Anamorphic transfers of Vertigo and Psycho! See post #54 about new boxset. (1 Viewer)

[Scott Temple]

I agree David. I would LOVE to have Psycho in 16x9, but I don't want to be forced to buy a 15-Disc Set to get it. Hopefully, all of these titles will be 16x9 enhanced and released individually too.

 

[TravisR]

I just kind of assumed that they would be available individually as well (at least as long as they were new versions). Granted that's not in the news piece but there's not much info at all in there

 

[David Von Pein]

Another thing to consider is the very good (low) MSRP on this new 15-Disc Mega-Hitch Assortment -- Just $119.98 -- which, after the normal 30% discount that many places offer, would equal a mere $6.00 or so per disc (and just $8.00/disc even at full MSRP).

Would they actually be offering up NEW transfers of ALL these films (inc. "P" and "V" ), plus collectible packaging, plus a lengthy booklet enclosure, plus a bonus disc -- all for that paltry amount of cash?

But if they simply "re-packaged" the old discs, and added one disc and the booklet, the cost to produce this set would be much lower.

Anyway, just more Univ. food/fodder for cranial consumption. Perhaps I'm dead wrong. (I hope I am, because I wouldn't be adverse to adding a 16x9 Psycho to the shelf myself.)

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SHERIFF CHAMBERS -- "Now, Sam, are you SURE you saw an old woman?"

SAM LOOMIS -- "Yes! In the house behind the motel! I called and pounded, but she just ignored me! She was too embarrassed to answer the door, due to the fact Universal refuses to release her image in Anamorphic form! What'll I do, Sheriff? What??!!"

 

[Bradley-E]

Seems like just a repackaging of what they already released.

 

[streeter]

If Psycho and Vertigo are anamorphic, I'm definitely picking this up. I've held off on buying Universal's Hitchcock titles with the hope that better versions would eventually surface. The only one I own is the non-anamorphic Psycho, which I'll keep anyway because it's signed by the late Janet Leigh. (I'd even pick up a third Psycho if there was a 'franchise collection' of Psycho I-IV and Bates Motel)

As for the 're-packaged' discs, I wouldn't mind slimline or digi-pack packaging and it would save me some shelf space. I'm curious to see what the 'ultra-premium velvet' is.

 

[Craig Beam]

If PSYCHO and VERTIGO are given new anamorphic transfers.... then okay, I'll buy the damn thing. But they really should make each disc available separately too.

And yeah, here's hoping for new covers, since the existing ones are truly hideous. The Warner set was already glorious, but the use of the original poster art truly put it over the top.

I guess it's not too late for Universal to pull off a success here... but frankly, the price seems cheap if all 14 films have been truly remastered. I guess we'll know more as we get closer to the release date...

 

[Patrick McCart]

Great news! DVD Times says that the films will be digitally remastered, after all.


http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57539

It looks like there was some confusion... according to DVD Times, they meant that the bonus materials will be identical, but with the presentations themselves being upgraded.

and I totally agree with the sentiment about cover art. Warner's use of original poster art made their set extremely classy. Universal really ought to do the same - at least for Vertigo.

By the way, after checking the IMDB, I'm willing to bet that the bonus disc will end up featuring the TV shows Hithcock directed. He directed an episode of "Suspicion" as well as one of "Startime", both of which seem to be owned by NBC. I'm also guessing that Universal could add some of the award shows he appeared in like AFI awards, his Irving Thalberg award (), etc. There's also the Richard Schickel "The Men Who Made the Movies" episode.

Also, the "Alfred Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius"/"Dial H for Hitchcock" documentary is owned by Universal.

 

[PaulP]

Isn't the MSRP even lower, according to the Universal site? It lists it as $94.98...

 

[Ruz-El]

I agree, Universals cover art sucks big time on the current Hitchcock collection.

Not to sound like a Universal apologist, lord knows I have and will continue to complain about their quality control on dual sided discs, but Universal, unlike Sony/Columbia, has been good with their re-release product. They have consistintly upgraded non-anamorphic titles with Anamorphic transfers at a cheap price. "Casino", "The Thing", etc. I'm glad that the extras on these disc's are being carried over as will. The only crappy thing is they rarly change the cover art, so we will probably be stuck with the postershop jobs. I also can't see these not being available outside of the box set. I would think that these are re-masters to replace the current discs, which are probably OOP, although readilly available at most stores.

