One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

[Arkadin]

July 22nd looks to be the release date for this Brando directed western classic.
notorious public domain title; wonder how this will come out?
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0051SUSXU?l...29&camp=211189

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

June 24th looks to be the release date for this Brando directed western classic.
notorious public domain title; wonder how this will come out?
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0051SUSXU?l...29&camp=211189

Presumably it will look just as bad as all those appalling DVD releases. In fact I would be amazed if it's anything other than an upscaled DVD version.

Sadly I think the only realistic prospect of ever getting a decent Blu-ray version of this classic film would be for Criterion to obtain the original film elements in good condition from the Brando Estate and pay for a full restoration.

[Alex DeLarge]

I just watched the rotten French dvd so an upgrade would be welcome. Decent film and one I would buy if truly an upgrade...

[Arkadin]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Presumably it will look just as bad as all those appalling DVD releases. In fact I would be amazed if it's anything other than an upscaled DVD version.

I actually found a dvd release that is ws letterbox, and looks pretty damn good.
I mean it's obviously not amazing or anything, but it's the best I've come across.
it's on this dvd right here--
http://www.amazon.com/Legends-West-J...6791863&sr=1-3
well worth the 2 dollars I paid for it.
(you get 3 other common public domain westerns also)

[brochaz]

Best copy of One Eyed Jacks for me is still laserdisc. It's widescreen. And even though it's all of what, 720, it's still pretty good - a lot better than every crappy DVD so far.

So even if the Bluray is just a transfer from the laserdisc I'll take it!

[Bruce Morrison]

If Amazon's information is to be trusted (not by any means certain), then at least it appears that the running time and aspect ratio will be correct. Of course, the quality may well stop right there.

[eChopper]

the one movie Id ever consider getting a laser disc player for

[Douglas R]

Release date has been put back to 22 July. I don't have high hopes for this in the absence of elements from Paramount but it'll be interesting to see what it looks like.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Douglas R

Release date has been put back to 22 July. I don't have high hopes for this in the absence of elements from Paramount but it'll be interesting to see what it looks like.

I don't believe Paramount necessarily hold any original elements now. They had the laserdisc distribution rights in the US but my understanding is that the ownership reverted to the Brando Estate at some point. Anyway they have sadly allowed the film to fall into the public domain, and seem totally uninterested in having the film properly remastered for a high quality release to the home video market.

I hope this German BD release will be at least acceptable but, like you, I'm not exactly holding my breath.

[eChopper]

i cant believe Scorcese hasnt lobbied for this to be restored: large film format , probably best western ever made and would look amazing in high def.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

I don't believe Paramount necessarily hold any original elements now. They had the laserdisc distribution rights in the US but my understanding is that the ownership reverted to the Brando Estate at some point. Anyway they have sadly allowed the film to fall into the public domain, and seem totally uninterested in having the film properly remastered for a high quality release to the home video market.

I hope this German BD release will be at least acceptable but, like you, I'm not exactly holding my breath.

I was reading on another site (can't remember which) that Paramount did have the original elements & had done an HD master. If so, they only need to do a deal with the Brando Estate...& you never know! Meanwhile I'm going to read a review or two before buying the German release.

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

I don't believe Paramount necessarily hold any original elements now. They had the laserdisc distribution rights in the US but my understanding is that the ownership reverted to the Brando Estate at some point. Anyway they have sadly allowed the film to fall into the public domain, and seem totally uninterested in having the film properly remastered for a high quality release to the home video market.

I hope this German BD release will be at least acceptable but, like you, I'm not exactly holding my breath.

Paramount has all the elements for both sound and image. The complete and great Hugo Friedhofer soundtrack was recently issued (about six months ago now) - complete, sounding unbelievable - one CD had the original LP version, the second CD had the complete score, every note of it. Sold out in two days.

[Douglas R]

duplicate

[Douglas R]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I was reading on another site (can't remember which) that Paramount did have the original elements & had done an HD master. If so, they only need to do a deal with the Brando Estate...& you never know! Meanwhile I'm going to read a review or two before buying the German release.

No deal is needed from the Brando Estate. It's the Brando Estate (the film was made by Brando's production company) which omitted to renew the copyright which is why it is in the public domain.

[whitesheik]

Got the blu-ray today. It's pretty interesting. The source is a French print, one that's got more of its color than any of the PD transfers on DVD, even the ones from the laserdisc (Note: This was based on watching the first six minutes, which actually HAVE some color - not good color, but some. That changes drastically and the rest is a faded mess). In terms of sharpness, it's certainly a step up from the DVD copies. I'm not sure they had the actual print this was taken from or a tape source, which is kind of what it looks like to me - it looks a generation or two away from a print source, which would have been sharper. The pity of it is, even using a tape source, with a few knob twists in the telecine room, the color could have been much better. But then you actually have to know what color is supposed to look like for a IB Tech-printed film of this era and these yahoos either couldn't be bothered to try anything, or they simply have no clue, like most people who do transfers, even here in the US.

[Arkadin]

well is it worth getting?
is it OAR?
does it look like a "film" or is it all dnred to death?
any more details you can share?

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

well is it worth getting?
is it OAR?
does it look like a "film" or is it all dnred to death?
any more details you can share?

It's VERY pale and brown. This is one of the most gorgeously shot VistaVision films ever, so for me it's disgusting to have to watch it in faded form when it could have been at least helped. There's grain, certainly, or maybe it's just a little noise, but it looks very tape-sourced to me, not like they actually transfered a print. So, it depends on how much you like the film and just want to see it. It's sharper than the DVDs, even the best of which are fairly horrid. This has some detail in the closeups and yes it appears to be somewhere between 1.78 and 1.85.

It's not the One-Eyed Jacks any of us want, though - there has been no release of this film that's been close to that and that includes the laserdisc - but that was, now that I've viewed more of the blu-ray, the best of the bunch, which is not saying a lot.

BTW, the titles on this print are in French.

EDIT: Now that I'm an hour into the film, the color actually gets worse - it's just awful. It kind of fools you at the beginning - when I made my first post I'd only seen the first six minutes or so, and there were actually a couple of shots with blue sky and some color definition - but it was short-lived. I can't really recommend this at all - it doesn't resemble what this film should look like. So, unless you'd like it on blu-ray, in a transfer that is sharper than any of the PD abominations, but which has just pale brown color, I'd save the dough.

[eChopper]

sounds like a VHS port

oh well, another 10 year wait begins...

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by eChopper

sounds like a VHS port

oh well, another 10 year wait begins...

I was really trying to remain positive about it, only because I HATE those PD DVDs so much. But it's pretty much a travesty straight down the line - those first six minutes sort of held me at bay, but as one gets into the film more it just gets worse. Someday, Paramount will do the right thing. Meanwhile, I'll go put on the incredible Friedhofer score on CD and bask in the glorious music - the complete score, not the LP version.

[Douglas R]

The German Blu-ray (which I also have) obviously derives from the same French print as that used on the French Black Cat label DVD. The Blu-ray is certainly sharper but otherwise looks the same as the French DVD. As whitesheik says, the main problem is the washed out colours. Boosting the contrast and colour on the TV helps considerably but you are still stuck with the overall brownish appearance. It also has very obvious edge enhancement - and I don't usually notice such things. I'm still glad to have it because it's the best there is, until and if Paramount ever release their own version. Unlike the French DVD it also enables you to view the film without any forced subtitles. It also has the original theatrical trailer which is quite unusual and which I've never seen before. UK TV showed a widescreen version of the film about 8 years ago in which the colours looked perfect. Presumably Paramount would have supplied that.