Psycho (1960) (50th Anniversary Edition)

[sparko]

Sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I've searched previous threads and couldn't find the info I was looking for.

Is there any real difference between the Psycho 50th Anniversary Edition (10/19/10) and the Pyscho Special Edition (05/06/14)? Other than one says, "50th Anniversary Edition," and the other says, "Special Edition," is there any differece in terms of the video, audio, bonus material?

I don't have the newer disc in hand, but online descriptions seem to indicate it is missing the:

• Psycho Archives
• Posters & Psycho Ads
• Lobby Cards (are these actual cards in the set?)
• Behind-The-Scenes Production Photos

If these bonus items are missing from the newer blu-ray, are there any that make it worth purchasing the 50th A.E?

Just trying to decide if if I should shop around for the older 50th Anniversary Edition, or just go with the newer special edition selling for $6.99 at BB.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by sparko

Sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I've searched previous threads and couldn't find the info I was looking for.

Is there any real difference between the Psycho 50th Anniversary Edition (10/19/10) and the Pyscho Special Edition (05/06/14)? Other than one says, "50th Anniversary Edition," and the other says, "Special Edition," is there any differece in terms of the video, audio, bonus material?

I don't have the newer disc in hand, but online descriptions seem to indicate it is missing the:

• Psycho Archives
• Posters & Psycho Ads
• Lobby Cards (are these actual cards in the set?)
• Behind-The-Scenes Production Photos

If these bonus items are missing from the newer blu-ray, are there any that make it worth purchasing the 50th A.E?

Just trying to decide if if I should shop around for the older 50th Anniversary Edition, or just go with the newer special edition selling for $6.99 at BB.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Exact content with each release. The newer one has a Digital copy (iTunes and UV) included. The lobby cards are all digital, nothing physical included in the old releases's case.

[sparko]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Exact content with each release. The newer one has a Digital copy (iTunes and UV) included. The lobby cards are all digital, nothing physical included in the old releases's case.

Thanks very much for the info and quick reply

[Jar Jar Stinks]

If anyone is looking for the superior Nordic release of Psycho with lossless mono and the Alfred Hitchcock Presents "Lamb To The Slaughter" episode, I have it unplayed (but missing shrinkwrap) for $8 + shipping. Here's a blu-ray.com link to see the packaging: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Psycho-Blu-ray/55413/

[Alfred E. Neumann]

Psycho deserves a new 4k scan, the Blu-ray reminds me of another Universal Blu-ray, The Back to the Future Trilogy.
Smeared, DNR'd, sharpened.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Alfred E. Neumann

Psycho deserves a new 4k scan, the Blu-ray reminds me of another Universal Blu-ray, The Back to the Future Trilogy.
Smeared, DNR'd, sharpened.

I don't know what's up with your setup but it looks great to me. I also think this was from a newer restoration effort.

[Alfred E. Neumann]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

I don't know what's up with your setup but it looks great to me. I also think this was from a newer restoration effort.

According to Universal it's a 2k restoration.
Fine clothes-textures are gone like fibers of coats and contours have a sharpened look. Also the grain structure isn't that good and faces look smeared.

35mm doesn't look like that (check 4k restorations like Wizard of Oz, Terminator 1984, Indiana Jones Trilogy, Godfather Trilogy, Gone with the Wind 1939, Dracula 1992 4k, Blade Runner 1982, Universal Monster films, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari 1919...).

The Back to the Future films have a similar smeared look like Psycho.

[I KEEL YOU]

I don't know the details of the shape of the source material for the current master of Psycho, but I know that in case of Vertigo and Birds, the sharpness of the image varies quite noticeably throughout the movie. I can see the same traits for Psycho:

These two shots look a little soft:

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a...=26131&i=0&l=1

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a...=26135&i=4&l=1

But these two look pretty solid to me:

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a...=26140&i=9&l=1

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a...=26133&i=2&l=1

Overall, it looks about as good as Dr. Strangelove, a movie from the same period that had a 4K restoration. Strangelove doesn't look as good as a 4K restoration should because it's stems from a interpositive because the original negatives are apparently lost forever. Because of a case like Strangelove and the terrible shape source material for Vertigo was in (unless they overdramatized and lied in the bonus material), I won't be that harsh when it comes to Psycho. If I knew that Universal had access to the original negatives and that they were in decent shape, then I would be more demanding.

