Spartacus (1960) (Restored Edition)

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

but as I understand it - the archival soundmix for the latter replicates and is encoded on the 70mm prints AND the new DCP with the five front channels as heard in it's original 70mm theatrical engagements - is 'Spartacus' also done the same way?

We created two separate mixes in 1989, one for theaters still able to play "70mm 6-track," and the other with phantom channels and baby booms.

The new Blu will have 7.1 home theater format. Very little call for 5 discreet channels behind the screen in home theaters.

RAH

[Poya]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

We were talking about 70mm magnetic here, that is/was 6-track. 35mm mag didn't make any sense after Dolby Stereo was invented in 1975

But Dolby Stereo was just a matrix than true stereo. Magnetic sound offered channels without the need for matrixing. Same goes to 70mm blow ups for 35mm films, like Spartacus. It's no different than using Dolby Pro Logic. Again, correct me if I'm wrong but I prefer wathing films while listening to how they were supposed to sound originally.

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by Poya

But Dolby Stereo was just a matrix than true stereo. Magnetic sound offered channels without the need for matrixing. Same goes to 70mm blow ups for 35mm films, like Spartacus. It's no different than using Dolby Pro Logic. Again, correct me if I'm wrong but I prefer wathing films while listening to how they were supposed to sound originally.

I see your point but still it didn't make sense for theaters to use magnetic 4-track if you add to the equation costs/maintenance.

What Dolby accomplished with Dolby Stereo is simply amazing if you ask me matrixed or not. Once decoded it had 4 channels of audio in the space of an optical mondo track with no additional print costs.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Poya

No one's comparing Nolan to Kubrick here. Where did you get that from? All I said was that he was Nolan's biggest influence, and that didn't mean I compared the both of them. Kubrick has inspired countless of filmmakers (Scorsese, Coens, etc), which isn't surprising since he's the greatest filmmaker of all time. Besides, we all know that Paul Thomas Anderson is the new Kubrick. There Will Be Blood and The Master had that style of filmmaking Kubrick always employed.

I should have said that they don't belong in the same company of reference on any level, but not necessarily that a comparison was being made. So you're right. In any case, my post wasn't directed at you. As for your post above, I love Kubrick, but we can agree to disagree on your contention that he is the greatest or that Anderson has inherited his legacy.

Apologies for going OT.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

I see your point but still it didn't make sense for theaters to use magnetic 4-track if you add to the equation costs/maintenance.

What Dolby accomplished with Dolby Stereo is simply amazing if you ask me matrixed or not. Once decoded it had 4 channels of audio in the space of an optical mondo track with no additional print costs.

Putting cost aside, in terms of sound quality, it was truly the best of the best. Not even optical sound could compete. It was full, clear, discrete channels and it's a shame a lot of films have now gone with digital sound, even filmmakers who love celluloid.

Off topic, but I heard about this layout called "quadrophonic" and it's 4.0 but the layout appears to be all wrong, it's basically:

L. R.

L. R.

when it should be:

C.

L. R.

Sur.

[CinemaScope]

When I saw Spartacus at the cinema in 1962 (it may have been '61, long time ago!) at my all-time favourite cinema, Odeon Westbourne Grove, West London, I'm sure it was mono, like most local cinemas, they weren't equipped for stereo. In fact I saw nearly all the big movies at the time in mono, it wasn't till DVD & Blu-ray that I got the full glory of stereo & stereo surround for these films. The same with all those fifties cinemascope films, I had no idea that so many of them were in stereo.

[sartana]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

I see your point but still it didn't make sense for theaters to use magnetic 4-track if you add to the equation costs/maintenance.

What Dolby accomplished with Dolby Stereo is simply amazing if you ask me matrixed or not. Once decoded it had 4 channels of audio in the space of an optical mondo track with no additional print costs.

Yes but they did so at a great loss in sound quality. Not only was the sound Matrixed rather than Discreet, both Frequency Range and Dynamic Range were drastically reduced compared to 35 Mag sound.

In fact until Dolby SR came along in 87, Optical Dolby A was anything but amazing and quite lackluster.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by sartana

Yes but they did so at a great loss in sound quality. Not only was the sound Matrixed rather than Discreet, both Frequency Range and Dynamic Range were drastically lacking compared to 35 Mag sound.

In fact until Dolby SR came along in 87, Optical Dolby A was anything but amazing and quite lackluster.

Discrete.


And there were some amazing soundtracks. I in particular remember Commando and Predator sounding particuarly good in standard Dolby Stereo. Yes, not as good as discrete full range mag, but not bad. Not bad at all.


