Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[SeanJoyce]

I wonder how much of an improvement the 2k-restored The Hitch-Hiker will be compared to the previous release.

[BluProofie]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Studio Canal's 4K blu-ray of THE THIRD MAN says it's region B locked, but it loaded
easily in my region A Panasonic. Haven't tried it yet in my region B player. My
goodness what a transfer! It just blows away other editions.

It’s Region Free.

[leonmarks]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Studio Canal's 4K blu-ray of THE THIRD MAN says it's region B locked, but it loaded
easily in my region A Panasonic. Haven't tried it yet in my region B player. My
goodness what a transfer! It just blows away other editions.

This is very welcome news. I've had two blu ray editions and both have been surprisingly poor quality, especially in sound. Do you notice a big uptick in the sound quality with this edition?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by leonmarks

This is very welcome news. I've had two blu ray editions and both have been surprisingly poor quality, especially in sound. Do you notice a big uptick in the sound quality with this edition?

Richard is currently banned so he may not be able to respond to you anytime soon. This site did a review of this SC release a couple of years back, and the reviewer said the clarity and depth of the audio is virtually identical to the Criterion release. PQ-wise, there is a noticeable improvement in quality though

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-T...130550/#Review

There is a rumor that Criterion may have gotten the rights back to The Third Man. We know Studiocanal is licensing their titles to Kino and others, and Criterion got some back, so I'd personally suggest holdiing off on ordering the overseas release for a little while longer.

[leonmarks]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Richard is currently banned so he may not be able to respond to you anytime soon. This site did a review of this SC release a couple of years back, and the reviewer said the clarity and depth of the audio is virtually identical to the Criterion release. PQ-wise, there is a noticeable improvement in quality though

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-T...130550/#Review

There is a rumor that Criterion may have gotten the rights back to The Third Man. We know Studiocanal is licensing their titles to Kino and others, and Criterion got some back, so I'd personally suggest holdiing off on ordering the overseas release for a little while longer.

Thank you very much. So, I guess I misread his post as I thought this was a new release, but it appears it's the same Studio Canal edition I've had for two years. The cover art looks different than my current SC edition, so I was hopeful. Oh well. Thanks for clarifying.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

There is a rumor that Criterion may have gotten the rights back to The Third Man.

How is this the first I'm hearing of this? Criterion's blu-ray edition of The Third Man is my holy grail. Back in the days immediately after it went out of print and could still be had for a reasonable price, I didn't have a blu-ray player or an HD TV, so I just bought the DVD edition. That's probably my single biggest home media purchase regret, so if Criterion gives me a change to correct that oversight--and you know they want it back in their collection, too--I won't be so hesitant again.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

There is a rumor that Criterion may have gotten the rights back to The Third Man. We know Studiocanal is licensing their titles to Kino and others, and Criterion got some back, so I'd personally suggest holdiing off on ordering the overseas release for a little while longer.

Even if Criterion got the rights back, I'd put money on SC releasing a 4K version of The Third Man before Criterion even got round to it.

[EVERYONE LIES]

There is no point to Criterion re-releasing The Third Man unless they make it their first 4k release or can bring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotton and Carol Reed back to life for a round table sit down discussion about the movie.

[jdw89]

This thread is arguably the greatest thread on the forum. I hope to find more Noirs that I haven't seen yet and pick them up. Anyone have an idea on where I could start?

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

I don't know what you've already seen but I finally got my CC blu of Detour yesterday and I highly recommend it. I saw it a few times about 10 years ago on DVD, and this new disc is a complete revelation. It was like seeing 90% more movie than the horrible transfer I'd seen before. Epic noir, one of the best imo.

Other favorites:
The Killing
Sunset Blvd
Night and the City
Pickup on South Street
Touch of Evil
The Asphalt Jungle
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Leave Her to Heaven
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Big Sleep
Force of Evil
Double Indemnity

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

I don't know what you've already seen but I finally got my CC blu of Detour yesterday and I highly recommend it. I saw it a few times about 10 years ago on DVD, and this new disc is a complete revelation. It was like seeing 90% more movie than the horrible transfer I'd seen before. Epic noir, one of the best imo.

