An Affair to Remember (1957) - Feb. 1

[#Darren]

Really looking forward to buying this soon

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

I have not received my copy yet, but based on blu-ray.com screenshots, I think it looks fantastic. In DVDBeaver's comparison it has different framing and colors than all the DVD releases so it could be from a new master.

Yes, it does look fantastic, I watched my copy from Blockbuster by Mail last night - I got my copy of All About Eve from Amazon on release day, but wasn't so sure I wanted to own Affair (have to admit I've never seen it). And while I enjoy Casey's reviews, I'm really glad I didn't read his review BEFORE watching the movie - major, major plot spoiler, it would have ruined the movie for me. No way he should have revealed what happened, just leave it at something vague like "but a tragic event prevents them from keeping their appointment".

Great job by Fox on this, but I won't be buying a copy, just too sad a story for me. I've always had a soft spot for little old ladies (only 1 grandparent still alive when I was a kid, a really sweet grandmother) so the scene with the very touching visit to his grandmother first had me reaching for a tissue, and by the end of the film I'd gone through more than a couple.

[eChopper]

all the grain was left in - looks superb

[whitesheik]

Yes, it is a new transfer and that is quite obvious. The color is perfect - exactly like what it should be. As others have pointed out, the scope lenses of the time were simply not sharp - you see it in almost every Cinemascope film of that era - this one does, in fact, look pretty damn sharp compared to the DVD. It's a great transfer. And yes, there really is no reason for a reviewer here or anywhere to point out that stock footage has more grain or opticals look different - that's FILM - these weren't made today and no, there is no way to correct the opticals - they are what they are and frankly they shouldn't be corrected. The film is the film - it shouldn't look like something that was filmed by some hi-def camera or be cleaned up artificially to look like something that was released this year. A transfer's job is to replicate what the film looked like and this one does so in superlative fashion.

[shinseiRomeo]

Can someone who owns this please confirm the packaging and if there are stickers on the front? The only store that carries this in my area is walmart, and I simply do not trust buying BDs from them ever since they started releasing lesser versions such as SeVen without the digibook.

Does An Affair To Remember appear to be a very slim digibook? Is there only one sticker stating it's a "limited edition" on the lower right front cover?

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by shinseiromeo

Can someone who owns this please confirm the packaging and if there are stickers on the front? The only store that carries this in my area is walmart, and I simply do not trust buying BDs from them ever since they started releasing lesser versions such as SeVen without the digibook.

Does An Affair To Remember appear to be a very slim digibook? Is there only one sticker stating it's a "limited edition" on the lower right front cover?

Yes, one there is only one "limited ed" sticker, tha are all the same "slim" digibook. You are very "safe" buying it.

[laptophound]

If anyone is interested $5 coupon
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[Zoodles95]

I have this one on its way to me in the post. Pretty excited to triple dip on this and retire my DVD.

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by whitesheik

Yes, it is a new transfer and that is quite obvious. The color is perfect - exactly like what it should be. As others have pointed out, the scope lenses of the time were simply not sharp - you see it in almost every Cinemascope film of that era - this one does, in fact, look pretty damn sharp compared to the DVD. It's a great transfer. And yes, there really is no reason for a reviewer here or anywhere to point out that stock footage has more grain or opticals look different - that's FILM - these weren't made today and no, there is no way to correct the opticals - they are what they are and frankly they shouldn't be corrected. The film is the film - it shouldn't look like something that was filmed by some hi-def camera or be cleaned up artificially to look like something that was released this year. A transfer's job is to replicate what the film looked like and this one does so in superlative fashion.

EXCELLENT post. I wish more people where educated regarding film and felt this way. This bluray looks terrific.

[rafaelsalguero]

I watched this movie today, I love the transfer, great PQ!!!
The Digibook it's amazing, it's slim not like the Warner Digibooks, but looks nice

[dag]

Cary Grant was the personification of a gentleman. The guy looked incredible in anything he wore, but most of all in a suit.

[kashif]

Ok I have seen a foreign crap remake of this movie so I need to know that:

Spoilers ahead

[Show spoiler]I know the movie is sad but does they re unite at the end or Cary Grant already married to someone else before visiting her at the climax scene? I mean is it just that kinda movie which is sad all the way but at least at the end there is happy ending? You can spoil it for me no problem.

