The Stranger (1946)

[vdmello]

Originally Posted by walkerb1983

can anyone tell me if this is region free? It says on the review on the site it is but on Amazon says its Region A locked...

Also according to dvdbeaver.com, this one is region free, therefore it's most likely that this release is indeed region free.
Amazon sometimes not reliable with the info they post on their pages (region, aspect ratio, etc..)

[walkerb1983]

Originally Posted by vdmello

Also according to dvdbeaver.com, this one is region free, therefore it's most likely that this release is indeed region free.
Amazon sometimes not reliable with the info they post on their pages (region, aspect ratio, etc..)

thank you much appreciated

[jayrobb9]

Originally Posted by walkerb1983

can anyone tell me if this is region free? It says on the review on the site it is but on Amazon says its Region A locked.

Many Thanks

I was actually wondering the same thing.

Planning to buy this copy from eBay, but all the sellers listings are saying it's region A locked. I'd really rather not shell out AUD$50 and find out the thing doesn't work.

But if it is indeed region free, I'll gladly pay the price. Love this movie!

[tylergfoster]

Amazon is generally not a meaningful source for region coding. Their back-end database for feature submissions on a DVD or Blu-ray clearly has not been updated since the '90s -- it's the most disorganized, non-user-friendly submission tool I've ever seen.

Trust a site like DVDBeaver and reviews on this site, because places like this actually exist to look at and assess the disc's content. All Amazon cares about is selling it to you.

Anyway, I have the disc and just checked with my Seiki and it played setting the region to B and C.

[jayrobb9]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

Amazon is generally not a meaningful source for region coding. Their back-end database for feature submissions on a DVD or Blu-ray clearly has not been updated since the '90s -- it's the most disorganized, non-user-friendly submission tool I've ever seen.

Trust a site like DVDBeaver and reviews on this site, because places like this actually exist to look at and assess the disc's content. All Amazon cares about is selling it to you.

Anyway, I have the disc and just checked with my Seiki and it played setting the region to B and C.

Thanks for the info, I'll grab it :-)

[ArnoldLayne56]

I just purchased the new Olive release of the The Stranger on Amazon for $17.47, no tax, Prime free shipping (Amazon 3rd Party seller).

[dex14]

Originally Posted by ArnoldLayne56

I just purchased the new Olive release of the The Stranger on Amazon for $17.47, no tax, Prime free shipping (Amazon 3rd Party seller).

12.99 at Best Buy.

[SeanJoyce]

So what's the word on the Olive release?

I ordered Kino's Blu-ray as part of the recent sale but was distressed to learn that no clean-up of the print had been performed. Did Olive fix that, or is it the same transfer?

[thatguamguy]

I believe that Olive used a different print.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

So what's the word on the Olive release?

I ordered Kino's Blu-ray as part of the recent sale but was distressed to learn that no clean-up of the print had been performed. Did Olive fix that, or is it the same transfer?

Here's the DVDBeaver comparison of The Stranger Blu-rays.

I've decided to stick with my Kino Blu-ray of The Stranger, since it's a Library of Congress print and since the Kino screenshots look a little better to me. There's some print damage on the Kino release, but it's nothing that interferes with my enjoyment of the movie.

The Force looks pretty strong with the Olive Films version as well, though. You probably can't go wrong either way, because it's an awesome movie.

[thatguamguy]

I think I lean towards the Olive, but from the screenshots it's close enough that I doubt I'll ever get around to upgrading.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here's the DVDBeaver comparison of The Stranger Blu-rays.

I've decided to stick with my Kino Blu-ray of The Stranger, since it's a Library of Congress print and since the Kino screenshots look a little better to me. There's some print damage on the Kino release, but it's nothing that interferes with my enjoyment of the movie.

The Force looks pretty strong with the Olive Films version as well, though. You probably can't go wrong either way, because it's an awesome movie.

Wow, was unaware that Gary had updated his page to include a comparison of the Olive.

Have to say that the Kino looks incredibly sharp next to the Olive, though I don't know if any scrubbing was involved.

I'm sure I'll be content with it, as the basement-quality, poverty-row DVD I've had all these years is no longer an option.