Other favorites:
The Killing
Sunset Blvd
Night and the City
Pickup on South Street
Touch of Evil
The Asphalt Jungle
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Leave Her to Heaven
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Big Sleep
Force of Evil
Double Indemnity

Not on Blu-ray yet, but I just re-watched Nightmare Alley the other night - an absolute classic, and worth adding to any watchlist.

I hope Signal One sort their release out, because I assume Disney will do nothing with it now that they own Fox.

[jdw89]

Who are the best labels putting out Film Noir on BR?

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

I don't know what you've already seen but I finally got my CC blu of Detour yesterday and I highly recommend it. I saw it a few times about 10 years ago on DVD, and this new disc is a complete revelation. It was like seeing 90% more movie than the horrible transfer I'd seen before. Epic noir, one of the best imo.

Other favorites:
The Killing
Sunset Blvd
Night and the City
Pickup on South Street
Touch of Evil
The Asphalt Jungle
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Leave Her to Heaven
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Big Sleep
Force of Evil
Double Indemnity

I own all of these with the exception of South Street and Leave Her to Heaven.

[rocknblues81]

I'd say my favorites are:

Double Indemnity
The Big Heat
The Big Sleep
Night in the City
The Killing
The Asphalt Jungle
Body and Soul
The Hitch Hiker
The Postman Rings Twice

But honestly, the only one that I own and have seen that I didn't love is Key Largo. Not that I dislike it, but it didn't completely live up to expectations.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by jdw89

Who are the best labels putting out Film Noir on BR?

Hate to be typical, but I'd say that Criterion is the undisputed champ here...I recently had to step back and marvel at the work they've done in that genre.

Beyond that, you have hearty outputs from the following labels:

Warner Archive
Kino
Twilight Time
Olive
Arrow
ClassicFlix

[jdw89]

I think I’ll likely pick up several titles Tuesday once I get paid however I am not sure what to get

[usuallee]

Originally Posted by nitin

FYI, Under the Silver Lake has a solid first two thirds I thought but the last third is so interminably stupid that the whole movie disappears up its own backside. Also reminds you of many better movies like Chinatown, The Long Goodbye, Cutter’s Way and Inherent Vice.

Yes! I felt the same way. I enjoyed it overall but it was way too long and at the end it was like a shrug of the shoulders and "that's it?" kind of feeling. It did crib from earlier, better films. Not a rewatchable, for me.

[jetthead]

Received my copy of Noir Archive Volume 2 today. Can't wait to dig in!

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by leonmarks

This is very welcome news. I've had two blu ray editions and both have been surprisingly poor quality, especially in sound. Do you notice a big uptick in the sound quality with this edition?

There's no improvement in the audio on the 4K restoration, that I noticed. However
the audio is fine, and sounds as it should for a 1949 film. If you're referring to the old
Criterion disc, possibly there is an improvement, but I haven't compared.

Originally Posted by leonmarks

Thank you very much. So, I guess I misread his post as I thought this was a new release, but it appears it's the same Studio Canal edition I've had for two years. The cover art looks different than my current SC edition, so I was hopeful. Oh well. Thanks for clarifying.

Well, the Lionsgate / Studio Canal upgrade came out in both the USA and U.K. in
2010. This is probably the edition you are referring to:



However, Studio Canal / Vintage Classics' 4K restoration was released in the U.K.
in 2015, although it's new to me:



The 4K is a significant upgrade visually. There's no other way to see this exceptional
film. It started me filling in the missing titles in my Carol Reed collection. Reed was
one of England's finest directors. All his films are worth owning. Arrow just brought
The Running Man (1963) to blu-ray, and it's a beautiful color transfer of a terrific
adventure film.

[BluProofie]

Originally Posted by leonmarks

Thank you very much. So, I guess I misread his post as I thought this was a new release, but it appears it's the same Studio Canal edition I've had for two years. The cover art looks different than my current SC edition, so I was hopeful. Oh well. Thanks for clarifying.

You must have the old SC release. The 4K restoration from 2015 released in Europe is extraordinary.