Hitchcock: British International Pictures Collection - November 26, 2019

[Akijama]

https://www.amazon.com/Hitchcock-Bri...es-tv&sr=1-560

Before he became known as the Master of Suspense in Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock had already established himself as a precociously talented filmmaker in England. Hitchcock: British International Pictures Collection brings together five features he directed for the production company that first displayed his talents. Four of them are visually dynamic silent films: atmospheric boxing drama The Ring, sprightly comedies The Farmer’s Wife and Champagne, and a love triangle set on the Isle of Man, The Manxman. Also included is the 1931 sound feature The Skin Game, a rousing melodrama about feuding families. These features display Hitchcock’s command of visual language long before his Hollywood sojourn, proving he was a master from the beginning.

Special Features:
-Piano scores by Xavier Berthelot (The Ring, The Farmer’s Wife, Champagne, The Manxman)
-Hitchcock/Truffaut: Icon interviews Icon (Archival Audio)
-Audio commentary on The Ring by film critic Nick Pinkerton
-Audio commentaries on Champagne and The Manxman by film historian Farran Smith Nehme

[drush9999]

Has Rich and Strange been dropped from this, or being released separately?

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Has Rich and Strange been dropped from this, or being released separately?

Per Kino:

It couldn't be ready in time for the set. StudioCanal and the BFI are having a hard time finding the needed film elements for R&S and N17. No reason to delay the release of the other 5 film for a year or so.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=33658

[Animatic33]

The version of Skin Game on the Criterion Channel is nigh unwatchable - it’s in rough shape and not to mention it’s a slog to sit through.

Unless all the transfers are brand new, I am weary of this set. I really enjoyed The Lodger, but his early work is hit and miss for me.

[Rizor]

I had that Lionsgate death mask DVD set they put out and tried to watch some of these. Got through The Manxman and The Ring. Some of these silents are pretty rough to be honest. Will likely skip these.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Rizor

I had that Lionsgate death mask DVD set they put out and tried to watch some of these. Got through The Manxman and The Ring. Some of these silents are pretty rough to be honest. Will likely skip these.

His silent films are fascinating as curios and to see glimpses of his genius with the camera - individual shots and such - but most of them have rudimentary narratives at best and are pretty difficult to actually sit through. And yet I still bought them on DVD and will buy them on BD as well.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

His silent films are fascinating as curios and to see glimpses of his genius with the camera - individual shots and such - but most of them have rudimentary narratives at best and are pretty difficult to actually sit through. And yet I still bought them on DVD and will buy them on BD as well.

THE LODGER and BLACKMAIL (silent version of course) are absolutely fantastic, top-drawer Hitch despite being early works. DOWNHILL is pretty solid too. I haven’t seen the rest of his silents yet but am greatly looking forward to doing so after I pick up this set!

[captainsolo]

Every Hitchcock work is important. It's amazing we have any of the silents available let alone in any watchable quality. I grew up with all the horrid public domain releases of everything through the end of the British period and it was a revelation seeing any of the eventual official versions. Heck it was amazing even seeing the old Criterion LDs for the ones they released compared to the junk elsewhere. JAMAICA INN was always missing 20-40 mins on most releases for example!

[GeoffOliver]

I'm a Hitchcock completist and will of course be picking this up. I'm glad they're being released as a set because I doubt I'd want to pick these up individually. The Ring and The Manxmen are probably the best of the lot.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

THE LODGER and BLACKMAIL (silent version of course) are absolutely fantastic, top-drawer Hitch despite being early works. DOWNHILL is pretty solid too. I haven’t seen the rest of his silents yet but am greatly looking forward to doing so after I pick up this set!

Yep out of his silents, The Lodger and Blackmail are excellent. The rest range from ok to dreadful for me. Also bar Murder! and perhaps Number Seventeen, his talkies aren't much cop until The Man Who Knew Too Much.

[WaverBoy]

I hope EASY VIRTUE can be put out over here as well; it’s out in France but without a music score.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I hope EASY VIRTUE can be put out over here as well; it’s out in France but without a music score.

I believe that when Kino announced the 9 titles they are releasing, the buzz was that Criterion had whatever is left of the early ones, except for "Juno and the Paycock".

[bryantburnette]

I really love The Farmer's Wife. One of his sweetest movies. (Not much competition for that, granted...)

[jacksparrow900]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I believe that when Kino announced the 9 titles they are releasing, the buzz was that Criterion had whatever is left of the early ones, except for "Juno and the Paycock".

criterion has pretty much all the hitchcock titles held by ITV

The Pleasure Garden
The Lodger
Downhill
Sabotage
Secret Agent
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Young And Innocent
The 39 Steps
The Lady Vanishes

Where Studio Canal has

The Ring
The Farmer's Wife
Champagne
The Manxman
Blackmail
Murder
The Skin Game
Rich And Strange
Number Seventeen

Which were released by Kino

I'm not sure who has Juno And The Paycock, Waltzes From Vienna and Easy Virtue.

[drush9999]

Wish someone would release Secret Agent, my most wanted Pre-Hollywood Hitch

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow900

I'm not sure who has Juno And The Paycock, Waltzes From Vienna and Easy Virtue.

According to this site:
http://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Copyr...itchcock_films

"Easy Virtue" is with ITV, "Juno and the Paycock" is with StudioCanal, and "Waltzes From Vienna" is probably with ITV but they're not sure.

It also suggests there might be source issues with "Easy Virtue" and "Juno", but it doesn't mention the BFI restoration (which is as yet unreleased on home media).

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

According to this site:
http://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Copyr...itchcock_films

"Easy Virtue" is with ITV, "Juno and the Paycock" is with StudioCanal, and "Waltzes From Vienna" is probably with ITV but they're not sure.

It also suggests there might be source issues with "Easy Virtue" and "Juno", but it doesn't mention the BFI restoration (which is as yet unreleased on home media).

So Criterion might release EASY VIRTUE and WALTZES FROM VIENNA and Kino might give us JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, hopefully in a set with NUMBER SEVENTEEN and RICH AND STRANGE.

[traths]

I've never seen any of these so I'm most likely going to get this one.

[noirjunkie]

Kino botched the aspect ratio on both "talkie" editions of Blackmail, so I hope they don't make the same mistake and perform proper QC on these transfers.

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow900

Where Studio Canal has

The Ring
The Farmer's Wife
Champagne
The Manxman
Blackmail
Murder
The Skin Game
Rich And Strange
Number Seventeen

Which were released by Kino

I wonder if SC will release their own version of this set here in the UK, not holding my breath.