Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour DVD discussion thread

[OceanBlue]

Have done a thread search in DVD Movies and (to my surprise) there weren't any existing threads for anthology television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Haven't selected a flag icon as this thread will be about the various DVD releases in different countries.

From what I've read on here, not all of the seven seasons of Alfred Hitchcock Presents were released on DVD in the States. All seven seasons were released in the UK, as well as a complete series DVD set. In Australia, Via Vision did a complete series DVD set (but the last time I checked their website, it's sold out (I emailed them during the past week about this, and was told they won't be repressing their Alfred Hitchcock Presents complete series DVD set).

Regarding the subsequent series The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, I know Fabulous Films have done a complete series DVD boxset (I've contacted them to ask if the episodes are at NTSC speed, and was told they're NTSC masters). Via Vision have done a complete series DVD boxset (which the last time I checked (recently) is still available from them).

The Blu-ray.com link for the UK DVD release of Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Complete Collection, followed by the Blu-ray.com and Via Vision links for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Complete Collection:





https://viavision.com.au/shop/the-al...mplete-series/

[GeoffOliver]

I’m surprised this show doesn’t have a complete DVD set in the US since this is Universal. They adore Hitchcock (releasing all 14 of his movies that they own on 4K) and have released more obscure content on Blu-ray.

Will probably get the Via Vision sets since they’re region free.

[Jinete Fantasma]

Both have been edited in France too:

https://www.amazon.fr/Alfred-Hitchco.../dp/B01HIWHVYK

https://www.amazon.fr/Alfred-Hitchco.../dp/B08DSSCJRG

[format916]

These air on MEtv like at 1am so I set my dvr lol.

[GeoffOliver]

I just realized Via Vision also sells split Seasons 1-4 and 5-7 sets, and they’re still in stock. Would there be any advantage to getting their 1-4 set over just getting the US Universal sets for those and saving a ton of money?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

I just realized Via Vision also sells split Seasons 1-4 and 5-7 sets, and they’re still in stock. Would there be any advantage to getting their 1-4 set over just getting the US Universal sets for those and saving a ton of money?

I'm enough to confuse anyone, let alone myself, but I've had a look on DVD Compare, the DVD section of the database here and Via Vision's website. Regarding Alfred Hitchcock Presents, there appear to be two featurettes that are on both the US and Australian DVD releases:

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents - A Look Back"
and "Fasten Your Seatbelt - The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock".

If getting the US DVD releases of the first four seasons saves you some money, I'd do that (I don't think there is any advantage in getting the Australian DVD boxset of the first four seasons, instead of the US releases. Assuming both the US and Australian DVD releases use NTSC masters).

I had a question myself: when watching episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents on UK TV channel Sky Arts, some episodes had the end credits end with the Revue logo and some had no closing logo. Is this the same with the US, UK and Australian DVD releases?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Jinete Fantasma

Both have been edited in France too:

https://www.amazon.fr/Alfred-Hitchco.../dp/B01HIWHVYK

https://www.amazon.fr/Alfred-Hitchco.../dp/B08DSSCJRG

I quite like the boxset design for the French DVD boxset of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and the Alfred Hitchcock Hour boxset appears to have an exclusive extra/some exclusive extras (but are they English friendly?).

[GeoffOliver]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I'm enough to confuse anyone, let alone myself, but I've had a look on DVD Compare, the DVD section of the database here and Via Vision's website. Regarding Alfred Hitchcock Presents, there appear to be two featurettes that are on both the US and Australian DVD releases:

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents - A Look Back"
and "Fasten Your Seatbelt - The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock".

If getting the US DVD releases of the first four seasons saves you some money, I'd do that (I don't think there is any advantage in getting the Australian DVD boxset of the first four seasons, instead of the US releases. Assuming both the US and Australian DVD releases use NTSC masters).

I had a question myself: when watching episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents on UK TV channel Sky Arts, some episodes had the end credits end with the Revue logo and some had no closing logo. Is this the same with the US, UK and Australian DVD releases?

