Best Looking Films on Blu-ray from the 1930's? - Blu-ray Forum

Jar Jar Stinks · 03-06-2014, 11:26 PM

I imagine Gone with the Wind & The Wizard of Oz have excellent PQs. Which other films from that era really shine on Blu-ray?

bgart13 · 03-06-2014, 11:29 PM

DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and THE INVISIBLE MAN.

Addi-blu-ction · 03-06-2014, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgart13

DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and THE INVISIBLE MAN.

My sentiments exactly

TheHighRoller · 03-07-2014, 12:00 AM

I haven't seen The Wizard of Oz, and I'm going to say it's the best 30s transfer available. Especially since it was given the 75th anniversary hooplah. And it was re-released.

Chloenator · 03-07-2014, 12:05 AM

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
It's hard to believe it came out in 1937!

biglou114 · 03-07-2014, 12:15 AM

City Lights

TheHighRoller · 03-07-2014, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sad Beautiful Tragic

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
It's hard to believe it came out in 1937!

The animation should date it.

MifuneFan · 03-07-2014, 12:35 AM

I'd have to say Snow White as well, amazing transfer

Take a look: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Snow-...0/#Screenshots

Chloenator · 03-07-2014, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

The animation should date it.

Well yeah, animation definitely has come a long way since then, but for a film that old, it looks incredible on Blu-ray! Of course, it is a Disney release, so that should be expected.

MifuneFan · 03-07-2014, 12:51 AM

These would probably be my Top 10. Top 3 are easier to pick, but it gets trickier to choose and order after that.

Snow White
Wizard of Oz
Gone with the Wind
M
Dracula
Adventures of Robin Hood
King Kong
La Grande Illusion
Modern Times
The Mummy

HD Goofnut · 03-07-2014, 12:54 AM

Mutiny on the Bounty

Blu-Velvet · 03-07-2014, 04:37 AM

Those above look great, and also looking pretty outstanding on Blu-ray are

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
PEOPLE ON SUNDAY
THE PUBLIC ENEMY
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
GRAND HOTEL
DESIGN FOR LIVING
LADY FOR A DAY
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
THE CALL OF THE WILD
THE PETRIFIED FOREST
THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (region-free)
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (region B)
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
THE LADY VANISHES
THE FOUR FEATHERS
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
JESSE JAMES
THE MIKADO

and most of the John Wayne Republic Pictures titles put out by Olive!

A few other 1930s films come close, but (in addition to all those already mentioned by others) I'd give all these Blu-ray transfers a 4.5 out of 5 and a few of them a 5 out of 5

Musicguy · 03-07-2014, 05:03 PM

I only own 4 color films from the 30's (there weren't many filmed in color during the 30s)

Gone With the Wind / The Wizard of Oz / The Adventures of Robin Hood /
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

and Snow White does look the best and has aged beautifully - but they all look pretty darn good.

The black and white films look okay - but they are mostly older 30's films (Little Ceasar/Public Enemy/Mutiny on the Bounty/King Kong/Frankenstein)

Unfortunately there aren't many 30's films on blu-ray (Angels With Dirty Faces/Roaring Twenties/42nd Street/Each Dawn I Die/Slight Case of Murder/Footlight Parade) But these all looked pretty good on DVD - hope they make the leap to pressed blu-rays but Warner esp seems to be holding them hostage until we give in and buy their HD downloads.

The Great Owl · 03-07-2014, 05:08 PM

M
City Girl
City Lights
Dracula
Frankenstein
The Public Enemy
King Kong
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
La Grande Illusion
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Petrified Forest
Stagecoach
The Wizard of Oz
Modern Times

Jar Jar Stinks · 09-15-2015, 06:21 PM

bump

42041 · 09-15-2015, 06:24 PM

Gone with the Wind looks incredible both transfer and production design wise (compared to the usually more stagey-looking films like Wizard of Oz), and I'm a sucker for 3-strip Technicolor, so...

bigshot · 09-15-2015, 06:44 PM

City Girl looks amazing, but it's 20s, not 30s.

The Great Owl · 09-15-2015, 06:52 PM

In addition to my above recommendations, Jamaica Inn looks quite lovely.

moviebuff75 · 09-15-2015, 06:55 PM

The Women

Trax-3 · 09-15-2015, 06:56 PM

GWTW, Wizard and Snow White (in particular) are perhaps too revisionist to be considered best.

Many named like Kong or Stagecoach come from inferior elements and can't be seriously considered best looking.

Can't also call something with alignment issues like Four Feathers best.
Or something covered with pretty strange Universal grain like All Quiet...

Maybe Mutiny on the Bounty, The Women, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

03-06-2014, 11:26 PM	#1
Jar Jar Stinks Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- Trading Score:246	Best Looking Films on Blu-ray from the 1930's? I imagine Gone with the Wind & The Wizard of Oz have excellent PQs. Which other films from that era really shine on Blu-ray?

09-15-2015, 06:24 PM	#16
42041 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2008	Gone with the Wind looks incredible both transfer and production design wise (compared to the usually more stagey-looking films like Wizard of Oz), and I'm a sucker for 3-strip Technicolor, so... Last edited by 42041; 09-15-2015 at 06:30 PM.