[SMOOT]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Wow, was unaware that Gary had updated his page to include a comparison of the Olive.

Have to say that the Kino looks incredibly sharp next to the Olive, though I don't know if any scrubbing was involved.

I'm sure I'll be content with it, as the basement-quality, poverty-row DVD I've had all these years is no longer an option.

The Olive Blu-ray of The Stranger looks much better in motion than the dvdbeaver screencaps would have me believe.

The Olive Blu-ray of The Stranger does not look as good as the blu-ray.com review would have me believe.

I prefer the Olive Blu-ray to the Kino, but there are trade-offs and you can reference dvdsavant at dvdtalk.com for some of those.
I recommend watching both if you're into the film.

We need a real restoration as this is a better film than some people give credit.
I like it better with each viewing.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here's the DVDBeaver comparison of The Stranger Blu-rays.

I've decided to stick with my Kino Blu-ray of The Stranger, since it's a Library of Congress print and since the Kino screenshots look a little better to me. There's some print damage on the Kino release, but it's nothing that interferes with my enjoyment of the movie.

The Force looks pretty strong with the Olive Films version as well, though. You probably can't go wrong either way, because it's an awesome movie.

I just received a message regarding the above post from Pro-B, and, with his blessings, I'm going to share the message here, since all of you deserve to have as much information at hand as possible when deciding which Blu-ray to purchase...


I saw your comments about The Stranger and felt compelled to send a short message

There is a sea of difference between the Kino release and the Olive release.

The former/Kino is actually very badly digitally sharpened, to the point where it actually collapses existing detail. It literally has some of the worst anomalies that digitally-wrecked transfers have. It also has very inconsistent brightness levels, which were clearly tweaked by someone who assumed that brighter is better because the transfer will expose more for the viewer to see. Frankly, it is a very poor presentation of the film.

The Olive release is sourced from a very nice organic master. There are still some minor source limitations -- introduced by aging -- but the film now has an overall better density and it actually shows more detail as well. The Olive release literally is a revelation.

An important note: sharp and 'digitally sharpened' are two entirely different things. The former is a film/cinematography quality. The latter is a digital enhancement that has nothing to do with film

I hope you are well, Owl.

S.

p.s.
Feel free to repost my comments, if you wish, because DVDBEAVER's review cannot be any more misleading.



Of course, I am now tempted to double-dip with the Olive Blu-ray after all. Grrrrr. Hahaha.

[Majin Blu]

Originally Posted by SMOOT

The Olive Blu-ray of The Stranger looks much better in motion than the dvdbeaver screencaps would have me believe.

The Olive Blu-ray of The Stranger does not look as good as the blu-ray.com review would have me believe.

I prefer the Olive Blu-ray to the Kino, but there are trade-offs and you can reference dvdsavant at dvdtalk.com for some of those.
I recommend watching both if you're into the film.

We need a real restoration as this is a better film than some people give credit.
I like it better with each viewing.

I feel the same way and I believe we'll get it one day (well, I hope). For now, I'm cool with the Kino disc. The print damage doesn't bother me, plus I got a lot that I want coming out in the following months.

[charlieray1]

The Kino version is incomplete. It's missing a scene -- Robinson's escape from the ladder trap. On the other hand, it does have the original ending credits with Robinson smoking.

Does anyone know if the Olive version has these bits?

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

The Kino version is incomplete. It's missing a scene -- Robinson's escape from the ladder trap. On the other hand, it does have the original ending credits with Robinson smoking.

Does anyone know if the Olive version has these bits?

If it helps, the Beaver review says the Kino disc is 50 seconds longer, dunno if it's just logos at the beginning though.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Of course, I am now tempted to double-dip with the Olive Blu-ray after all. Grrrrr. Hahaha.

Tell me about it. If I break down this will be the third BD I've bought of the same public domain movie.

Which doesn't sound like a big deal until you consider that the money will likely come out of my Star Trek ship/prop replica funds.

So, you know...

[nitin]

Kino release is definitely sharpened, has always looked that way.

[MifuneFan]

Olive transfer looks much better, much more like film, and less digital for sure.