TCFHE Press Release: The Great Escape (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Keith Cobby]

This is a great film by an under-appreciated director, John Sturges. Look at his charge sheet: Bad Day at Black Rock, Gunfight at the OK Corral,The Magnificent Seven, The Satan Bug, The Hallelujah Trail, Hour of the Gun, Ice Station Zebra and The Great Escape.

The Great Escape on Blu-ray will be one of the highlights of 2013, let's have more of his work released soon.

 

[John Hermes]

Let's not forget LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL.

 

[Keith Cobby]

Gunfight at the OK Corral and Last Train from Gun Hill both in VistaVision, wouldn't they make a great Blu-ray double feature.

 

[Matt Hough]

Speaking of Bad Day at Black Rock, I certainly would love to have THAT on Blu-ray.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This is a great film by an under-appreciated director, John Sturges. Look at his charge sheet: Bad Day at Black Rock, Gunfight at the OK Corral,The Magnificent Seven, The Satan Bug, The Hallelujah Trail, Hour of the Gun, Ice Station Zebra and The Great Escape.

The Great Escape on Blu-ray will be one of the highlights of 2013, let's have more of his work released soon.

I agree with you about Sturges being under-appreciated. Many of his westerns are among my favorite films.

 

[RolandL]

Strangely, the version of this film that I grew up with was the UK letterbox VHS, which was framed at approximately 2.55:1. (I think the original R1 DVD was the same?). I got used to this version, even though I believe there was too much picture information on the left of the frame.

Since getting the R2 DVD framed at 2.35:1, I've always thought it looks cropped!

It'll be wonderful to finally get this on BD, but (and I know this sounds stupid), I wish it was the 2.55:1 version!

That extra image on the left was never shown in the release print. The first DVD and LD were derived from 35mm that did not have the soundtrack on it.

 

[cineMANIAC]

Is THE GREAT ESCAPE going to be MGM's only great classic release this year? Sorry if the question seems odd but I haven't read anything about further titles from this studio. Not that there's a shortage of product overall from the various studios but MGM seem to be very quiet.

 

[JoHud]

There's been news they're working on a Pink Panther blu-ray collection but no release date has been announced.

 

[Will*B]

There's been news they're working on a Pink Panther blu-ray collection but no release date has been announced.

I would absolutely love a Pink Panther BD set. Strikes Again & Revenge have always been my favourites... (EDIT: I wonder if they could get the rights to include Return in the set too. That would be spectacular!)

Back on topic - I'm very curious about the new Great Escape transfer. I watched an HD version on Netflix the other night - it wasn't impressive at all. The DVD looks better.

 

[Matt Hough]

Is THE GREAT ESCAPE going to be MGM's only great classic release this year? Sorry if the question seems odd but I haven't read anything about further titles from this studio. Not that there's a shortage of product overall from the various studios but MGM seem to be very quiet.

Hannah and Her Sisters is pretty great.

Still, I'd like to see many more of their vast holdings released.

 

[Steve...O]

Cinemark played this last year as part of their classic film series. The movie was great but the picture quality left something to be desired. A high quality BD would be a welcome addition to my library; but I will protect myself by waiting for the HTF review first.

Another vote for the Pink Panther films mentioned above.

 

[Professor Echo]

I wonder if we'll get the original, superior 1963 trailer or the re-release one that has been on every DVD release that followed the big head McQueen cover one? As far as I know that was the only release to have the original trailer on it, though it was also included on the Ryko CD soundtrack that came out awhile back.

 

[Brent Avery]

I have a copy and will be checking it out soon so those wondering about how good the transfer is won't have to wait long. Stay tuned.

 

[Brent Avery]

I posted some screen shots from projected images over a t bluray.com in case anyone here wants to get an idea of how it looks.

 

[haineshisway]

Some of us may not care to go to blu-ray.com - so, why don't you just tell the folks here how it is?

 

[Brent Avery]

It never occured to me so apologies to those concerned. I will try and post a few images here on the weekend - since a picture, as the saying goes, is worth a thousand words, more or less.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for not directing our members to another website and posting the information here instead.

 

[Brent Avery]

 

[Nelson Au]

Looks great, thanks for posting the screen shots!
I'm looking forward to the disc. I wonder if the Sturges audio commentary is the same or pieces taken from the Criterion disc.

 

[Mark-P]

First review is out. Unfortunately they say it is over-compressed and over-processed. I'm hoping the reviewers here disagree. Anyway, it doesn't affect my pre-order. I want The Great Escape in high-definition and I'm buying it no matter what the reviewers say.