03-06-2014, 11:29 PM	#2
bgart13 Power Member Member since:Aug 2010 Blu-ray collection:34 DVD collection:1 Trading Score:2	DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and THE INVISIBLE MAN.

03-07-2014, 12:00 AM	#4
TheHighRoller Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jun 2011 Location:BlueVersion on Letterboxd 4K collection:583 Blu-ray collection:1274 DVD collection:11 Digital collection:2 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:104	I haven't seen *The Wizard of Oz*, and I'm going to say it's the best 30s transfer available. Especially since it was given the 75th anniversary hooplah. And it was re-released.

03-07-2014, 12:05 AM	#5
Chloenator Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Pittsburgh, PA 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- Trading Score:2	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs It's hard to believe it came out in 1937!

03-07-2014, 12:15 AM	#6
biglou114 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Location:NYC 4K collection:520 Blu-ray collection:3148 DVD collection:745 Trading Score:3	City Lights

03-07-2014, 12:35 AM	#8
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:28 Blu-ray collection:1145 Trading Score:69	I'd have to say Snow White as well, amazing transfer Take a look: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Snow-...0/#Screenshots

03-07-2014, 12:51 AM	#10
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:28 Blu-ray collection:1145 Trading Score:69	These would probably be my Top 10. Top 3 are easier to pick, but it gets trickier to choose and order after that. Snow White Wizard of Oz Gone with the Wind M Dracula Adventures of Robin Hood King Kong La Grande Illusion Modern Times The Mummy

03-07-2014, 12:54 AM	#11
HD Goofnut Blu-ray King Top contributor Member since:May 2010 Location:Far, Far Away Home Theater Gallery:114 4K collection:743 Blu-ray collection:2371 DVD collection:128 MA collection:751 Digital collection:1093 Prime collection:598 Blu-ray reviews:133 Trading Score:39	Mutiny on the Bounty

03-07-2014, 04:37 AM	#12
Blu-Velvet Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Nov 2011 Home Theater Gallery:88 Blu-ray collection:2623 DVD collection:400 Blu-ray reviews: 41	Those above look great, and also looking pretty outstanding on Blu-ray are ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT PEOPLE ON SUNDAY THE PUBLIC ENEMY A FAREWELL TO ARMS GRAND HOTEL DESIGN FOR LIVING LADY FOR A DAY THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH THE CALL OF THE WILD THE PETRIFIED FOREST THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (region-free) MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (region B) THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD THE LADY VANISHES THE FOUR FEATHERS THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES JESSE JAMES THE MIKADO and most of the John Wayne Republic Pictures titles put out by Olive! A few other 1930s films come close, but (in addition to all those already mentioned by others) I'd give all these Blu-ray transfers a 4.5 out of 5 and a few of them a 5 out of 5

03-07-2014, 05:03 PM	#13
Musicguy Special Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2010 Blu-ray collection:640 DVD collection:148	I only own 4 color films from the 30's (there weren't many filmed in color during the 30s) Gone With the Wind / The Wizard of Oz / The Adventures of Robin Hood / Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Snow White does look the best and has aged beautifully - but they all look pretty darn good. The black and white films look okay - but they are mostly older 30's films (Little Ceasar/Public Enemy/Mutiny on the Bounty/King Kong/Frankenstein) Unfortunately there aren't many 30's films on blu-ray (Angels With Dirty Faces/Roaring Twenties/42nd Street/Each Dawn I Die/Slight Case of Murder/Footlight Parade) But these all looked pretty good on DVD - hope they make the leap to pressed blu-rays but Warner esp seems to be holding them hostage until we give in and buy their HD downloads.

03-07-2014, 05:08 PM	#14
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:926 Blu-ray collection:6034 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	M City Girl City Lights Dracula Frankenstein The Public Enemy King Kong The Man Who Knew Too Much Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs La Grande Illusion The Adventures of Robin Hood The Petrified Forest Stagecoach The Wizard of Oz Modern Times

09-15-2015, 06:21 PM	#15
Jar Jar Stinks Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- Trading Score:246	bump

09-15-2015, 06:44 PM	#17
bigshot Blu-ray Knight Member since:Aug 2010 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:82 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:3	City Girl looks amazing, but it's 20s, not 30s.

09-15-2015, 06:52 PM	#18
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:926 Blu-ray collection:6034 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	In addition to my above recommendations, Jamaica Inn looks quite lovely.

09-15-2015, 06:55 PM	#19
moviebuff75 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2009 4K collection:120 Blu-ray collection:1500 DVD collection:14	The Women

09-15-2015, 06:56 PM	#20
Trax-3 Senior Member Member since:May 2015	GWTW, Wizard and Snow White (in particular) are perhaps too revisionist to be considered best. Many named like Kong or Stagecoach come from inferior elements and can't be seriously considered best looking. Can't also call something with alignment issues like Four Feathers best. Or something covered with pretty strange Universal grain like All Quiet... Maybe Mutiny on the Bounty, The Women, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

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