Please reply

[kashif]

Anyone please reply as I need to buy this movie just curious about the ending question asked above. Thanks.

[silentblu]

Originally Posted by kashif

Anyone please reply as I need to buy this movie just curious about the ending question asked above. Thanks.

[Show spoiler]It has a happy ending I guess. They end up embracing and figuring out the why? of what happened. I don't remember if he is married or not, but I don't think so.

Kind of funny thinking about the plot. Then thinking, oh right Love Affair.

I need to pick this up eventually.

[kashif]

Originally Posted by silentblu

[Show spoiler]It has a happy ending I guess. They end up embracing and figuring out the why? of what happened. I don't remember if he is married or not, but I don't think so.

Kind of funny thinking about the plot. Then thinking, oh right Love Affair.

I need to pick this up eventually.

Thanks a lot Bro, I am going to order it

[kashif]

I ve a question for all who own this BD that what do u think about the transfer to Blu-Ray? I just watched it and I am not impressed with the Picture quality Yes there is detail but the colors look washed out and dosent have that warmth which I was expecting after reading the review here! Take "White Christmas" for instance, its older than "An Affair to Remember" but the picture quality is great so what u think what might be the reason here? What surprised me is that people actually liked the picture quality. I also want to say that I didnt watch it ever on DVD and watched it for the first time on BD but I feel picture quality could be more improved of this timeless classic! Is this the reason that I didnt watch DVD so I cant compare and notice the superior picture on BD? what u say?

[42041]

1. White Christmas was shot in Vistavision, a format that used sharp spherical lenses and a larger negative (and thus, higher resolution and finer grain). This was shot in CinemaScope, the anamorphic lenses were not very good at the time.
2. According to Robert Harris, films shot on Eastman color negative made in the late 50s and the early 60s exhibit far more serious color fading/yellow layer failure issues than early ones, like White Christmas.
3. This film is loaded with optical dissolves, which look pretty awful.

[Strevlac]

I would hesitate saying optical dissolves look "awful". They merely are what they are and are a reminder that the film is a physical thing and was made with human hands. Personally I love seeing how a film would have appeared to audiences of the time no matter how "awful" they might look . I only wish American Graffiti had been handled as faithfully.

As far as the color goes, I thought the colors looked fine if slightly subdued. I have no idea if that is a result of fading or not though.

[kashif]

Originally Posted by 42041

1. White Christmas was shot in Vistavision, a format that used sharp spherical lenses and a larger negative (and thus, higher resolution and finer grain). This was shot in CinemaScope, the anamorphic lenses were not very good at the time.
2. According to Robert Harris, films shot on Eastman color negative made in the late 50s and the early 60s exhibit far more serious color fading/yellow layer failure issues than early ones, like White Christmas.
3. This film is loaded with optical dissolves, which look pretty awful.

Well the things u mentioned make sense. I was not aware about any of the above mentioned facts. Oh boy I am learning a lot from you guys!

Originally Posted by Strevlac

I would hesitate saying optical dissolves look "awful". They merely are what they are and are a reminder that the film is a physical thing and was made with human hands. Personally I love seeing how a film would have appeared to audiences of the time no matter how "awful" they might look . I only wish American Graffiti had been handled as faithfully.

As far as the color goes, I thought the colors looked fine if slightly subdued. I have no idea if that is a result of fading or not though.

Thanks for the reply. So did anyone of you have wathced this movie on DVD before? I want to know that is it a major improvement over the DVD or the changes are just minor?

PS: and what do u guys mean by the term "optical dissolves" ?

[42041]

Originally Posted by kashif

PS: and what do u guys mean by the term "optical dissolves" ?

Any time a scene fades smoothly from one to another, this effect had to be created by rephotographing the negatives. Like making a photocopy, this reduces the quality. It's the same for pretty much every movie before they figured out digital compositing in the 90s/00s (why the opening credits in many movies look really bad compared to the rest of the film).
I think pretty much every scene transition in the film is an optical So the quality is constantly jumping around.