Casablanca (1942) (70th Anniversary Edition)

[BXR 1138]

Originally Posted by jetthead

Just returned from BBY with the last copy they had in the store.

$5 for a terrific transfer of an amazing film is such a steal!

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Same

Me three!

[Mr. Cinema]

If you can't find this at Best Buy for the upgrade trade-in, this is also at Walmart. They have a Valentine's Day cardboard display with various titles at $9.96 each + a $5 Vudu credit.

[Saucerful]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Alternatively, you can get it with The African Queen for $14.99 at BB, it releases on 3/12:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Casablan...anca&lp=3&cp=1

Other than the cover art, how sure are we that this is the new 4K master? If it's a safe bet that it will be, I think I'll spring for the upgrade.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Saucerful

Other than the cover art, how sure are we that this is the new 4K master? If it's a safe bet that it will be, I think I'll spring for the upgrade.

I don't think it says it's the 70th, but at least in the US, Warner isn't releasing/producing the old transfer anymore. I'd say chances are very good that it's the new transfer. That cover art is specifically used for the 70th anniversary single disc release too btw

[Saucerful]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't think it says it's the 70th, but at least in the US, Warner isn't releasing/producing the old transfer anymore. I'd say chances are very good that it's the new transfer. That cover art is specifically used for the 70th anniversary single disc release too btw

Yes, I did notice the cover art being the same. That's good to hear about the old transfer. I can't imagine it would be different in Canada. I did notice, however, that the back cover art provided to Amazon (both US & Canada) shows that Casablanca has a Dolby Digital 1.0 track whereas the review here says that the 70th has a DTS-HD MA 1.0 track. Of course, that could easily be a typo or simply work-in-progress artwork.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Saucerful

Yes, I did notice the cover art being the same. That's good to hear about the old transfer. I can't imagine it would be different in Canada. I did notice, however, that the back cover art provided to Amazon (both US & Canada) shows that Casablanca has a Dolby Digital 1.0 track whereas the review here says that the 70th has a DTS-HD MA 1.0 track. Of course, that could easily be a typo or simply work-in-progress artwork.

Hmm, now that I'm looking at the back it looks to be missing the features from the 70th anniversary release. Specifically "Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of" and "Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic". So now I'm not really sure if it's the new one, or as you say, that's just a placeholder/WIP artwork and it'll be updated.

It would be a really poor showing by Warner to re-release the 2008 transfer with this when they have a new transfer, and they're using the 70th anniversary artwork. They did something similar in Australia unfortunately, but hopefully that isn't the case here.

[paulgeneacepeter]

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

This is the way it is supposed to look. The original had the contrast cranked up and DNR added. Look here: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...less=1#auswahl

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

You're seeing mood and atmosphere as was originally intended. The original release cranked the contrast and eradicated this.

[jacksonwalker]

Totally agree. I have both Bu-rays, and after watching the 70th anniversary version, I too was surprised how dark it was.
But, okay, I was not there in the movie theatre of the early 40's when it unspooled the first time so for now, I am keeping both versions.

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by jacksonwalker

Totally agree. I have both Bu-rays, and after watching the 70th anniversary version, I too was surprised how dark it was.
But, okay, I was not there in the movie theatre of the early 40's when it unspooled the first time so for now, I am keeping both versions.

It's not that the transfer is dark - It's that the photography itself was intended to be dark. Think about the film and the dialogue and how everything plays out - The inside of Rick's bar is supposed to be a dark and moody sort of place. Many of the shots in the film had careful lighting work done in order to produce dark shadows and whatnot. Want a perfect example of why the newer release is better?

Take a look at the scene where Rick's piano player is playing for the entire cafe... in the old release, looks like he's playing to a full room that's mostly lit. In the new release, you can actually see that he's playing in a spotlight, whereas the rest of the cafe is 'in the dark', as they're SUPPOSED to be.

If you've only experienced Casablanca by way of the old release, you're missing much of what's supposed to make 'the experience' for you (and by you, I mean anyone, not you specifically since you stated you have both releases).

[Atreyu]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

If you can't find this at Best Buy for the upgrade trade-in, this is also at Walmart. They have a Valentine's Day cardboard display with various titles at $9.96 each + a $5 Vudu credit.

Walmart is where I got mine for the $9.96 price tag. Though the Valentine's cardboard display is already gone at my Walmart.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

As I said way back when....

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

It seems too dark because you're accustomed to it being too light.

Hal Wallis to Michael Curtiz, 6/4/42:

"Again I want to say that I don't think the Cafe is dark enough. I think there is too much general lighting and somehow or other the place doesn't seem to have the character to me that it should have."

Wallis insisted that the film...particularly the interiors in Rick's...be very dark. Otherwise, it didn't feel like a real saloon/nightclub/gambling room. We're now seeing that vision of the film for the first time on home video.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

I admit that I took me some time to get used to the new-original look after having seen the weak black level-DNR edition, but it's a NOIR film, so it's supposed to look dark, and I always thought the black levels of the original BD edition were way too weak, and washed out.

This is the one to get. I am keeping both as well.

Using the original slipcover for the new one.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

I just bought the 70th anniversary version and I personally think the image is way too dark. Will be keeping the original blu ray version.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by retablo

Geez. People on this forum are way too oversensitive. It's his opinion and that's all it is. Get off his back.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Geez. People on this forum are way too oversensitive. It's his opinion and that's all it is. Get off his back.

Thinks back to many of your posts. Yep, kettle black.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Thinks back to many of your posts. Yep, kettle black.

I don't recall getting mad at anyone just because they weren't happy with the picture quality of a BD. I saw nothing wrong with what paulgeneacepeter said. Not saying I agree with him; I'm just saying that he didn't break any rules. Retablo is way out of line.

[dougotte]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I admit that I took me some time to get used to the new-original look after having seen the weak black level-DNR edition, but it's a NOIR film, so it's supposed to look dark, and I always thought the black levels of the original BD edition were way too weak, and washed out.

I agree that the new BD looks much better than the original, but most people do not consider Casablanca to be a film noir.

[goldie1970]

Originally Posted by dougotte

I agree that the new BD looks much better than the original, but most people do not consider Casablanca to be a film noir.

War, occupation, murder, double dealing, on the streets past curfew, war criminal on the run.....pretty much screams "noir" to me

However people see it, war movie, thriller, love story, noir.....it's a fantastic movie that reaches everyone on some level!