Dressed to Kill (1980)

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by stlcards

Why just the mono track on the Criterion?

Maybe Criterion only wanted the original mono soundtrack on their blu-ray release, not the 5.1 remix. For those who want the 5.1 remix soundtrack will have to get the MGM release.

[MifuneFan]

Since the release is director-approved, it's possible De Palma only wanted the original mono to be presented with his film.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by BluPat

Why are they releasing Dressed To Kill when they have a TON of titles on DVD that need upgrading to Blu-ray?

There are still several De Palma titles I'm dying to own on Blu, like Casualties Of War, Femme Fatale (come on, WB! ) and Raising Cain (I'd love to see De Palma's original edit of that, before the studio forced him to cut the narrative into a more linear style). It just seems like a waste to put out a THIRD BD release of this, especially considering how definitive the Arrow release was.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by bokes

Criterion released this on laser? With commentary?
I would be curious to hear a DePalma commentary for this or any number of his films.

I believe the Criterion laser commentary featured screenwriter Lawrence Cohen and longtime De Palma documentarian Laurent Bouzereau...De Palma has never recorded a commentary track. I've never heard the Criterion Carrie commentary, so if they ever release the film on Blu, I'd love for it to be included.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I believe the Criterion laser commentary featured screenwriter Lawrence Cohen and longtime De Palma documentarian Laurent Bouzereau...De Palma has never recorded a commentary track. I've never heard the Criterion Carrie commentary, so if they ever release the film on Blu, I'd love for it to be included.

Are you sure this got a LD release from Criterion? I can't seem to find info on it. Any images of it?

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Are you sure this got a LD release from Criterion? I can't seem to find info on it. Any images of it?

I don't think they did. Carrie was the only De Palma film they released on laserdisc. Dressed to Kill was on LD but not from Criterion.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I believe the Criterion laser commentary featured screenwriter Lawrence Cohen and longtime De Palma documentarian Laurent Bouzereau...De Palma has never recorded a commentary track. I've never heard the Criterion Carrie commentary, so if they ever release the film on Blu, I'd love for it to be included.

I own the Carrie Criterion LD that has the commentary track and it isn't anything to write home about. Back in the day it would have been. Think about not knowing anything about the movie and it is interesting but with the whole IMDB and Wiki pages and interviews we have had since then the commentary doesn't seem fresh any longer.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I don't think they did. Carrie was the only De Palma film they released on laserdisc. Dressed to Kill was on LD but not from Criterion.

Right, I thought he was referring to Dressed to Kill, but going back through the quotes, it was originally about Carrie. Makes sense now

[cmac]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I don't think they did. Carrie was the only De Palma film they released on laserdisc. Dressed to Kill was on LD but not from Criterion.

Image released DRESSED TO KILL on laserdisc

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by dwk

I think there is a good chance that they are working on Carrie. (Heck, at this point I think Criterion might also redo The Silence of the Lambs.)

In talking with Peter Becker a few years ago, he said they were offered the chance to upgrade Lambs but declined, since the MGM disc uses all of the extras they produced. He didn't think there was enough incentive to release it, since the only new upgrade would be the PQ.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by cine74

I'd love to know the mechanics behind deals where one studio/label can produce a 4k master for a particular film vs. other labels just using whatever they are given. Financial standing can't be the ONLY factor. Also, why didn't MGM produce a 4k (or even 2k) master for their release of Dressed To Kill but allowed Criterion to do it?

Criterion isn't a major studio yet their Blu-rays are almost always from 2 or 4K masters. I wish Scream Factory were as motivated as Criterion.

MichaelB gave you a great answer but I just wanted to chime in and say: MONEY. You have to pay to get someone else's restoration work or 5.1 mix, you don't just get automatic access to everything ever done for the film. Same for special features.

Recently Kino Lorber put out Convoy on BD with a lesser transfer compared to Europe editions because they didn't want to pay to license that restoration work, for example.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

In talking with Peter Becker a few years ago, he said they were offered the chance to upgrade Lambs but declined, since the MGM disc uses all of the extras they produced. He didn't think there was enough incentive to release it, since the only new upgrade would be the PQ.

I remember this info! I just wish they would reconsider doing a BLU because I refuse to watch the MGM release it looks smoothed over badly. the HD trailer on the MGM disc shows what the film should look like.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

In talking with Peter Becker a few years ago, he said they were offered the chance to upgrade Lambs but declined, since the MGM disc uses all of the extras they produced. He didn't think there was enough incentive to release it, since the only new upgrade would be the PQ.

The MGM release doesn't have the commentary track, but I know that Kim Hendrickson said the same thing about them passing because they couldn't think of much to add. But in light of this Dressed to Kill release (I know they produced some new extras for this, but the original MGM Blu was packed and thus the main selling point is the new transfer & original audio), I think they may change their minds.

