The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

#1

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2/12/06 at 8:04pm

Trav
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I've recently acquired a WWII curiosity and I'm looking to pick up a copy of "The Longest Day" on DVD. However, search results seem to indicate that there is a 2-disc SE of this movie for Region 2 but apparently not for Region 1? However, I did find (what seems to be) a preorder for a Region 1 version coming out in 5/06.

Would this be the one to wait for?

The Longest Day (2 disc)

#2

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2/13/06 at 8:11am

Jim-M
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If the one coming out on 5/6 is anamorphic I'll double dip on it.

#3

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2/13/06 at 8:37am

GlennWD
Glenn DelRossi
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I hope that this is a new 2-Disc Release. The Longest Day is one of my favorite movies of all time and I will gladly double dip on this one.

Best of Film - Jaws, The Godfather Part I & II, Casablanca, M, Citzen Kane, Ben-Hur, The French Connection, Rear Window, King Kong.

Best of Television - The Twilight Zone, M*A*S*H, Night Gallery, I Love Lucy, Hogan's Heroes, Cheers, Monty Python's Flying Circus.

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#4

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2/13/06 at 9:44am

Paul McElligott
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Oh, please, please, please be anamorphic!

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#5

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2/13/06 at 12:34pm

TedD
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And put the d**n subtitles where they belong, not in the black bars!

Ted

#6

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2/13/06 at 1:17pm

Brian Sharp
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For what it's worth the reissue in region 2 has the sub titles where they should be...on the film , not on the black bars.

#7

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2/16/06 at 8:26am

Trav
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Looks like the 2-disc SE is indeed coming in May! Also, looks like Patton and Tora, Tora, Tora are also coming out at that time with 2-disc SE (all of them anamorphic too). All of this according to the Bits on 2/16/06.

#8

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2/16/06 at 9:02am

Eric Huffstutler
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What is the problem with subtitles being on the black bars? Easier to read I would think? Of course that is one extra I never use just like I rarely listen to commentaries but do advocate trailers and documentaries.

#9

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2/16/06 at 9:41am

TedD
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Try it with a constant height screen and you will very quickly see the problem.

Ted

#10

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2/16/06 at 9:56am

Jim-M
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Quote:

What is the problem with subtitles being on the black bars? Easier to read I would think? Of course that is one extra I never use just like I rarely listen to commentaries but do advocate trailers and documentaries.

The subtitles aren't an extra - they show up when the Germans are speaking German. In the current non-anamorphic version the subtitles get cut off on widescreen TVs if you view the movie in its proper aspect ratio. You don't notice it as a problem on a 4:3 TV, but as soon as you go widescreen it's an issue.

#11

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2/16/06 at 12:43pm

Paul McElligott
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Well, since the new picture is anamorphic, presumably they will have to place the subtitles within the 16:9 frame. That problem should be eliminated.

R.I.P. DVDSpot

#12

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5/30/06 at 2:22pm

SteveJKo
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Bump!

I have the World War II Collection and "The Longest Day" is the only non-anamorphic one in the bunch. Before I double dip, is it confirmed that the new two disc release is "enhanced for wide screen TV's"?

You're In The Show With Todd-AO!

#13

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5/30/06 at 2:28pm

Chris*W
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Yes, the new 2-Disc set has a brand-new anamorphic transfer with the original subtitles intact. Worth double dipping for that alone, not to mention the great new special features.

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#14

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5/30/06 at 4:39pm

SteveJKo
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Thanks for the quick response Chris. I wanted this special edition so much. I LOVE this movie. But I couldn't really justify buying it again unless we had an anamorphic transfer. Now I can double dip guilt free!

You're In The Show With Todd-AO!

#15

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6/5/06 at 11:48am

Jim Robbins
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

After waiting a long time for the anamorphic release of "The Longest Day", I was very disappointed in the image sharpness. I guess whatever they used for the master was just not good enough. I ended up watching it on a small widescreen monitor. On the plus side the bonus disc was good with some interesting location footage and backstory. I remember seeing this film in 63' while stationed in Wurzburg, Germany and I just wished it was as sharp as I remembered.

