The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - Imprint

[JackForrester]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

It's really just a continuation of presents. Subject matter, themes, all basically the same. Seemed like it might have had a higher budget, as presents some of the episodes feel a bit condensed.

There are some truly fantastic episodes of hour, a particular favorite of mine is the second season premiere with Ray Milland and a bunch of other mental patients taking over an insane asylum.

Yep. Because of the length I felt that the eps of Presents were a little too rushed and condensed with their plots. When it comes to thrillers, especially from that era, I prefer a slower pacing but that's me.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

Yes, their Facebook post detailing this release says they did their own “brand NEW 2K scans” of the original camera negatives of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Before you had made your reply I had seen on the Imprint Films Facebook page, Via Vision's website listing page and the starter post of this thread about the "new 2K scans". It all sounds good, this release, apart from there being no subtitles. And it has been asked in the main Kino Blu-ray thread about The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (all of the episodes can't be cleared).

[OceanBlue]

UK television channel Sky Arts have yet to show the third season of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and the last time I checked it wasn't available via Sky's On Demand/Catch-up TV service (usually, when they have started showing on Sky Arts a season of the original Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and the first two seasons of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, they make available most episodes. Looking at the announcement again of Via Vision's Blu-ray release in the starter post, one episode mentioned in the list of episodes with audio commentaries ("Diagnosis: Danger") wasn't made available).

[playingphysicist]

It's always been my understanding that both AHP and Hour are in rights hell to varying degrees, in different markets, so it's not surprising S3 wouldn't be there.

We never even got the final season of AHP on DVD in the US. I'd say they are probably my MOST WANTED tv show(s) on bluray. 2k would be good enough for me.

Alot of the AHP/Hour elements used on the Via Vision DVD sets were in poor condition - see especially the episode starring Dean Stockwell which title I can't remember right off.

[BobSimms]

Are we presuming Imprint will be releasing all 3 seasons on BD?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

Are we presuming Imprint will be releasing all 3 seasons on BD?

Would be pretty disappointing if they didn't.

In fact they should just have done all seasons at once and make a nice box set for it... maybe they aren't too sure about the numbers?

I would jump at the chance to own these if I hadn't already binged the whole series when it was on Peacock.

[BobSimms]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I would jump at the chance to own these if I hadn't already binged the whole series when it was on Peacock.

It wasn’t in HD on Peacock if I recall correctly. Jump at the chance! Jump now!

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

It wasn’t in HD on Peacock if I recall correctly. Jump at the chance! Jump now!

Hey, for stuff from decades ago, it still looked pretty good.

If I buy them right now, I will literally never get to watch them.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

It's always been my understanding that both AHP and Hour are in rights hell to varying degrees, in different markets, so it's not surprising S3 wouldn't be there.

We never even got the final season of AHP on DVD in the US. I'd say they are probably my MOST WANTED tv show(s) on bluray. 2k would be good enough for me.

Alot of the AHP/Hour elements used on the Via Vision DVD sets were in poor condition - see especially the episode starring Dean Stockwell which title I can't remember right off.

It could still happen that Sky Arts will eventually show the third season of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, as when they showed all seven seasons of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (with the odd episode not shown/not made available) there was a wait of several weeks or a few months inbetween seasons.

[BobSimms]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Hey, for stuff from decades ago, it still looked pretty good.

To me they have that very obvious “SD era” look about them, with that weird “pixelation” on the edges of objects (I don’t know what that effect is called; it sort of looks like little teeth). If that’s what you mean by “stuff from decades ago” (i.e. the DVD era) I guess I agree.

[puffketeer]

Originally Posted by octobercountry

Seems odd that it only got a 2k scan, though---35mm material should always have a 4k scan to start with.

2K is probably "good enough" for a B&W TV series of this period. cannot see 4K doing much for this show, as I imagine the film elements have flaws baked into the source that nobody watching on a 1960s TV would have noticed or cared about

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by hagios

Will Orbitdvd, Diabolik or The Atomic Movie Store have this Alfred Hitchcock Hour Imprint?

Pre-orders live on all three - $99.99

[filmlover22]

Wondering what Walmart will charge for this? not up for order yet.

[gunnerg]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

Alot of the AHP/Hour elements used on the Via Vision DVD sets were in poor condition - see especially the episode starring Dean Stockwell which title I can't remember right off.

The Via Vision dvds look quite good (for dvd). On their dvd set, that Hitchcock Hour episode "Anabel" starring Dean Stockwell actually doesn't burst into the weird digital swarming mosquito effect that appears on the Peacock & MeTV versions (I've heard the UK dvd release also has this). This said, it surely doesn't look perfect. I'm looking forward to seeing the new scans in high definition!

[DavidRoylance]

I hope that Imprint do "Presents" alongside this!

[bondfooll]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

I hope that Imprint do "Presents" alongside this!

Same, but based on their Bewitched releases, my wallet is scared.

[OceanBlue]

Hopefully, we'll be getting an announcement by Via Vision in the next couple of weeks of the final details (extras and specifications) for the Season 1 Blu-ray set.

[Piano Player]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Hopefully, we'll be getting an announcement by Via Vision in the next couple of weeks of the final details (extras and specifications) for the Season 1 Blu-ray set.

Yep. They're still listing a release date of August 27. And their website still says, "More Special Features TBC."

Hmmmm.

[kanichi]

Originally Posted by Piano Player

Yep. They're still listing a release date of August 27. And their website still says, "More Special Features TBC."

Hmmmm.

Updated:

"· 1080p High-definition presentation of all 32 episodes from Season One from NEW 2K scans of the original 35mm negatives by Imprint

· Limited Edition Hardbox packaging

· 130-page booklet featuring original Story Information for every episode

· NEW Audio Commentary by screenwriter and film historian Gary Gerani on three episodes: A Piece Of The Action, I Saw The Whole Thing, and Captive Audience

· NEW Audio Commentary by filmmaker/film historian Constantine Nasr on The Black Curtain

· NEW Audio Commentary by film and television historian Reba Wissner on two episodes: Ride The Nightmare, and The Thirty-First Of February

· NEW Audio Commentary by film historian Steve Mitchell on two episodes: Diagnosis: Danger, and Death Of A Cop

· NEW Audio Commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons on three episodes: The Star Juror, The Long Silence, and Dear Uncle George

· Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono

· Original Aspect Ratio: 1.33"



Seems No More Special Features.

[octobercountry]

I was going to order this directly from Imprint, but heard that the US is deleting the "De Minimis Exemption" at the end of August. So, I'm assuming that it's going to be more of a hassle, and more expensive, to order directly from Australia from here on out. Maybe it would be better to order from someplace like Atomic, Orbit, or Diabolik?