but not destructively so. The image is still excellent.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

[Show spoiler]Everybody, please disregard noirjunkie comments. DVDbeaver doesn't say the transfer
is garbage. dvdbeaver's exact words:


The transfer looks superiors - but too digitized and no grain - brighter, far more
detail - more information in the frame.

Superior transfer he says, brighter, far more detail, more information in the frame.

I think he overstates the DNR. In fact his frame captures belie the criticism. Yes there is
DNR and that's unfortunate, but not destructively so. The image is still excellent.

It looks like waxy shite. There's only "far more detail" because of edge enhancement. Forced French subs are also a complete deal-breaker.

[Egbert Souse]

If that screenshot is accurate to what the disc looks like, that's absolutely unacceptable. Seems like they started with a good transfer, but added all that filtering. You could probably get away with garbage like that for DVD, but that's a coaster.

Kind of a shame considering it's definitely a licensed disc.

[bigshot]

I'm waiting for someone to release a non-subtitled copy of this and I'll buy it.

[Richard--W]

When a new scan without burned in subtitles is released I'll certainly buy it.

Meanwhile I'll enjoy this one.

[MifuneFan]

I'm not even sure why a French release is in the NA section..

[Jobla]

I have a French DVD on the FSF label (Films San Frontieres) that doesn't have burned-in subtitles. I don't know if it was struck from the same elements that were used for the French Blu-ray. I also don't know if the FSF release is authorized or not. I believe that the Blu-ray is authorized.

A couple of years ago, an entertainment attorney commented that Criterion holds the US release rights. So, we can add this title to the lengthy "Rumored to be with Criterion" list of titles.

I wish I had a dollar for every title that is "rumored to be with Criterion."

[chas speed]

It did air on TCM a while back, but unfortunately I had gotten rid of my cable and couldn't watch it.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'm not even sure why a French release is in the NA section..

Because I posted it here.

It's an American film on a region-free blu-ray. There is no other blu-ray.

[MifuneFan]

Thanks for moving it mods.

[johnpaul2]

I've seen the restoration in theaters a few years ago and then on BD. The scan probably is OK but the digital restoration is very problematic. It's clearly DNRed (and quite a lot at that), very possible sharpened too, and I'm quite unsure about the color-timing that makes it look the material used for this restoration was an exploitation copy (with lots of blown highlights, especially). All this unfortunately alleviate a non-negligible part of what this new restoration should bring, as can be seen in the screenshot above.

This French review has some more : http://retro-hd.com/tests/blu-ray/2210-m-losey.html

Sure, it most certainly is "the best" copy to this day, but seeing the result, it doesn't mean much and I wouldn't score this BD higher than 6/10 on PQ.

As for the subtitles, they're not burnt-in but forced.