#16

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6/6/06 at 1:21am

CraigF
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

You are right, the tampering with the sharpness is atrocious. Hard to believe this B&W presentation, especially considering its "vintage", comes from the same studio as the Studio Classics line; I can see why they didn't make this title one of them.

Sharpness is so jacked up some of the subtitles are very hard to read. But it's anamorphic and subtitles are in the right place. A decent set, but very substandard PQ. If no better elements are available I apologise for the harsh criticism, but it isn't good, though some scenes much better than others (which still doesn't mean good).

#17

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6/6/06 at 2:10am

John Hodson
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

I thought it was fairly soft at times; certainly the print they used is far from pristine - it's been quite a while since I've watched a film from one of the majors that still has reel change markers. But it's quite watchable IMHO.

So many films, so little time...
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#18

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6/6/06 at 3:11am

Robert Crawford
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigF

You are right, the tampering with the sharpness is atrocious. Hard to believe this B&W presentation, especially considering its "vintage", comes from the same studio as the Studio Classics line; I can see why they didn't make this title one of them.

Sharpness is so jacked up some of the subtitles are very hard to read. But it's anamorphic and subtitles are in the right place. A decent set, but very substandard PQ. If no better elements are available I apologise for the harsh criticism, but it isn't good, though some scenes much better than others (which still doesn't mean good).

I watched this last week and didn't notice these problems. Perhaps, I was too much into the film.

Crawdaddy

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#19

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6/6/06 at 3:43am

CraigF
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Crawdaddy: I love the movie, so I hope I didn't leave too negative an impression of the film itself. I just felt the PQ was not up to the standards of older B&W presentations from Fox. Much less smoothness than expected. Very watchable though. I watched it!! And will again. It's just that I expect better from Fox, perhaps spoiled child syndrome??

Edit: John, are you watching an R2 version? Softness is hard to equate to what I saw.

Oh yeah, Happy Normandy Invasion Memorial Day. Or whatever is appropriate to say this day...you know what I mean!

#20

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6/6/06 at 3:58am

John Hodson
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigF

Edit: John, are you watching an R2 version? Softness is hard to equate to what I saw.

No I'm not; I thought the quality - and the sharpness - varied throughout. As I said, didn't spoil my enjoyment of the film, which, IMHO, grows in stature with each passing year.

I was glad to have burned in subs in their proper place at last; my last R2 version suffered from a glitch inasmuch as the player generated subs for the foreign language scenes had to be selected manually.

BTW, it's not in the 'Studio Classics' line, but it is in the seemingly more prestigious (well, more expensive!) 'Cinema Classics Collection'

So many films, so little time...
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Harold Shand: What I'm looking for is someone who can contribute to what England has given to the world: culture, sophistication, genius. A little bit more than an 'ot dog, know what I mean?

#21

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6/6/06 at 5:28am

CraigF
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

For this example of the Cinema Classics series, I'm not very impressed with the PQ. This is a harsh->HARSH looking presentation, IMO. Very ungood B&W. I could count many, if not most, of the Studio Classics in B&W that looked better. Whether someone liked the film, that depends on your taste. But as for looks, I won't rave about this one. As for the film itself, different forum, I like it well enough but here's not the place to criticise... It's a 1962 B&W for GS, it should look as good as any big-budget B&W film can. Shouldn't it?? It doesn't even rate in that regard IMO. I believe color films had been invented by 1962, one would expect a director doing a film in B&W then had a reason for doing so, and would have done it as best as possible to "compensate" for the retro effect. I may be wrong, perhaps Zanuck etc. was a nobody and working on no budget. No? So what's the excuse for the looks of this presentation? Perhaps the DVD people? I think so, it looks like something those of the Photoshop generation wouldn't distinguish from reality, so wouldn't suspect anyone else would. Oh yeah, I think this presentation looks pretty ugly generally, though not always so bad, even if it's anamorphic.

Sorry, I certainly don't mean to impugn anybody elses' opinion of this DVD, but IMO it's just not up to the PQ standards of other DVD's of this vintage that I've seen.

