Stalag 17 4K UHD (1953)

[Mr. Sasquatch]

I just re-watched "Stalag 17" a couple weeks ago. The first time for my 15-year old daughter, she loved it. One of my favorite shots of all time is...

[Show spoiler] Just after William Holden has noticed the shadow of the swinging lamp cord. The camera is at the foot of his bed. He sits up straight in bed, looking at the shadow (but for us, directly into the camera), as the other POW's are behind him, singing and marching in line.

It's a great shot.

[James Luckard]

Yep, this film has some of the most complex, "cinematic" shots of Wilder's career. He talked in interviews about how he usually avoided them, intentionally, but since this is a filmed stage play, set mostly in one set, you can tell he let himself go to make things more visually interesting, and it's gorgeous.

I especially love the shot here from 0:09 to 1:19, it's stunningly brilliant:

[Show spoiler]

Stalag 17 (1953) - Price sees the cord signal [HD] - YouTube

WARNING, THIS CLIP IS A SPOILER, EVEN CLICKING ON THE TAG WILL SHOW THE NAME OF THE VIDEO CLIP, WHICH IS ITSELF A SPOILER

[greycellgreen]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Yep, this film has some of the most complex, "cinematic" shots of Wilder's career. He talked in interviews about how he usually avoided them, intentionally, but since this is a filmed stage play, set mostly in one set, you can tell he let himself go to make things more visually interesting, and it's gorgeous.

I especially love the shot here from 0:09 to 1:19, it's stunningly brilliant:

[Show spoiler]Stalag 17 (1953) - Price sees the cord signal [HD] - YouTube

WARNING, THIS CLIP IS A SPOILER, EVEN CLICKING ON THE TAG WILL SHOW THE NAME OF THE VIDEO CLIP, WHICH IS ITSELF A SPOILER

That moment always gives me chills as well - so beautiful constructed and revealed to the audience without dialogue - so many of the best structural thriller moments of the film are seamlessly hidden within character beats.

I've owned this on VHS, DVD and Blu. Very happy to buy it in Dolby Vision. Hope there's some new extras on it.

[Dailyan]

Considering the handling of the United Artists catalog/ownership over the years, I wouldn't be surprised if the condition of elements for "Witness for the Prosecution" aren't justifiable enough for an UHD. Then again, KLI did say that they were looking into re-releasing titles from their first MGM deal and they could surprise us with a WftP upgrade.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Considering the handling of the United Artists catalog/ownership over the years, I wouldn't be surprised if the condition of elements for "Witness for the Prosecution" aren't justifiable enough for an UHD. Then again, KLI did say that they were looking into re-releasing titles from their first MGM deal and they could surprise us with a WftP upgrade.

They didn't mention any issues with the elements, they just said they passed on the title in UHD because they didn't think it would sell well enough to justify the cost. It's fair, UHDs cost more to produce than BDs, it's a gamble for a boutique distributor.

[vinvanveen]

Excellent. I thought they did a great job with those other two Billy Wilder titles so I'll be sure to get this one as well.

[BluPat]

Oh wow! Great movie. I have the Warner Bros Blu-ray but this is worth a double dip.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by BluPat

Oh wow! Great movie. I have the Warner Bros Blu-ray but this is worth a double dip.

It's a Paramount disc - distributed by WHV.

(just an FYI)

[bergman864]

I remember seeking out this after watching Billy Wilder's more well known films. Love the character of Animal. One of my favorite scenes is when they're reading the letters from home and the one character gets news that his wife found an abandoned baby she's now raising.

[Burt Lancaster]

This should sell very well, I can see a future UHD for Witness for the Prosecution. Criterion might end up upgrading Ace in the Hole to 4K.

[cabwiz]

anyone seen an update on this release. After the announcement of a 4k release i havent seen anything. Allegedly a summer 2023 release?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by cabwiz

anyone seen an update on this release. After the announcement of a 4k release i havent seen anything. Allegedly a summer 2023 release?

Kino are working on several 4K titles at the moment. They won't provide any significant updates t until it has a release date. There can be several months (if not over a year) between an announcement and the actual release, but it's still coming.

Here is their list of 4K titles that are "Coming Soon", but not officially dated yet

COMING SOON on 4KHUD:

Bad Lieutenant (1992)
Brick (2005)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Cry Baby (1990)
Cujo (1983)
Face/Off (1997)
A Fistful of Dynamite (1971) Duck, You Sucker
High Noon (1952)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Leviathan (1989)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
North Dallas Forty (1979)
Red Dragon (2002)
Stalag 17 (1953)
Sudden Death (1995)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
The Train (1964)
Underworld (1985) aka Transmutation

[El Duderino81]

Not surprised at all. Stalag 17 is an amazing film and IMO one of Wilder's best.

[StLouisRibs]

Releasing November 21

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Releasing November 21

[Scott R.]

Pre-order is up at Kino...

https://kinolorber.com/product/stalag-17-4kuhd

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Coming November 21st on 4KUHD & Blu-ray!
https://kinolorber.com/product/stalag-17-4kuhd

STALAG 17 (1953) 70th Anniversary

DISC 1 (4KUHD):
• Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism Author Steven Jay Rubin
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Actors Richard Erdman and Gil Stratton with Co-Playwright Donald Bevan
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
• Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism Author Steven Jay Rubin
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Actors Richard Erdman and Gil Stratton with Co-Playwright Donald Bevan
• Stalag 17 - From Reality to Screen: Featurette (22:01)
• The Real Heroes of Stalag XVII B: Featurette (24:49)
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

B&W 120 Minutes 1.37:1 Not Rated
The legendary star and director of 1950’s Sunset Boulevard—William Holden and Billy Wilder—re-teamed three years later for the gripping World War II drama, Stalag 17. The result was a 1953 Best Director Oscar® nomination for Wilder, and the elusive Best Actor Oscar® for Holden. The iconic star of The Bridges at Toko-Ri and The Bridge on the River Kwai portrays the jaded, scheming Sergeant J.J. Sefton, a P.O.W. at the notorious German prison camp, who spends his days dreaming up rackets and trading with the Germans for special privileges. But when two prisoners are killed in an escape attempt, it becomes obvious that there is a spy among them. Is it Sefton? Famed filmmaker Otto Preminger (Rosebud) tackles a rare acting role as the camp’s commandant; Robert Strauss (The Seven Year Itch) earned the film’s third Oscar® nomination (Best Supporting Actor) for his role as “Animal.” Here’s “the granddaddy of all World War II P.O.W. films” (Leonard Maltin), a powerful antiwar classic from the brilliant creator of Five Graves to Cairo, A Foreign Affair, Sabrina, Some Like It Hot and The Apartment.

Also Available on Standalone Blu-ray:
https://kinolorber.com/product/stala...ersary-edition

[Mister_Kidd]

That cover is ****ing great. Awesome movie. Easy upgrade.

[Warm Gun]

They didn't have to crop it so much.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

They didn't have to crop it so much.

Looks like only the slip is zoomed in if you look carefully at the sliver of disc package.