In any case, I don't see traces of tampering to the same extent they're visible on Back to the Future, which I don't think is a fair comparison to begin with because Psycho is 25 years older, nor do I think that the elements of Back to the Future were in bad as shape as those of Psycho were.

[Alfred E. Neumann]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

In any case, I don't see traces of tampering to the same extent they're visible on Back to the Future, which I don't think is a fair comparison to begin with because Psycho is 25 years older, nor do I think that the elements of Back to the Future were in bad as shape as those of Psycho were.

They went with an old dated master, Back to the Future has disgusting edge halos thanks to digital sharpening, grain is a bit removed.
http://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go...=37257&i=4&l=0

[Trax-3]

which I don't think is a fair comparison to begin with because Psycho is 25 years older,

But it is black and white. The stock is probably as good if not better.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Trax-3

But it is black and white. The stock is probably as good if not better.

It was an $800,000 movie, which was cheap of the time. You cannot compare any one movie to another, because they all had different production parameters and just because one movie looks one way doesn't mean another film from the same time would, or will, look the same.

[Trax-3]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

It was an $800,000 movie, which was cheap of the time. You cannot compare any one movie to another, because they all had different production parameters and just because one movie looks one way doesn't mean another film from the same time would, or will, look the same.

It was in all likelihood shot on Kodak stock. Possibly Double X 5222 which is still produced and is the standard B&W stock even today.

[42041]

For a movie of Psycho's vintage, how much the negative was handled and printed likely has a lot more to do with its state of preservation than the negative itself. Negatives in the 60s saw a lot more abuse than in the 80s (when you had good duplication stocks).

[Geoff D]

The BD looks like it was derived from a positive to me anyway.

[OgamiittoMcJ]

nice too see the US got the short stick, for a change with extras on this

[DMRI2006]

Just a heads-up for die-hard PSYCHO fans: the Australian PSYCHO COLLECTION is region free and offers all the films, including the unreleased in the US, PSYCHO IV and PSYCHO (1998) remake, on Blu-Ray.

PSYCHO is the European release; PSYCHO II and III are identical ports of the Shout releases (same menus, extras, etc.); PSYCHO IV looks good with a 1080p AVC (1.85) encode. The PSYCHO remake is 1080p AVC but looks like one of those older Universal DNR'd masters; it's the weakest of the lot visually.

The disc also includes BATES MOTEL (80s rejected pilot movie) and the PSYCHO LEGACY documentary DVDs -- even better, they are NTSC encoded so there's no PAL speed up.

Set is sometimes on sale at JB Hifi in Australia and with the exchange rate I think I got it for around $50 something shipped. It's a nice package:

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-...ection/805835/

[Donl1282]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Just a heads-up for die-hard PSYCHO fans: the Australian PSYCHO COLLECTION is region free and offers all the films, including the unreleased in the US, PSYCHO IV and PSYCHO (1998) remake, on Blu-Ray.

PSYCHO is the European release; PSYCHO II and III are identical ports of the Shout releases (same menus, extras, etc.); PSYCHO IV looks good with a 1080p AVC (1.85) encode. The PSYCHO remake is 1080p AVC but looks like one of those older Universal DNR'd masters; it's the weakest of the lot visually.

The disc also includes BATES MOTEL (80s rejected pilot movie) and the PSYCHO LEGACY documentary DVDs -- even better, they are NTSC encoded so there's no PAL speed up.

Set is sometimes on sale at JB Hifi in Australia and with the exchange rate I think I got it for around $50 something shipped. It's a nice package:

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-...ection/805835/

Where does it say region free? Not sure if I should buy the set since I already have 1-3 on blu ray. I think Psycho 4 will eventually be released separately on blu ray.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Where does it say region free? Not sure if I should buy the set since I already have 1-3 on blu ray. I think Psycho 4 will eventually be released separately on blu ray.

They're being released individually in Aus too (March 2016), so you can just get part 4 if you want. I don't know whether they are truly region free though

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/psy...171801#bc=cb14

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Where does it say region free? Not sure if I should buy the set since I already have 1-3 on blu ray. I think Psycho 4 will eventually be released separately on blu ray.

The person who posted says he has it and says it's region free, what more do you want?

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by Alfred E. Neumann

Psycho deserves a new 4k scan, the Blu-ray reminds me of another Universal Blu-ray, The Back to the Future Trilogy.

Smeared, DNR'd, sharpened.

I agree, in fact all the Universal's Hitchcocks could do with a remaster.