Alfred Hitchcock on Blu-ray

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

*The rest of the British thriller sextet - Secret Agent, Sabotage, Young & Innocent: the first two are on Criterion's Hulu+ page. There's some minor speculation that these three can be released via an Eclipse sort of set, as Criterion has mainline-released the other half of the sextet.

I think Eclipse releases have only ever been on DVD, right? And they never have extras, as far as I know. Seems like that wouldn't make much sense as Sabotage and Young & Innocent have already been released here in excellent-looking DVD editions. Maybe they'll do a BD boxset of the 3?

I certainly hope there's not a BD boxset of all the British titles Criterion controls, forcing us to rebuy the three they have already released. They're usually good about not doing things like that though.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I think Eclipse releases have only ever been on DVD, right? And they never have extras, as far as I know. Seems like that wouldn't make much sense as Sabotage and Young & Innocent have already been released here in excellent-looking DVD editions. Maybe they'll do a BD boxset of the 3?

I certainly hope there's not a BD boxset of all the British titles Criterion controls, forcing us to rebuy the three they have already released. They're usually good about not doing things like that though.

They are some terrific looking DVD's that is for sure. If you pointed me at a screen with them playing and said it was blu-ray I would probably believe you...clarity is impeccable.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I wish I were that optimistic about the other American films, but I just don't see them ever getting a BD release here. With classic films more popular overseas on disc (witness the more extensive lists available in the UK, France, Germany) I think the films will be released first there, if anywhere. It wouldn't be unheard of, Paramount has released Sabrina and Funny Face, for example, in many foreign markets but not here.

The fact that Universal released/is releasing the 'lesser' films they control, and Warner's being the best of the majors at releasing their catalog, gives me hope on this front.

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I think Eclipse releases have only ever been on DVD, right? And they never have extras, as far as I know. Seems like that wouldn't make much sense as Sabotage and Young & Innocent have already been released here in excellent-looking DVD editions. Maybe they'll do a BD boxset of the 3?

I certainly hope there's not a BD boxset of all the British titles Criterion controls, forcing us to rebuy the three they have already released. They're usually good about not doing things like that though.

A blu set was indeed the letter of my speculation; Eclipse is a rumor (like any and everything else 'minor' on Hulu+). But I'd take an Eclipse because I'm not familiar with any 'excellent-looking' DVD transfers of these films. Is this an import of some sort? I've only ever seen them on crappy to even-more-crappy, public domain-source prints.

And to re-iterate, this is all real conjecture on my part.

[MikeyHitchFan]

Sabotage, Young and Innocent and 6 others were released in the Premiere Collection box and individually by MGM on DVD a few years ago. The singles are mostly out of print.

I would re-buy if Criterion issued a box set of new and already released titles.

Hell, I'm buying the individual Universal titles even though I own the box set.

Rear Window, Vertigo and The Birds will come out individually eventually. It's the 50th anniversary for The Birds and 55th for Vertigo this year, too. They're released or coming soon in all other countries already.

Someone will release the silent restored 9 titles, either here or there, and I will buy whichever comes out first.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

I'm not familiar with any 'excellent-looking' DVD transfers of these films. Is this an import of some sort? I've only ever seen them on crappy to even-more-crappy, public domain-source prints.

These MGM DVDs are legit, studio-issued discs with stunning transfers, not public domain junk like all other US versions. Sadly they're OOP now, but they were easy to find and inexpensive for a number of years:

[Show spoiler]

[100pr00f]

any Idea on unreleased on Blu-Ray yet Hitchcock films will be releasing ...not the re-releases of the collection on separate releases

[The Great Owl]

All of the Region A Hitchcock Blu-rays are now in my collection. Well, they will be as soon as Strangers on a Train arrives in the mail. I picked up Dial M For Murder at Barnes & Noble yesterday, and ordered Strangers on a Train from Amazon.

Let's get more Hitchcock Blu-rays in Region A now!

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

All of the Region A Hitchcock Blu-rays are now in my collection. Well, they will be as soon as Strangers on a Train arrives in the mail. I picked up Dial M For Murder at Barnes & Noble yesterday, and ordered Strangers on a Train from Amazon.

Let's get more Hitchcock Blu-rays in Region A now!

I don't know how many more we can expect, the ones that are likely coming are:

Jamaica Inn - https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10387
Sabotage, Young & Innocent, Foreign Correspondent - controlled by Criterion
"The Hitchcock 9" - the newly restored 9 silent films, currently touring the world and doubtless getting a BD release when they're done doing so.

I keep being tempted to buy Lifeboat from the UK, especially since it has restored versions of the 2 1944 French-language propaganda shorts on the disc, but maybe Criterion will do that too through their deal with Fox...

I don't know of any others that seem especially likely.

I think Warners made their call when they released Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder individually at the same time as the Universal boxset and did not release their own boxset, but even licensed NxNW to Uni's. I don't expect to see the rest of the WB controlled Hitchcocks on BD soon, if ever.

The other titles not on BD are all fairly obscure, even if some of them are great.

[Scottie]

Topaz (standalone) - November 5, 2013

http://www.amazon.com/Topaz-Blu-ray-...26883&sr=1-117

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I don't know how many more we can expect, the ones that are likely coming are:

Jamaica Inn - https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10387
Sabotage, Young & Innocent, Foreign Correspondent - controlled by Criterion
"The Hitchcock 9" - the newly restored 9 silent films, currently touring the world and doubtless getting a BD release when they're done doing so.