[thompsonjohn]

Here's how they all size up against each other extras-wise that I posted elsewhere ...

Criterion vs. Arrow... (and any extra NOT mentioned appears on ALL versions)

Arrow has from what I can tell 3 exclusive interviews aside from whatever exclusive articles are in their booklet:
- Symphony of Fear: Producer George Litto discusses his working relationship with Brian De Palma
- Dressed in White: Star Angie Dickinson on her role in the film
- Dressed in Purple: Star Nancy Allen discusses her role in the film

The new Criterion will exclusively have:
- New, restored 4K digital transfer of director Brian De Palma's preferred unrated version, approved by De Palma
- New interviews with actor Nancy Allen, producer George Litto, composer Pino Donaggio, shower-scene body double Victoria Lynn Johnson, and poster photographic art director Stephen Sayadian
- New profile of cinematographer Ralf Bode, featuring filmmaker Michael Apted

Now here's where it gets tough, all of the content from the original MGM DVD is all ported over to the Arrow release, so with Arrow you get all the original bonus material and some new stuff, but no 4K digital transfer approved by De Palma. Criterion on the other hand is missing the "Slashing Dressed To Kill" featurette for some reason, unless it's a misprint or they forgot it or merged it with the, "Video pieces from 2001 about the different versions of the film and the cuts made to avoid an X rating" segment. On the Arrow release it's called, "Slashing Dressed to Kill – Brian De Palma and stars Nancy Allen and Keith Gordon discuss the changes that had to be made to avoid an X-rating.

Originally Posted by dwk

The MGM release doesn't have the commentary track

To my knowledge there was never a commentary track on any disc, unless there was one on a laserdisc that somehow slipped through the cracks.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

To my knowledge there was never a commentary track on any disc, unless there was one on a laserdisc that somehow slipped through the cracks.

I was talking about The Silence of the Lambs.

[Maggot]

Day one......

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by BluPat

Why are they releasing Dressed To Kill when they have a TON of titles on DVD that need upgrading to Blu-ray? I have the MGM Blu-ray and it looks great.

1. They are releasing it on Blu-ray because the older master is dated and the film can and should look a lot better on Blu-ray. The French and the UK releases are fine, but that's about it.

There is no reason why the new 4K transfer should not offer the type of upgrade that is present between the BFI's release of The Innocents and Criterion's recent release of the same film.

2. Criterion have a "towering reputation" thanks to years of high-quality work. So, they are not "getting away" with anything. When they initiate a project, you know that it is a quality product. It is that simple.

Pro-B

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by dwk

The MGM release doesn't have the commentary track, but I know that Kim Hendrickson said the same thing about them passing because they couldn't think of much to add. But in light of this Dressed to Kill release (I know they produced some new extras for this, but the original MGM Blu was packed and thus the main selling point is the new transfer & original audio), I think they may change their minds.

I think 4k remasters of popular films are selling very well, judging by Goodfellas and whatnot. This might be changing their minds.

I know for me a 4k scan of the original negative means instant re-purchase.

[antennahead]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

There are still several De Palma titles I'm dying to own on Blu, like Casualties Of War, Femme Fatale (come on, WB! ) and Raising Cain (I'd love to see De Palma's original edit of that, before the studio forced him to cut the narrative into a more linear style). It just seems like a waste to put out a THIRD BD release of this, especially considering how definitive the Arrow release was.

Femme Fatale and Raising Cain are day ones for me........ IF we ever get them.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Well, you'd agree yourself that it's not that simple!

But I suspect you're misreading what I meant by "getting away with" - I certainly wasn't implying any kind of chicanery on their part, merely that because of their well-earned reputation (which certainly holds true with regard to the overwhelming majority of their releases), they can charge a higher than average RRP, persuade more people to blind-buy even fairly niche titles, and thus justify greater production budgets and therefore the cost of original 2K/4K scans.

I most certainly did not misinterpret your post.

But here are the relevant points:

1. Madame de... is a project that was undertaken in France, with zero contribution from Criterion to the final master that was produced after the restoration.

If anything, this specific release actually proves my point, because despite the horrible job that was done in France, there is plenty of excellent exclusive content Criterion produced for the old DVD release.

2. When Criterion have initiated a project, the final result has always been of exceptionally high-quality. It is the very reason why Criterion's release of Rene Clement's Plein soleil, which uses a 2K transfer as a foundation, is vastly superior to the one Canal produced in France, which was sourced from a very expensive 4K restoration.

And this tradition of high-quality output goes all the way back to the days of LD, which is why so many companies are now trying to imitate what Criterion did for years.

The record is there for everyone to see.

Pro-B