Cat People and I Walked With A Zombie

[Gull Cottage]

Just noticed that Blu Rays of these two classics are listed as being up for pre-order in Japan!!
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/I-Wal...lu-ray/146345/

http://www.amazon.co.jp/ã‚*ャット...BT6PBJ425JQ8G3

[Professor Echo]

Many vintage RKO titles have bad source materials and knowing how fussy the Warner Archive is about releasing Blus in anything but stellar quality, you have to wonder if they'll ever get around to the Val Lewton library. Warners themselves could release them outside of the Archive division in a set akin to the HAMMER and SPECIAL EFFECTS sets that came out in the fall of 2015. They are not as strict in quality control as the Archive.

As for these Japanese releases, Warners has publicly stated these Japanese Blus are not sourced from the original materials they have in their possession.

[Gull Cottage]

DVD Beaver has reviewed them both for what it's worth.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...ie_blu-ray.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...le_blu-ray.htm

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Many vintage RKO titles have bad source materials and knowing how fussy the Warner Archive is about releasing Blus in anything but stellar quality, you have to wonder if they'll ever get around to the Val Lewton library. Warners themselves could release them outside of the Archive division in a set akin to the HAMMER and SPECIAL EFFECTS sets that came out in the fall of 2015. They are not as strict in quality control as the Archive.

As for these Japanese releases, Warners has publicly stated these Japanese Blus are not sourced from the original materials they have in their possession.

Should they be released in any other quality? I'd rather wait for them to do it right than to get some average job and double dip later.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Should they be released in any other quality? I'd rather wait for them to do it right than to get some average job and double dip later.

I admire and respect the exacting standards of the Warner Archive, but with some films they just may never have source material that will justify such standards. In such cases, I would be more than willing to invest in the best job they are capable of rather than wait for perfection that may never come.

I once spoke with an WA employee about DARK OF THE SUN on Blu and he said while he himself thought the materials they had would yield an excellent Blu, the upper echelon of the company was not satisfied enough to produce it just yet. As I said, in many ways this is admirable, but for some titles waiting may prove futile. In that case, work wonders with what you have. I would rather support original source Val Lewtons from the Archive even if the quality wasn't top tier than import from Japan, unless the latter somehow get tremendous reviews.

[ScareBearDan]

I Walked with a Zombie is supposed to be getting a German release this summer, but the release date keeps getting pushed back.

[OskarKlein]

That sounds really good, I'll be looking out for that German release.

[thisis2]

..the german blu-ray has a release date of 22nd july...i think i'll wait till the end of august to see whether Warner announce the double bill release of i walked with a zombie and the 7th victim...if they are planning a halloween release they normally announce 2 months beforehand..

[CelestialAgent]

There’s a half hour interview with Siodmak on the German Blu-ray but don’t know if in German or English.

[thisis2]

...this is the moment of truth (two months ahead , end of august) regarding an announcement by Warner for a potential double feature halloween release of '' I walked with a zombie'' and ''The 7th Victim'' ...can't imagine why Warner wouldn't release these two significient movies from the Val Lewton series but will have no choice but to get the german release of one of them : ''I Walked....'' if there's no announcement within the next week or so..

[CountYorgaRules]

Wasn't Criterion rumored to be doing I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE? I will take a Warner Archive Blu-ray, hopefully in time for Halloween.