Psycho (1960) (50th Anniversary Edition)

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Was it this pre-cert tape?

[img]http://www.nostalgiastore.co.uk/files/psycho.jpg[img]

http://www.nostalgiastore.co.uk/?615...960-ultra-rare)

Wow
That's the one!

[Markgway]

When I was a kid I had this tape (from 1986):



I guess by that time the uncut version had been replaced?

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

And as I said before, the US version he released was his approved cut and has been that way for 50 years. Most likely this and that, but it means absolutely nothing. He was also "forced" to cut the flushing toilet, but he didn't.

And yet again, tirelessly, EVERY movie has cut scenes for many reasons, so calling something "cut" is completely ridiculous and just semantics to perpetuate a non-existent argument. So let's start a thread for every single movie now saying they are ALL cut and demand uncut versions, because that's basically what some of you are doing here.

And this is a gem: "Whether the cut footage changes or improves the film (and I'm sure it doesn't) is irrelevant." It's completely relevant, because the footage adds nothing, therefore it's inclusion would satisfy non one or offer ANYTHING new to a classic 50-year-old film. Therefore, it's unneeded. If it were relevant footage you might have an argument.

It adds nothing in your opinion, but that's only your opinion. Saying that the included footage would satisfy nobody or offer anything new to a classic 50-year-old film is one of the most ridiculous things I've read recently. Also, if Hitch didn't want those cut bits in the film, they probably wouldn't have been in the versions of the film distributed outside the US.

Seems like it would really ruffle your feathers if an option were included to watch the film with the cut bits included; why so touchy about it?

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Was it this pre-cert tape?



It's here if you have £26 to spare...

http://www.nostalgiastore.co.uk/?615...960-ultra-rare)

That looks very much like the Australian rental VHS/BETAMAX release from the 1980's.Perhaps both being PAL format they used the same master.I used to have a copy of this (Australian version) ex-rental in the early 90's.I've forgotten which cut it could have been-longer edit or theatrical version?

[Ray_Rogers]

Comparisons with the German TV Uncut version.

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=510780
http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1921

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I think you meant Rear Window. Rear Widow is the notorious porn version, which even Hitch thought was in bad taste.

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I watched Psycho on Blu-ray yesterday. Do folks really think it looks good? To my eye, it looked like a typical Universal transfer: over-sharpened up the wazoo.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I watched Psycho on Blu-ray yesterday. Do folks really think it looks good? To my eye, it looked like a typical Universal transfer: over-sharpened up the wazoo.

Needs a proper 4K transfer with similar end results of SPARTACUS: 55th Anniversary/Restoration Edition. Goes for the majority of Hitchcock films released via Universal too.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Needs a proper 4K transfer with similar end results of SPARTACUS: 55th Anniversary/Restoration Edition. Goes for the majority of Hitchcock films released via Universal too.

Abso-frickin-lutely!! There are soooo many classics that need that level of love and attention.

Will Comcast pony up the money that they need? No way in hell. They're too busy spending their profits on lobbyists.

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I watched Psycho on Blu-ray yesterday. Do folks really think it looks good? To my eye, it looked like a typical Universal transfer: over-sharpened up the wazoo.

When I watched it 3 or 4 years ago I thought it looked amazing, but standards have changed and we've come a long way with scanning equipment, knowledge and expectations.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Isn't the UK release just a smidge better regarding image quality?

Is it?

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Abso-frickin-lutely!! There are soooo many classics that need that level of love and attention.

Will Comcast pony up the money that they need? No way in hell. They're too busy spending their profits on lobbyists.

Yup.

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Is it?

Bit better encoding I guess? I'll need to look at the comparisons from Caps-a-holic.com again.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I watched Psycho on Blu-ray yesterday. Do folks really think it looks good? To my eye, it looked like a typical Universal transfer: over-sharpened up the wazoo.