I keep being tempted to buy Lifeboat from the UK, especially since it has restored versions of the 2 1944 French-language propaganda shorts on the disc, but maybe Criterion will do that too through their deal with Fox...

I don't know of any others that seem especially likely.

I think Warners made their call when they released Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder individually at the same time as the Universal boxset and did not release their own boxset, but even licensed NxNW to Uni's. I don't expect to see the rest of the WB controlled Hitchcocks on BD soon, if ever.

The other titles not on BD are all fairly obscure, even if some of them are great.

I'll sell you a copy of Lifeboat. I don't have a region free player

[MikeyHitchFan]

Just a confirmation to anyone who's been wondering if any of the Masterpiece Collection individual releases are the same transfers as the box set. The answer is yes.

I just checked Marnie and The Man Who Knew Too Much and they are identical in every way except for the plain black artwork labels they're using. I was expecting this, but still a bit disappointed that they didn't fix these two transfers as they're the worst looking films in the set, along with Family Plot.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by MikeyHitchFan

Just a confirmation to anyone who's been wondering if any of the Masterpiece Collection individual releases are the same transfers as the box set. The answer is yes.

I just checked Marnie and The Man Who Knew Too Much and they are identical in every way except for the plain black artwork labels they're using. I was expecting this, but still a bit disappointed that they didn't fix these two transfers as they're the worst looking films in the set, along with Family Plot.

I figured as much, and that's why I shelled out for the cheaper UK edition of the Masterpiece Collection after buying the stand-alone North by Northwest when I first bought a Blu-ray player.

I am inclined to look at Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection as a "placeholder" of these amazing movies before the inevitable day when they are all given some incredible restorations of some future sort.

That said, the only disc in The Masterpiece Collection that I found to be outright unsightly was Family Plot. I know that a lot of people have complained about The Man Who Knew Too Much and about Marnie, but those movies, while not demo material, looked wonderful to me. I was quite thrilled with everything in the box set except for Family Plot.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by MikeyHitchFan

Just a confirmation to anyone who's been wondering if any of the Masterpiece Collection individual releases are the same transfers as the box set. The answer is yes.

I just checked Marnie and The Man Who Knew Too Much and they are identical in every way except for the plain black artwork labels they're using. I was expecting this, but still a bit disappointed that they didn't fix these two transfers as they're the worst looking films in the set, along with Family Plot.

You really thought that they would have different transfers??

Fortunately, all the Hitchcock movies from the set that have crappy transfers aren't among Hitch's best efforts, and his best movies all have superb picture quality. They just figured that it wouldn't pay off coughing up the dough to remaster those of his movies that aren't popular.

[ccg1978]

Argh! Every time I see this thread pop up I think there are new offerings!

[MikeyHitchFan]

As I wrote..I was expecting this..meaning, no, I didn't think they would "fix" the problem transfers. But somewhere in my mind I thought..what if they did fix them and quietly issued them? I have the U.S. box and am getting the individuals since I like to collect Hitchcock's films.

As for Marnie..this is the most disappointing title of the set for me. OK, not top tier maybe as a film but all that grainy, swarmy stuff in every shot is distracting to me. I had the VHS and DVD and they looked very clean, apart from some soft focus shots. Yes, the BD looks sharp and the color is nice...but what the hell is that I keep seeing? Artificial grain? Anyway, if this is as good as it gets I can live with it.

The Man Who Knew Too Much and Family Plot aren't great transfers, either, but neither one bothered or distracted me as consistently throughout the film as much as Marnie.

[MikeyHitchFan]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

Argh! Every time I see this thread pop up I think there are new offerings!

Well, technically they're new individual releases..but...same as the box set.

There is an Australian release of Lifeboat but I'm not sure it's Region A playable.

Cohen Media Group is supposed to releasing a restored Jamaica Inn sometime soon..but no official announcement yet.

Criterion will release another title eventually...Foreign Correspondent, Sabotage, Secret Agent, Young and Innocent are all theirs, I think.

We're still waiting on WB for more of their titles: The Wrong Man, Mr And Mrs Smith (no, not that one), Suspicion, I Confess and Stage Fright.

We await news of the Silent 9 films restored with new scores to be released on BD or even DVD when they're done touring the country this year..hopefully.

I would love someone to restore and release Under Capricorn.

[MikeyHitchFan]

Damn this set looks nice! I'm not one for those foo-foo extras but this one is cool looking compared to the other behemoth limited edition box set.https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Alfre...Blu-ray/83916/

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by MikeyHitchFan

Damn this set looks nice! I'm not one for those foo-foo extras but this one is cool looking compared to the other behemoth limited edition box set.https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Alfre...Blu-ray/83916/

It looks cool, but it also looks completely impractical with all the discs being housed in mini film reel canisters.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It looks cool, but it also looks completely impractical with all the discs being housed in mini film reel canisters.

I think that they would actually be quite user friendly to use. Keep in mind that you're only going to watch one movie at a time. They're really not much different than 15 ordinary blu ray cases on the shelf next to each other - same principle. And they are so cool.

Plus this one has North By Northwest as well, unlike other non-US sets.

[bwdowiak]

What's everyone's opinion on the picture quality of "The 39 Steps" on blu-ray? The reviewer on this site said that the quality left a little bit to be desired and graded the other early Hitch Criterion releases ("The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "The Lady Vanishes") much higher.

I realize that we're probably not get anything better, but I have been enamored with all of these older films that have marvelously restored. If it's only so-so, I can probably wait.