"Victory At Sea" classic 26-episode 1950s TV series on April 26th

[bluskies]

I came across this quite by accident on Amazon. And there is a notification for it here at blu-ray.com but no details, and apparently, no thread about it.



Victory at Sea Blu-ray

Victory at Sea Blu-ray Review

This was a classic TV series from the 1950s, 26 episodes long (running time 690 minutes).

I'll be curious to see how this turns out PQ-wise because they used actual WWII footage.

The series also has a great music score by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein).

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by bluskies

I'll be curious to see how this turns out PQ-wise because they used actual WWII footage.

The series also has a great music score by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein).

I love this series and already have this on pre-order (I guess Dad gets my DVD set again).

[editor11]

Yes, this documentary series is indeed a classic. I got the multi-DVD set in 2003 and it looked pretty good.

I DEFINITELY need to read the bluray.com review before I buy this bluray set, however. Unless this new "HD" version is a fresh telecine from top quality film prints of the original NBC episodes, you might as well keep watching the History Channel / A&E / NBC news set of DVDs from 2003.

Bluray.com and Amazon say a company called "Periscope Film" is releasing this set. Who are they and what is their experience with HD ? Which lab are they using ? The *color* graphic of the packaging (for a black and white series) is alarmingly cheesy looking, so I'm actually quite concerned as to the quality of this release.

Hope it's a winner !

[rkolinski]

Originally Posted by editor11

Yes, this documentary series is indeed a classic. I got the multi-DVD set in 2003 and it looked pretty good.

I DEFINITELY need to read the bluray.com review before I buy this bluray set, however. Unless this new "HD" version is a fresh telecine from top quality film prints of the original NBC episodes, you might as well keep watching the History Channel / A&E / NBC news set of DVDs from 2003.

Bluray.com and Amazon say a company called "Periscope Film" is releasing this set. Who are they and what is their experience with HD ? Which lab are they using ? The *color* graphic of the packaging (for a black and white series) is alarmingly cheesy looking, so I'm actually quite concerned as to the quality of this release.

Hope it's a winner !

Well this is what their website says and the say they chose that name because their first acquisition as a company "was a set of rare films related to the United States Submarine Service...." They sound like they care about film preservation and video quality but that still needs to be proven with this Blu-ray release!

http://www.periscopefilm.com/index.p...d=45&Itemid=28

[P@t_Mtl]

I got to see this back in 1991 on A&E during Memorial weekend. I was stuck at home due to a stupid back injury I got at work. I could not do very much. They played 13 episodes on Saturday and 13 episodes on Sunday. It's a little dated now but still a very interesting documentary. I might pick this up sometime later on

[AintNoSin]

I just got a notice that my delivery date had been pushed back to June, so it looks like this set has been delayed.

[editor11]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

Well this is what their website says and the say they chose that name because their first acquisition as a company "was a set of rare films related to the United States Submarine Service...." They sound like they care about film preservation and video quality but that still needs to be proven with this Blu-ray release!

http://www.periscopefilm.com/index.p...d=45&Itemid=28

Yes, I checked out Periscope's website. But who "wouldn't" say they care about quality on their website?

Like you, I'm waiting for them to prove it. I'm really wondering why something previously released by The History Channel is now coming out from an unknown source.

I've just seen too many cheesy cover designs like this one for "historical" films in those large bins at Costco not be be worried.

If I were Periscope, it start posting on this site. Are you transferring from prints? Fine-Grain? Internegatives? 16? 35? How did you get the rights to this NBC material that has wall to wall Richard Rodgers music?

Let us know, Periscope...

[knifethrower]

Originally Posted by editor11

Yes, I checked out Periscope's website. But who "wouldn't" say they care about quality on their website?

Like you, I'm waiting for them to prove it. I'm really wondering why something previously released by The History Channel is now coming out from an unknown source.

I've just seen too many cheesy cover designs like this one for "historical" films in those large bins at Costco not be be worried.

If I were Periscope, it start posting on this site. Are you transferring from prints? Fine-Grain? Internegatives? 16? 35? How did you get the rights to this NBC material that has wall to wall Richard Rodgers music?

Let us know, Periscope...

Sketchy public domain copy?

[editor11]

Originally Posted by knifethrower

Sketchy public domain copy?

...yes, I'm afraid of that. (Although how would an NBC show end up in the public domain ?)

Five years ago I got a DVD set of "Why We Fight" that was on DVD, and indeed, it was basically material that was projected then videotaped off a wall.

I look forward to the bluray.com review !!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by editor11

...yes, I'm afraid of that. (Although how would an NBC show end up in the public domain ?)

If it was owned by the production company, it can. (And think it did, if I still remember my PD-roster by heart, from the VHS days.)

If it doesn't have the Richard Rodgers soundtrack (later versions had to be redubbed for music rights), it's not the restored version, but the version that's been floating the Wal-marts...Down Periscope.

