"Scrooge" (1951) Alastair Sim - November 2015

[abudgell]

This was originally posted by Douglas R on the HTF. According to Renown Pictures' newsletter, the BFI have funded a new 2K restoration of "Scrooge" starring Alastair Sim. It will debut on Blu-ray from Renown Pictures in November and will be their first Blu-ray release.

Some exciting news we have been given some funding by The BFI for a complete 2k transfer from the original film negs of SCROOGE (1951 Sim and Cole etc) so Renown are trying our first Blu Ray in November of Scrooge in Black & White and a fully restored DVD of the film in both B&W and Colour.

It will be interesting to see what kind of an improvement will be made over the VCI Blu-ray release. Renown's DVDs seem to be region free, so fingers crossed fans from across the pond who love this film will be able to watch it without a region free player.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by abudgell

This was originally posted by Douglas R on the HTF. According to Renown Pictures' newsletter, the BFI have funded a new 2K restoration of "Scrooge" starring Alastair Sim. It will debut on Blu-ray from Renown Pictures in November and will be their first Blu-ray release.



It will be interesting to see what kind of an improvement will be made over the VCI Blu-ray release. Renown's DVDs seem to be region free, so fingers crossed fans from across the pond who love this film will be able to watch it without a region free player.

Renown's DVDs generally have poor picture and sound (heavily DNRed standards conversions from NTSC in some cases, sometimes in the wrong aspect ratio), so this is probably the only time they've had a decent enough master to do a BD. But with such poor quality control I'd wait to see some reviews.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Renown's DVDs generally have poor picture and sound (heavily DNRed standards conversions from NTSC in some cases, sometimes in the wrong aspect ratio), so this is probably the only time they've had a decent enough master to do a BD. But with such poor quality control I'd wait to see some reviews.

I would hope with the BFI's grant this will be something special. But as you say, we'll have to wait and see.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by abudgell

I would hope with the BFI's grant this will be something special. But as you say, we'll have to wait and see.

If not, VCI's second release was excellent quality, filled with extras and is region-free.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by Aclea

If not, VCI's second release was excellent quality, filled with extras and is region-free.

Yes, after years of suffering through muddy releases, it's better than I thought the film would ever look. I'm cautiously optimistic that the Renown release will be an even bigger improvement.

[Gizz]

About time to really enjoy this film so will be looking forward to picking this up.

[Mister Snoops]

I liked the VCI release. I do however hope the BFI do I nice edition of this.

[abudgell]

Hopefully the restoration is better than the cover art...

Amazon UK has a date of November 2, 2015.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by abudgell

Hopefully the restoration is better than the cover art...

Amazon UK has a date of November 2, 2015.

Not very encouraging, is it? It looks like something Old Ebenezer would have knocked off on the cheap before he received his nocturnal visitors.

Why not use the cover of the British pressbook?

[McCrutchy]

I'm again puzzled as to why BFI chose not to restore and release this one themselves. I'm sure they can't or won't directly release everything they touch, but given the high status of this film, and the fact that it has suffered through many discreet releases from independent distributors, I should have thought it was time to bring this into the BFI lineup where it arguably belongs. Unless I'm wrong and Renown has some eccentric benfactor(s) I don't know about.

It's sad to see this presented as if it were some public domain film again.

[Douglas R]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I'm again puzzled as to why BFI chose not to restore and release this one themselves. I'm sure they can't or won't directly release everything they touch, but given the high status of this film, and the fact that it has suffered through many discreet releases from independent distributors, I should have thought it was time to bring this into the BFI lineup where it arguably belongs.

The film was made by Renown Pictures and Renown Pictures hold the rights. The BFI have no claim on it.

[Erik Morton]

Oh wow. I don't normally post about things like cover art (heck, I don't normally post at all). But THAT?!?!?

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Not very encouraging, is it? It looks like something Old Ebenezer would have knocked off on the cheap before he received his nocturnal visitors.

Why not use the cover of the British pressbook?

That would be a massive improvement! That being said, anything would be an improvement.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Douglas R

The film was made by Renown Pictures and Renown Pictures hold the rights. The BFI have no claim on it.

I am aware that the film is a Renown property and that BFI have no "claim" on the film.

But it's surprising that Renown are releasing this themselves anyway, as I doubt many more of their titles--even the ones that are BD ready with HD masters available--are going to come from them on Blu-ray, especially in the UK market. Not if they're just making the start at the end of 2015. And I don't see the point of paying the licensing and authoring fees if you're only going to end up with a handful of titles at best.

But I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

[abudgell]

It's now up for preorder on Amazon UK for an exorbitant £38.34. I hope it's a mistake.

I Tweeted Renown and asked them if it would be region free and they said they would get back to me closer to the release date.

[McCrutchy]

Added to the database:

[Opdef]

That cover is the funniest thing I have ever seen.

[WiggyWig]

Originally Posted by abudgell

Hopefully the restoration is better than the cover art...

Amazon UK has a date of November 2, 2015.

Look at his face. Its almost as though hes showing his disapproval of the cover art

And why is it DVD + blu-ray. Surely it should be blu-ray + DVD

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by WiggyWig

Look at his face. Its almost as though hes showing his disapproval of the cover art

And why is it DVD + blu-ray. Surely it should be blu-ray + DVD

I'm on holiday at the moment so no access to Photoshop, but I could easily make a cover that's far better than that one

[Opdef]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I'm on holiday at the moment so no access to Photoshop, but I could easily make a cover that's far better than that one

That wouldn't be difficult! Try and devise a cover that's worse than that one, there's a true challenge.