Technically Dolby SR was introduced with Ruthless People in 1986, with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home being the official launch titles (at the time it was labeled "Dolby Spectral Sound").

[sartana]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Discrete.


And there were some amazing soundtracks. I in particular remember Commando and Predator sounding particuarly good in standard Dolby Stereo. Yes, not as good as discrete full range mag, but not bad. Not bad at all.


Technically Dolby SR was introduced with Ruthless People in 1986, with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home being the official launch titles (at the time it was labeled "Dolby Spectral Sound").

Star Trek IV was 70 MM Mag SR only. For 35 MM, the first official title was Robocop in the summer of 87.

After listening to Mag sound whether it be 70 or 35 for many years, I really never cared for the Un-dynamic sound of Optical Dolby A. Plus due to the fact that the 4 channels were matrixed , channel separation was underwhelming. Having said that, I would agree that certain films like the ones you mentioned and The Living Daylights, sounded OK when played through superior sound systems like HPS-4000 or THX.

[Yojimbo68]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I've been a member there for many years and dip in occasionally but it's such a quiet place, your 'few words' are about all that keeps me coming back. It's like the sedate country club equivalent of video forums where the creme de la milk hang out, whereas this place is more like Hooters: there's a lot more tits to deal with but also a greater chance of conversing with like-minded souls.

Oh man, this is one of the funniest comments I've ever read on here! Made me laugh out loud for real! Dat's true! Don't you ever give up on this site Geoff D!

It's so great that Spartacus has been give the treatment it deserves. Out of all the Kubrick films on Blu-ray, this one got the worst treatment until now. I can't wait for the moment this new Blu-ray finds itself spinning in my player.

[Joce]

Do you think it will be Region Free ?

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Joce

Do you think it will be Region Free ?

Ha, I bloody hope so, I've pre-ordered it. All other Universal releases have been multi-region, I'm confident this will be.

[Bourne1886]

I've ordered the Italian Steelbook which is just over £10. A bargain.

[MifuneFan]

Italian Steelbook

Release Date: October 21st, 2015

Purchase Link:

Amazon.it


Artwork:

[CelestialAgent]

With this release I'll only need to get Fear and Desire, Killer's Kiss/The Killing and Paths of Glory to own the complete Kubrick collection that is commercially available on Blu-Ray (I already own the WB boxset). (His other films are some short documentaries from the 50s.)

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

With this release I'll only need to get Fear and Desire, Killer's Kiss/The Killing and Paths of Glory to own the complete Kubrick collection that is commercially available on Blu-Ray (I already own the WB boxset). (His other films are some short documentaries from the 50s.)

The hell you waiting for? Pick up those other releases immediately.

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

With this release I'll only need to get Fear and Desire, Killer's Kiss/The Killing and Paths of Glory to own the complete Kubrick collection that is commercially available on Blu-Ray (I already own the WB boxset). (His other films are some short documentaries from the 50s.)

If you're region free you can own them all !

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

The hell you waiting for? Pick up those other releases immediately.

But... money. And a back catalogue of a few Blu-Rays I have yet to get round to watching. But I certainly intend to at some point over the next couple of months.

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

If you're region free you can own them all !

Well, that's the thing. I'm Region B, so Fear and Desire is easy enough to get. Spartacus (assuming it's Region Free; Universal's previous Spartacus release was, or at least that the UK gets its own release) I should be able to import. For Paths of Glory I have the choice between an ancient UK DVD or an imported Australian 'Cinema Cult' Blu-Ray.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

But... money. And a back catalogue of a few Blu-Rays I have yet to get round to watching. But I certainly intend to at some point over the next couple of months.



Well, that's the thing. I'm Region B, so Fear and Desire is easy enough to get. Spartacus (assuming it's Region Free; Universal's previous Spartacus release was, or at least that the UK gets its own release) I should be able to import. For Paths of Glory I have the choice between an ancient UK DVD or an imported Australian 'Cinema Cult' Blu-Ray.

The Aussie BD comes from the same restoration as the Criterion release so it should look very good. Spartacus wil definitely be region free, being from Universal.

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Well, that's the thing. I'm Region B, so Fear and Desire is easy enough to get. Spartacus (assuming it's Region Free; Universal's previous Spartacus release was, or at least that the UK gets its own release) I should be able to import. For Paths of Glory I have the choice between an ancient UK DVD or an imported Australian 'Cinema Cult' Blu-Ray.

That release of Fear and Desire includes all of the Kubrick's short films...so that's a given if you're B-region