Five years ago I got a DVD set of "Why We Fight" that was on DVD, and indeed, it was basically material that was projected then videotaped off a wall.

Yep: Most Army-owned films, like the Private Snafu cartoons, were shelved and considered PD property after the war was over, and the Capra "Fight" films fell into that category. And then the vultures come out every time there's a war-audience demographic.

[AintNoSin]

I just heard from Amazon. This title has been delayed again. It's now due in early July.

[nazdar]

Victory at Sea BD This title will be released on August 8, 2010

[AintNoSin]

Holy slipping ship date, Batman!

[fuwa]

Borders has the Millcreek dvd version for $5. Amazon reviewers claim it is better than the History channel version. If they don't remaster the 60 year old series I don't see the value in paying so much more for a blu-ray. The only big improvement I can see will be in the excellent soundtrack but there were issues with that on last official release.

I might get the $5 version and if that is adequate I'll be OK. It's not like this series is Gone With The Wind quality. There is stock footage inserted and some scenes show aircraft that don't belong in the time period being depicted.

Blu-ray is good for revisiting well produced Hollywood films but old documentaries I am not so sure.

Anyone here have that Millcreek dvd version?

[editor11]

"Blu-ray is good for revisiting well produced Hollywood films but old documentaries I am not so sure."


Whoooa! Of COURSE blu-ray is good for "Old Documentaries" -- the inescapable fact is that an HTDV playing ANYTHING in Standard Def looks RIDICULOUS.

And soon, as you know, DVD is going AWAY.

Please keep in mind that most "old documentaries" were shot on either 35mm or 16mm, and as such there is NO reason you should be viewing this material from an outdated SD videotape source.

It's true that "Victory at Sea" is imperfect and propagandistic, and some episodes (especially Pearl Harbor) suffer from bad re-enactments and ridiculously fake model ships -- but overall (ASSUMING you are watching a copy with the Richard Rogers score), this specific series is an important example of mid-century Americana and documentary stylistics (at the very least) and a testament to the sprawling, unimaginably large role (though still only a slice) US Naval action in WWII played (at best.)

It is also a teachable work in terms of understanding what "documentaries" are and are not.

[editor11]

"Usually ships in 1 to 2 months" Seriously ?

[CAB]

Amazon just canceled my order after slipping it 3 or 4 times. I'm not holding my breath.

[Doug183]

Hello,

My name is Doug Weiner, and I am the producer in charge of creating this Blu-ray 3 disc set. I am happy to address the issue here about the Blu-ray or Victory at Sea. I will do my best not to 'defend' our Blu-ray, but explain some of things that went into its production. Here are a couple of things to start with.

Who is PeriscopeFilm.com?
1) We are a film preservation company who cares about the quality of the films we release, not some company in the Far East making knock off DVDs from VHS tapes. We have our own telecine facility and transfer the films to video ourselves in the U.S.A. We have been in business for the last 10 years and have been issuing hard to find historic films for the last 7 years on DVD and now, on Blu-ray.

Why did it take so long to release Victory at Sea on Blu-ray?
2) To get the high quality that we ourselves demand, and that we felt this amazing documentary deserved, we took the extra time and care to get it right. And, we did it for each and every of the 26 Episodes. In the end, it took over a thousand working hours to make 13 hours of Victory at Sea look and sound great.

2a) Audio Quality. We too read the reviews on Amazon concerning terrible audio on previous releases. We spent extra time and money to enhance the audio quality of our release.

2b) Video Quality. I could go on for hours about this. Bottom line, play a DVD on a top of the line Blu-Ray player on a 37 inch or bigger HDTV and then play our Blu-ray. In terms of detail, there is absolutely no comparison. On our Blu-ray, you can read the name tags of servicemen, see ship names, count the rivets and the bullet holes. On DVD, these things are impossible to make out. We are certain, this is the best looking VaS that exists. Period.

Some people are aware that "other" releases of VaS have featured incomplete or truncated episodes. Our version features the original show in all of its glory, and in its entirety.

3) Bonus features. Our release features audio commentary tracks from VaS expert Peter Rollins, Ph.D. and original promotional materials.

4) Guarantee. We are not looking to take your money and run. We want happy customers, and we want to bring you the best product possible. We have have worked very hard to bring you Victory at Sea in Hi-Def Blu-ray Disc, and we are sure enough of our product, that both Amazon and us offer a money back return policy.

Thanks
Doug Weiner
http://www.periscopefilm.com

[The Doc]

Thank you for posting, Doug.

I do have one question, though: Will this be presented in its original aspect ratio of 4:3?

I passed on the World at War Blu because of this issue, since it was not presented in its OAR. I'd hate to pass on Victory at Sea for the same reason.

[Arkadin]

nice to have an update from Periscope.
sounds like they definitely put some thought into this release.
So is it out yet?
or when is it coming out?
EDIT: here's the direct link from Periscope.
says it is available to order so I guess it's out.
http://www.periscopefilm.com/index.p...emart&Itemid=1

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