I dunno about "good", it's got the usual Universal processing (though it's more to smooth out the various dupes and opticals) and IIRC they didn't use the negative so this element (fine grain master, perhaps?) has its own issues like the edge ringing due to the build-up of contrast you get on successive elements, which is exacerbated because it's a B&W feature.

All that in mind, it was eminently tolerable the last time I watched it. Not great, not good even, but kinda watchable for a Universal joint.

[The Fallen Deity]

It's not an amazing transfer but it's nowhere near as bad some of Universal's other catalogue releases.

[nousefouraname]

Picked up the Pop Art release of Psycho. Total double dip, but I think it fits really on my shelf with the Scream releases of II-IV. Assuming I can get a few bucks out of the 50th Anniversary copy on ebay, it will essentially only cost me about $3 to make the switch.

[Class316]

Originally Posted by nousefouraname

Picked up the Pop Art release of Psycho. Total double dip, but I think it fits really on my shelf with the Scream releases of II-IV. Assuming I can get a few bucks out of the 50th Anniversary copy on ebay, it will essentially only cost me about $3 to make the switch.

Maybe just me I hate the pop art.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Needs a proper 4K transfer with similar end results of SPARTACUS: 55th Anniversary/Restoration Edition. Goes for the majority of Hitchcock films released via Universal too.

To paraphrase Adam West, truer words were never spoken.

In addition to a right and proper 4K scan, I wish Universal would include the full-screen version as an option. Hitchcock filmed Psycho with his TV crew from Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Because of the content of the film he wasn't sure it would get much of a theatrical release and may have thought a cut-down version for television would turn out to be the venue for Psycho. So while composing for widescreen he carefully, meticulously filled the frame with additional top and bottom information for television. The TV-safe version is a legitimate alternate of Psycho. There needs to be discussion about it, frankly.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Class316

Maybe just me I hate the pop art.

I like the 50th Anniversary artwork much better than that pop art crap.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

To paraphrase Adam West, truer words were never spoken.

In addition to a right and proper 4K scan, I wish Universal would include the full-screen version as an option. Hitchcock filmed Psycho with his TV crew from Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Because of the content of the film he wasn't sure it would get much of a theatrical release and may have thought a cut-down version for television would turn out to be the venue for Psycho. So while composing for widescreen he carefully, meticulously filled the frame with additional top and bottom information for television. The TV-safe version is a legitimate alternate of Psycho. There needs to be discussion about it, frankly.

It was composed for theatrical exhibition. There's NO WAY that could have been shown on TV in the early 60's. And in one scene in the 4:3 version, the camera's shadow is clearly seen on the bed. This wasn't intended as a 4:3 film.

[jacksparrow900]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

To paraphrase Adam West, truer words were never spoken.

In addition to a right and proper 4K scan, I wish Universal would include the full-screen version as an option. Hitchcock filmed Psycho with his TV crew from Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Because of the content of the film he wasn't sure it would get much of a theatrical release and may have thought a cut-down version for television would turn out to be the venue for Psycho. So while composing for widescreen he carefully, meticulously filled the frame with additional top and bottom information for television. The TV-safe version is a legitimate alternate of Psycho. There needs to be discussion about it, frankly.

He used his TV crew from REvue because it cut down the cost for the production of the film since Hitchcock financed the picture himself. It had nothing to do with filming it for television and like any other film it was shot for widescreen and he knew it would be shot in black and white because color would be too graphic for that time.

[Richard--W]

I stated that the film was composed in widescreen for theatrical exhibition, so there's no disagreement there. The additional top and bottom information in the TVSafe version is not the sort of thing that is captured by mistake. It is deliberately placed story-telling information. Of course it is not the preferred aspect ratio, but this film being a Hitchcock, the additional top and bottom information can't be easily dismissed. I've seen Psycho projected theatrically many times over the years, and I've also studied the TVSafe version on old broadcast tapes I'd made and on Universal VHS. I maintain that the TVSafe framing is a legitimate alternate and should be included as an option, not the default.