I feel bad for the fans who already bought these, as the bonus disc probably wont be available to you. I HATE it when that happens! I feel totally screwed with the new John Waters colleciton that just came out, but I wont derail a Hithcock thread with a John Waters discussion, just know that I feel your pain!

 

[David Von Pein]

But "New" covers (or even a re-configured CURRENT cover of all of these 14 films to fit inside smaller ThinPak cases) means YET MORE $$ spent by Univ. -- and yet they'd STILL sell this for this low a price? I'm doubting it.

Creating brand-new (or reconfigured) covers (yet again), while at the same time keeping the same disc content and transfer seems a bit superfluous IMO -- esp. when you factor in the fact that Univ. has re-designed many of their Hitchcock covers already (in 2001, some were re-done, inc. Psycho, to all sport the "Hitchcock Collection" logo).

 

[David Von Pein]

Yeah, I noticed that too, and thought the same thing you did.

But, upon examining additional titles (and cross-referencing the prices with other sites), it seems that the Universal "Store" offers a discount for buyers. So, the MSRP is actually higher than what they are selling them for there at the Univ. Store.

 

[Craig Beam]

...and it's the Hitchcock Collection covers that I'm talking about. Ugly, ugly, ugly. The original covers for PSYCHO and VERTIGO were excellent. Lucky for me, I bought 'em early.

 

[David Von Pein]

Via DVD Times (again):

"All 14 films are digitally re-mastered for the best quality ever with all bonus features from the existing releases carried across."

"New" "re-mastering" do ya think? Or is Univ. just toying with us by dragging out the commonly-utilized "Digitally Remastered" phrase to make it seem like something "new"?

Hard to tell. But even the older discs ARE "digitally remastered", correct?

Or does the "Re-" in "Re-mastered" actually mean "done again" in this instance? I wonder.

 

[Carlos Garcia]

Do you think maybe Universal doesn't plan to release neither Psycho nor Vertigo in anamorphic versions on DVD, perhaps waiting to release both of them in the HD-DVD format instead? Talk about giving us more reasons to make us quadruple and quintuple dip!

 

[Steve...O]

I have had the Universal Hitchcocks for quite some time and this doesn't bother me. I realize some opinions vary on this, but the existing DVDs are quite good and I'm happy with them. Sure, I'd love a better print of MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and 16x9 enchancing of a couple of titles would be nice but the majority of the films look very good and the discs have special features aplenty.

For those who don't own these already, this new set is a steal. For me, I see no need to rebuy. I'd rather have the episodes of AH Presents included in the original sets than this new bonus disc.

As for cover art, sure I love original poster art and Warners does a great job with that. But the bottom line is that I spend 90 minutes watching the movie and about 15 seconds looking at the cover. When these films are the box you can't see the covers anyway.

QUOTE]Would they actually be offering up NEW transfers of ALL these films (inc. "P" and "V" ), plus collectible packaging, plus a lengthy booklet enclosure, plus a bonus disc -- all for that paltry amount of cash?[/quote]

Good question David. Warners sells their stuff ridiculously cheap also so it can be done, especially if it's a high profile title that's going to move a lot of units.

Steve

 

[Mark B]

That's what I think is going on...

 

[TravisR]

I don't think that's the case. They could get alot of the people who have already already bought the non-enhanced version to buy it in 16 x 9. After making money on that release, they could release in HD and get the people who have already bought it two times on DVD to buy it a third. If they just wait for HD, they've only sold two copies and they make less money. Granted that's only my opinion.

 

[Nathan Phillips]

All I want is "Vertigo" with the mono track. I own all of the Universal Hitchcocks and I'm fine with the quality of the rest, "Psycho" included. But I'd be first in line for a new "Vertigo". I, too, hate the cover art, especially on that one, so I bought a "Vertigo" poster to compensate!

 

[Jeffrey Nelson]

I wish they'd release PSYCHO full-frame and unmatted. I think it looks better this way. The widescreen version seems cramped to me.

Now, I'm not expecting anyone here to agree with me...but it would be nice if at least one person did.

 

[David Von Pein]

But the OAR as shown in theaters in 1960 was Widescreen (approx. 1.85:1), wasn't it?

Do you think Mr. Hitchcock -- "The Master" -- would deliberately "cramp" your style with this Widescreen film? Why I oughta.....!