Harold and Maude (1971) (Paramount Presents #29) - December 07, 2021

[chewbabka]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Paramount Presents #29

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=29363

Cool. The Criterion looks good enough, but there is definite room for improvement. This “remixed” soundtrack might be concerning though. Time will tell.

I imagine most fans of this movie and physical media already have the Criterion disc though, so why not 4k???

[MifuneFan]

Not sure if I should put my Criterion copy up on ebay, or just hold on to it. Definitely want to see what the transfer looks like first. There's been a few questionable transfers in the Presents line.

[Dailyan]

Neat that they went to the OCN this time. The Criterion booklet had stated the OCN was too fragile to be scanned originally.

Originally Posted by chewbabka

This “remixed” soundtrack might be concerning though. Time will tell.

I wouldn't be surprised if it will be similar to the stereo remix on the Criterion/Eureka discs where Cat Stevens' music is the only real stereo and everything else is mono.

[chewbabka]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Not sure if I should put my Criterion copy up on ebay, or just hold on to it. Definitely want to see what the transfer looks like first. There's been a few questionable transfers in the Presents line.

It would be a shame if they botched the 4k. You may also need to keep it if you want the mono.

Why ditch the Criterion now? The completionists and fanboys are so crazy, it will probably stay ridiculously expensive on eBay even after the new edition is released. People are still listing Nashville and Rosemary’s baby for $100+

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Not sure if I should put my Criterion copy up on ebay, or just hold on to it. Definitely want to see what the transfer looks like first. There's been a few questionable transfers in the Presents line.

The only unique extras to the Criterion are two audio interviews, and a different interview with Cat Stevens. The Eureka duplicates the commentary from the Criterion release, and adds a David Cairns piece.

[1924]

Uh Paramount, do you realize there are still plenty of your films not on Blu ray or left with crap transfers? And how about some more UHd’s?

[BluProofie]

Will stick with the Criterion. LOVE what Paramount is doing with the Presents line and catalog titles, but if they want me to get these titles that already have great releases, they’re gonna have to at least put them on UHD.

[chewbabka]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Neat that they went to the OCN this time. The Criterion booklet had stated the OCN was too fragile to be scanned originally.



I wouldn't be surprised if it will be similar to the stereo remix on the Criterion/Eureka discs where Cat Stevens' music is the only real stereo and everything else is mono.

That would be good.

I’m just imagining the worst. But if all they did is use the original stems and no new foleys, all they likely did was expand the musical cues to either 2.0 or 5.1, you’re right. Because what else could they do besides

[Show spoiler]add an Atmos explosion when he crashes his E-Type “hearse”

[Acer2010]

I was happy to hear that HAROLD AND MAUDE was coming back to Blu-ray, and as a "Paramount Presents" release with a new 4K restoration! I just hope it looks and sounds good.

[filmgenius89]

Originally Posted by Acer2010

I was happy to hear that HAROLD AND MAUDE was coming back to Blu-ray, and as a "Paramount Presents" release with a new 4K restoration! I just hope it looks and sounds good.

Aren't you worried that Paramount is lying about this transfer too? :P

[Acer2010]

Originally Posted by filmgenius89

Aren't you worried that Paramount is lying about this transfer too? :P

No.

[TravisTylerBlack]

Honestly, I'm happy enough with the Criterion. So much so that the idea of double dipping for anything less than a full 4K UHD just isn't appealing- especially if it ends up being a less-than-clear-cut upgrade as was the case with recent PP edition of Nashville.

Also that "newly remixed" tagline makes me wince. Why can't studios leave well enough alone? Even with higher quality elements at their disposal it's doubtful that whatever "enhanced" version they've cooked up will be an auditory revelation in comparison to the current (very good) soundtrack. At the very least they should include both the old and new tracks on the disc so all parties are pleased.

[James Luckard]

I'm thrilled the trailers will be included. I kept my ancient DVD just for them.

They are among my favorite trailers ever, and they include deleted footage, including one of my favorite shots in the film, a silhouette of Harold and Maude sitting by the bay, looking out on the water, at sunset, with a large wooden sign next to them saying "FU*K WAR," (obviously not censored). You can see the sign being set up in the finished film, but you never see what it says.

You can see it at 2:19

Spoiler warning, DO NOT WATCH THIS TRAILER if you have not seen the film. Like many Paramount trailers of the 1970s, it shows the ENTIRE film, including the ending.

Harold and Maude - Trailer - YouTube

[The Great Owl]

These days, I’m wary of buying any “scanned in 4K” title that is not actually given a 4K UHD release.

[Matt89]

I'll wait and see if this is actually available in 4K DV on iTunes, like a lot of the 4K remastered PP titles that got blu-ray-only releases.

Currently happy with my Criterion but it'll be interesting to see how this turns out since the negative was apparently in really bad shape and, according to Criterion, unusable.

Then again, it's been almost a decade since Criterion put it out so anything's possible. I really do love this film though, so this is awfully tempting either way.

~Matt

[El Sleezo]

If it's not a debatable upgrade like Nashville, I'd certainly pay 20 for one of my favorite films. Of course I'd rather it'd be 4K, and while I do applaud Paramount for the movies they haven taken a risk on that weren't also cash ins, they're not Sony either.

[Matt89]

I actually do think Nashville is an upgrade over the Criterion disc, but it's Paramount's HDR-SDR conversion that makes some of these 4K restorations kinda wonky on blu-ray. That being said, the grain is finer and better resolved on the Paramount than it is on the Criterion disc.

That same master in full 4K UHD would actually look very nice, but alas, Paramount doesn't see the need to put these titles out on UHD. I'd buy Nashville in a goddamn second if they put that 4K restoration an actual 4K disc.

~Matt

[Deadend45]

Originally Posted by Matt89

That being said, the grain is finer and better resolved on the Paramount than it is on the Criterion disc.

Whoa! You are not supposed to write that. The Criterion reseller narrative is they are the best. And just ignore the better pq UK editions like Time Bandits, the Innocents and Elephant Man.

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Neat that they went to the OCN this time. The Criterion booklet had stated the OCN was too fragile to be scanned originally.

lol. Yeah right. Paramount did not trust them with it thats all.

[Deadend45]

Originally Posted by chewbabka

Why ditch the Criterion now? The completionists and fanboys are so crazy, it will probably stay ridiculously expensive on eBay even after the new edition is released. People are still listing Nashville and Rosemary’s baby for $100+

Yeah lets all shed a tear for resellers. They will have to find something else to scam people with. Guess they will have to scurry to all the dollar stores.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Deadend45

Whoa! You are not supposed to write that. The Criterion reseller narrative is they are the best. And just ignore the better pq UK editions like Time Bandits, the Innocents and Elephant Man.

Are you sure you meant this title? The UK release I know is from the BFI and that's an older master with cinemascope mumps, which the Criterion handily chews up in terms of detail and grayscale.