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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
Many Blu-ray home theater fans have been patiently waiting to add more Academy Award winning Best Pictures to their libraries, and in the past months, an amazingly pleasant number have been added.
If we return to September, the Best Picture of 1959 - Ben-Hur
November - West Side Story - 1961
January - Wings - 1927
Rebecca - 1940
The Apartment - 1960
Annie Hall - 1977
The English Patient - 1996
Shakespeare in Love - 1998
February - All Quiet on the Western Front - 1930
March - Out of Africa (a replacement for the poor quality first release). In honor of their 100th Universal should actually do a swap on this title for all those who purchased it on Blu-ray presuming a quality release.
Ten Blu-ray Best Pictures in just several months is huge, especially considering that quite a few a still missing in standard definition. I'm also betting that others will only make it to Blu-ray via the auspices of Twilight Time.
But let's take a look at The Apartment, a Blu-ray that may have emerged from the shadows from specific vendors, which is a pity, as it should be easily available.
Directed by the incomparable Billy Wilder, from a screenplay by Mr. Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond.
One might look at this film as a combination of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Mad Men. While it is far darker than the former, a sweet musical comedy, as a 1960 production, it's also far tamer than the latter.
For the uninitiated, what you'll find in The Apartment, is brilliant writing, great acting, gorgeous black & white cinematography by Joseph LaShelle (Laura, Hangover Square, Irma La Douce, The Chase).
On Blu-ray the film looks very nice. It appears to have been taken from a fine grain master, and while the transfer may not be the most recent, it does a nice job of representing the film. Nice blacks, decent gray scale, normal grain. The image is generally without problems, and clean, although a bit of weave is noted. No problems.
Everything about the production is top quality, as would would presume under the Mirisch Company banner.
For those who don't know the film, it should be a blind buy. Those that do most likely already have it on order.
Recommended.
RAH
If we return to September, the Best Picture of 1959 - Ben-Hur
November - West Side Story - 1961
January - Wings - 1927
Rebecca - 1940
The Apartment - 1960
Annie Hall - 1977
The English Patient - 1996
Shakespeare in Love - 1998
February - All Quiet on the Western Front - 1930
March - Out of Africa (a replacement for the poor quality first release). In honor of their 100th Universal should actually do a swap on this title for all those who purchased it on Blu-ray presuming a quality release.
Ten Blu-ray Best Pictures in just several months is huge, especially considering that quite a few a still missing in standard definition. I'm also betting that others will only make it to Blu-ray via the auspices of Twilight Time.
But let's take a look at The Apartment, a Blu-ray that may have emerged from the shadows from specific vendors, which is a pity, as it should be easily available.
Directed by the incomparable Billy Wilder, from a screenplay by Mr. Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond.
One might look at this film as a combination of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Mad Men. While it is far darker than the former, a sweet musical comedy, as a 1960 production, it's also far tamer than the latter.
For the uninitiated, what you'll find in The Apartment, is brilliant writing, great acting, gorgeous black & white cinematography by Joseph LaShelle (Laura, Hangover Square, Irma La Douce, The Chase).
On Blu-ray the film looks very nice. It appears to have been taken from a fine grain master, and while the transfer may not be the most recent, it does a nice job of representing the film. Nice blacks, decent gray scale, normal grain. The image is generally without problems, and clean, although a bit of weave is noted. No problems.
Everything about the production is top quality, as would would presume under the Mirisch Company banner.
For those who don't know the film, it should be a blind buy. Those that do most likely already have it on order.
Recommended.
RAH