#22

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6/6/06 at 11:10am

howardWB
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

When I tested out my disc last night, I was shocked to see how soft the image actually is! Plus folks like me having a regular square tv (27 inch screen) are killed by these very wide aspact ratios (I don't want to think of watching my "Lawrence of Arabia disc *LOL*) I'm willing to sacrifice some edge loss if they'd give us a slightly larger image. (I'll never get a widescreen tv...the space I have for my tv is too small and wife would never sanction the spending of funds for "my hobby" *VBG*)

Regards,
Howard

#23

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6/6/06 at 12:57pm

SteveJKo
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardWB

When I tested out my disc last night, I was shocked to see how soft the image actually is! Plus folks like me having a regular square tv (27 inch screen) are killed by these very wide aspact ratios (I don't want to think of watching my "Lawrence of Arabia disc *LOL*) I'm willing to sacrifice some edge loss if they'd give us a slightly larger image. (I'll never get a widescreen tv...the space I have for my tv is too small and wife would never sanction the spending of funds for "my hobby" *VBG*)

Regards,
Howard

Howard,

Actually "Lawrence Of Arabia", which was shot in Super Panavision 70 with a 2.2:1 aspect ratio, will appear less wide (meaning smaller black bars) than "The Longest Day" (CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio).

By the way, and I may be wrong about this, but I believe you WILL have a widescreen TV in the future, you'll have no choice. All HDTV's have the wider aspect ratio, so when HD becomes the standard....... .

I double dipped on this title earlier today. The picture quality looks quite good, if not perfect. But it's one thousand times better than my old non-anamorphic disc in "zoom" mode.

My one complaint? The disc has that forced trailer about movie pirating. Perhaps I can understand these on DVD's meant for rental, but this is a special edition of a classic title, and it cheapens the experience. The recent special editions of "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno" were cheapened by this trailer as well. Fox should be ashamed of themselves.

You're In The Show With Todd-AO!

#24

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6/6/06 at 7:39pm

Jeff Whitford
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardWB

(I'll never get a widescreen tv...the space I have for my tv is too small and wife would never sanction the spending of funds for "my hobby" *VBG*)

Regards,
Howard

You may need to upgrade the wife then.

Jeff Whitford
Hometheater Guru ?

#25

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6/7/06 at 12:20pm

Michael Warner
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

I sat down to watch the new DVD last night and was very disappointed by the video transfer. The image is soft and blurry throughout the movie. It actually gave me a headache as my eyes kept trying to focus. Edge enhancement came and went -- it was very noticeable during shots of actors against projected images (Rommel along the coast at the beginning) and some of the subtitles were over-sharpened as well.

I sold my old DVD in anticipation of the new one so I couldn't compare the two. I actually wound up watching the second half of the movie on a widescreen VHS tape I still have around. That gave my poor eyes some relief as the lower resolution was much more forgiving of the blurry image.

I haven't been this disappointed in a Fox release since their very early non-anamorphic DVD days. Fortunately the disc only cost me $8 so I'm not out too much cash for an unwatchable DVD.

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#26

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6/24/06 at 10:32am

Kevin M
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

I just bought this a few days ago and finally had a chance to watch it, I have to agree that the image is rather oddly soft during most of the film....perhaps the elements are less than perfect or this is the way it was originally filmed to better add to the "newsreel" effect that the filmmakers were going for, but I doubt that.
No, IMO it's just a slightly mishandled soft transfer (so soft that I actually came here to see if my other HTF brethren were noticing it) but nonetheless it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the film and overall it is a fine SE set....the transfer could certainly be better but I still recommend it for any fan of the film or one who wishes to see one of the best WWII films ever made.

-Kevin M.

See You Next Wednesday

#27

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6/27/06 at 7:16am

Jeff_HR
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Re: The Longest Day (2-disc R1)???

I just bought this new version. The only complaint is that FOX was 2 years too late in releasing this new version. I had been calling for this to be released on the 60th anniversary. Oh well!

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