I ended up finding a NZ-based seller on eBay with the entire Via Vision set for a decent price, but I’ll keep this in mind if something goes wrong with that.

Looks like only Seasons 1-5 have subtitles, which suggests to me that they recycle Universal’s discs for those. (Universal’s Season 6 set was a MOD sold thru Amazon’s CreateSpace, so that may not have had subtitles.)

[GeoffOliver]

Got in my copy. Nice set with the seasons in their own standard DVD cases inside a flimsy slipcase (which has some fun interior art). Seasons 1-5 appear to be the Universal discs with the opening logos/warnings swapped. No chapter stops except between the episodes, a few bonus features, and they do have subtitles. 6-7 are 100% new discs created by Via Vision (despite Universal having released Season 6 MOD); they have no subtitles or any new extras, but each episode has 4 chapter stops. The back of the box says Region 4, but this is definitely region free.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Got in my copy. Nice set with the seasons in their own standard DVD cases inside a flimsy slipcase (which has some fun interior art). Seasons 1-5 appear to be the Universal discs with the opening logos/warnings swapped. No chapter stops except between the episodes, a few bonus features, and they do have subtitles. 6-7 are 100% new discs created by Via Vision (despite Universal having released Season 6 MOD); they have no subtitles or any new extras, but each episode has 4 chapter stops. The back of the box says Region 4, but this is definitely region free.

Thanks Geoff for posting your comments/observations on what you've seen of Via Vision's DVD boxset release of Alfred Hitchcock Presents so far. I haven't properly checked out the UK release by Fabulous Films of both it and the subsequent Alfred Hitchcock Hour yet, but I am looking at getting the UK releases.

When you are able to, can you check the early episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents please, to see if the end credits end with any closing logos.

[oddbox83]

Interestingly, many episodes on the UK Alfred Hitchcock Hour set have M&E tracks hidden away as a 2nd audio track. They're not listed anywhere, and even Rewind doesn't mention them.

The Fabulous release is definitely PAL, not NTSC.

I don't own any of the others.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Interestingly, many episodes on the UK Alfred Hitchcock Hour set have M&E tracks hidden away as a 2nd audio track. They're not listed anywhere, and even Rewind doesn't mention them.

The Fabulous release is definitely PAL, not NTSC.

I don't own any of the others.

That's interesting, as when I contacted Fabulous Films about whether the episodes in their Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour DVD boxsets are at NTSC speed, they replied saying NTSC masters had been used. Thanks for the helpful post.

[GeoffOliver]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Thanks Geoff for posting your comments/observations on what you've seen of Via Vision's DVD boxset release of Alfred Hitchcock Presents so far. I haven't properly checked out the UK release by Fabulous Films of both it and the subsequent Alfred Hitchcock Hour yet, but I am looking at getting the UK releases.

When you are able to, can you check the early episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents please, to see if the end credits end with any closing logos.

I watched episodes 1-3. They don’t end with any logos, although the credits themselves have logos for MCA and (I believe) Shambley.

Also the first 2/3 of episode 3 had very muffled audio, and I almost cut on the subtitles (it’s a very dialogue-driven episode too), but the last 8-ish minutes sounded fine. It was probably elements issues. The picture looked fine though.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

I watched episodes 1-3. They don’t end with any logos, although the credits themselves have logos for MCA and (I believe) Shambley.

Also the first 2/3 of episode 3 had very muffled audio, and I almost cut on the subtitles (it’s a very dialogue-driven episode too), but the last 8-ish minutes sounded fine. It was probably elements issues. The picture looked fine though.

Regarding the episodes you've watched so far, roughly how long has each episode been?

[bongozoid]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

In Australia, Via Vision did a complete series DVD set (but the last time I checked their website, it's sold out (I emailed them during the past week about this, and was told they won't be repressing their Alfred Hitchcock Presents complete series DVD set).

Interestingly, I went to the their site today and this is showing in stock. It can still be found in stores, as well.

