Alfred Hitchcock on Blu-ray

[ponytail]

thanks for reminding me to pick up Blackmail

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Blackmail looks terrific in HD, both the silent and talkie versions. Murder! looks considerably rougher,

This makes sense, Blackmail was restored by the BFI as part of their "Hitchcock Nine" effort. Murder was not.

[Reddington]

Review of Murder! now up on Beaver's site:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...er_blu-ray.htm

[Richard--W]

I'm pleased with the BLACKMAIL (1929) transfer(s). After years of watching public domain
copies the film never looked as good as it does here. Three different versions on two discs.
A valuable commentary by Tim Lucas on the talkie version. This set is absolutely essential
to any Hitchcock collection.

[James Luckard]

There seems to be a possible issue with the BD of BLACKMAIL.

The silent version on Disc 1, which was restored by the BFI, looks absolutely fantastic.

However the "talkie" version is presented in two different versions.

Disc 1 has a 1.33 version. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to simply be the 1.20 master stretched out wider. I'm not entirely clear why, since the film's OAR is supposedly 1.20.

Disc 2 is labeled as containing the 1.20 version, but it in fact appears to be pinched on the sides, resulting in an aspect ratio that's more like 1.10.

I haven't seen this discussed here yet, but on other forums people have brought it up. There are caps and such here:

https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=28489

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...16328&start=25

The Vudu streaming "talkie" version appears to be the normal 1.20, there are comparison caps between all three versions in the Nitrateville thread.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

There seems to be a possible issue with the BD of BLACKMAIL.

The silent version on Disc 1, which was restored by the BFI, looks absolutely fantastic.

However the "talkie" version is presented in two different versions.

Disc 1 has a 1.33 version. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to simply be the 1.20 master stretched out wider. I'm not entirely clear why, since the film's OAR is supposedly 1.20.

Disc 2 is labeled as containing the 1.20 version, but it in fact appears to be pinched on the sides, resulting in an aspect ratio that's more like 1.10.

I haven't seen this discussed here yet, but on other forums people have brought it up. There are caps and such here:

https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=28489

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...16328&start=25

The Vudu streaming "talkie" version appears to be the normal 1.20, there are comparison caps between all three versions in the Nitrateville thread.

Oh dear. There's always something wrong and this is major. I wonder how
Kino-Lorber will address this. They can't just ignore it.

[GeoffOliver]

Yeah, for the record, I had not viewed much of the second disc when I made my comment.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

There seems to be a possible issue with the BD of BLACKMAIL.

[Show spoiler]The silent version on Disc 1, which was restored by the BFI, looks absolutely fantastic.

However the "talkie" version is presented in two different versions.

Disc 1 has a 1.33 version. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to simply be the 1.20 master stretched out wider. I'm not entirely clear why, since the film's OAR is supposedly 1.20.

Disc 2 is labeled as containing the 1.20 version, but it in fact appears to be pinched on the sides, resulting in an aspect ratio that's more like 1.10.

I haven't seen this discussed here yet, but on other forums people have brought it up. There are caps and such here:

https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=28489

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...16328&start=25

The Vudu streaming "talkie" version appears to be the normal 1.20, there are comparison caps between all three versions in the Nitrateville thread.

This is a bit concerning. I don't yet have the KL, but it won't put me off as there is no guarantee we will see other releases in any region.

James - so I understand correctly, the silent version is in the proper OAR and the presentation is fine, and the issues are with both talkie versions?

Thanks.

[captveg]

The only one that needs correction is the 1.2:1 version, as the 1.33:1 can only be presented stretched or zoomed-in since it's not the OAR. Whether the squeezing of the 1.2:1 version to 1.1:1 is Kino's fault or StudioCanal's is the real question.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Reddington

This is a bit concerning. I don't yet have the KL, but it won't put me off as there is no guarantee we will see other releases in any region.

James - so I understand correctly, the silent version is in the proper OAR and the presentation is fine, and the issues are with both talkie versions?

Thanks.

That's correct.

The silent version is in the correct aspect ratio, 1.33. It looks amazing.

The "talkie" version is a completely different transfer. Honestly they're two entirely different films. New and alternate scenes were filmed for it, so it's 9 mins longer.

It should be 1.20. The version on Disc 2 that's labeled as 1.20 appears to be squeezed, it is roughly 1.10. The separate 1.33 version, on Disc 1, appears to be the 1.20 version simply stretched wide to fill the frame. I'm honestly not clear why it was included.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

The separate 1.33 version, on Disc 1, appears to be the 1.20 version simply stretched wide to fill the frame. I'm honestly not clear why it was included.

My guess is that it was included for the benefit of the DVD version as it would "fill" older 4x3 TVs, while the narrower version would be pillarboxed on a 4x3 TV. Once they made that decision they probably just decided to put it on the BD so both formats had the same content.

[BobSimms]

Originally Posted by captveg

My guess is that it was included for the benefit of the DVD version as it would "fill" older 4x3 TVs, while the narrower version would be pillarboxed on a 4x3 TV. Once they made that decision they probably just decided to put it on the BD so both formats had the same content.

What self respecting home video label would deliberately release a movie with a stretched image? Complete nonsense.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

What self respecting home video label would deliberately release a movie with a stretched image? Complete nonsense.

I think we should wait to hear KL's rationale for the two versions. They clearly thought it was worth adding a second disc just to include both versions.

It almost certainly cost them more to make this a 2-disc set and not just have one disc with the silent version and the original 1.20 "talkie" version.

I'll admit, I can't figure out why the 1.33 was included, but I'm sure they have their reasons.

I just hope we get a corrected disc with the original 1.20 version.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

That's correct.

The silent version is in the correct aspect ratio, 1.33. It looks amazing.

The "talkie" version is a completely different transfer. Honestly they're two entirely different films. New and alternate scenes were filmed for it, so it's 9 mins longer.

It should be 1.20. The version on Disc 2 that's labeled as 1.20 appears to be squeezed, it is roughly 1.10. The separate 1.33 version, on Disc 1, appears to be the 1.20 version simply stretched wide to fill the frame. I'm honestly not clear why it was included.

Thanks.

[senseabove]

I'm having trouble finding a clear answer to this: is there a version of Vertigo on BD that has the original mono soundtrack?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by senseabove

I'm having trouble finding a clear answer to this: is there a version of Vertigo on BD that has the original mono soundtrack?

The US Blu Ray.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

The US Blu Ray.

This one? I thought I'd read elsewhere it was a mixdown. Thanks!

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by senseabove

This one? I thought I'd read elsewhere it was a mixdown. Thanks!

Yes, that one (also included on The Essentials, Masterpiece releases). There's no need to worry about it being a mix-down.

[u2popmofo]

The Trouble With Harry has become by official "I'm ready for fall" movie. I watch it the last couple years at the end of August / first of September. Watched it again last night, love how colorful and beautiful the outdoor shots are.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by u2popmofo

The Trouble With Harry has become by official "I'm ready for fall" movie. I watch it the last couple years at the end of August / first of September. Watched it again last night, love how colorful and beautiful the outdoor shots are.

You should until end of September / beginning of October when the leaves start turning
color back east and look just like in the movie.