Every time I think about purchasing these, I stop myself; I have a feeling someone will eventually pick this up for blu-ray. Kino seem to be getting in the classic TV game now, or maybe Imprint might look at it as well. It's Hitchcock-related, so I am sure it would sell reasonably well.

[GeoffOliver]

Unfortunately it apparently didn’t sell for Universal. That’s why Season 6 was MOD and the rest of the series wasn’t released in the US at all. Of course that was during the DVD bubble, and expectations were different.

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Regarding the episodes you've watched so far, roughly how long has each episode been?

22-something minutes. Standard length.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by bongozoid

Interestingly, I went to the their site today and this is showing in stock. It can still be found in stores, as well.

Every time I think about purchasing these, I stop myself; I have a feeling someone will eventually pick this up for blu-ray. Kino seem to be getting in the classic TV game now, or maybe Imprint might look at it as well. It's Hitchcock-related, so I am sure it would sell reasonably well.

I was a bit surprised earlier when I checked Via Vision's website (for any additions to the Coming Soon section). Thought I'd check as well for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and saw the same thing as yourself. I had the impression they didn't have any copies left (The Alfred Hitchcock Hour is still available as well). I've changed my mind regarding which DVD release to get and instead of the Fabulous Films UK release I'm probably (hopefully) going to get Via Vision's release.

That is the problem and dilemna, totally agree. Some older television series could eventually get Blu-ray upgrades, and there are some that realistically will not get Blu-ray upgrades. CBS/Paramount and Universal have gone very quiet of late (it feels like in the States only Classicflix and the Warner Archive Collection are still interested in releasing older series now on physical media).

I'm a realist most of the time with which series I think will get DVD releases only and which could get Blu-ray upgrades. It's trivial compared to other things in life, but it is frustrating at times (like why Murder, She Wrote hasn't had a Blu-ray release in the States yet). Elsewhere on here, I think it might have been explained about the two Alfred Hitchcock anthology TV series, the chances of a Blu-ray release (different rightsholders being one of the reasons for Alfred Hitchcock Presents?).

I've been looking at getting either the US or German Blu-ray release of the original Mission: Impossible television series (at the moment, it's looking like I'll be getting the German release).

[oddbox83]

The Hour episodes at least seem to be acceptable SD viewing. Apart from 2 season 1 episodes which look like garbage on the UK set, and I presume others are the same, (Could anyone check?).

Anabel has heavy mosquito-like grain that the MPEG2 encoding can't handle, and IIRC it's To Catch a Butterfly that has some odd digital fizzing around edges in the last reel.

[gunnerg]

So happy to see this thread. Great taste you all! For years, I always hated the shelf look of the US dvd releases of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with season 1-5 being in media books (with mismatched printing orientation), then 6 (mod) & 7 (bootleg) on dvd-r in keep cases. They don't line up! Via Vision blessed my wishes with the complete series dvd box set. Region-free, 100% pressed discs in ntsc and includes the USA release supplements. I somehow missed that they released a box set of Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I just recently ordered it and have that on it's way from Via Vision...I don't deal with multi-region players anymore and dislike pal/ntsc conversion, so I've never owned this series on disc before! They will look great together on the shelf. I will say, I still pray that both series get a blu ray box set from a Universal contractor like Kino someday (and Darkroom too, please?). But until then, I couldn't be happier! Despite being dvd, Alfred Hitchcock Presents does indeed look and sound better on dvd than it does streaming on Peacock. I expect the same for Hour.

[gunnerg]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

The Hour episodes at least seem to be acceptable SD viewing. Apart from 2 season 1 episodes which look like garbage on the UK set, and I presume others are the same, (Could anyone check?).

Anabel has heavy mosquito-like grain that the MPEG2 encoding can't handle, and IIRC it's To Catch a Butterfly that has some odd digital fizzing around edges in the last reel.

I will comment further once I receive the Via Vision set. But I checked out those 2 episodes on Peacock. Anabel has the same mosquito artifacts that you describe. To Catch a Butterfly looks perfectly fine in the last reel. I would expect both to be the same on Via Vision dvds.