Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Anyone know if Universal has any plans to release the latest standard-def versions of "Vertigo", "Psycho" & "Rear Window" on Blu-ray down the road? I have the older versions of these films, and would like to get the new remastered versions, but will wait if any Blu-ray plans are in the works. Has anyone heard what Universal's plans are with respect to this issue?

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I have no inside info but I'm sure they're not that far away. And as much as I'd love to have the new versions, I've bought those movies two times already on DVD so I'm waiting for the Blu-ray.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

In the UK, HMV has recently added the following titles as "pre-release" in it's Blu-ray section:

- The Birds
- Torn Curtain
- Family Plot
- Frenzy
- The Man Who Knew Too Much
- Marnie
- Mr and Mrs Smith
- Psycho
- Rear Window
- Rope
- Saboteur
- Shadow of a Doubt
- Topaz
- The Trouble With Harry
- Vertigo
- To Catch a Thief
- North by Northwest
- Strangers on a Train
- Secret Agent
- The 39 Steps

None of the titles have a release date yet.

(thanks to John Hodson for spotting this!)

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

North By Northwest is rumored to be restored and released on Blu and SD this year. It's the 50th anniversary, so that would make sense.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I think the best chances for BD releases are the following:

Universal:

The Birds
Psycho
Rear Window
Vertigo

These four seem to be the "tentpole" titles from the library that Universal has rights to (which totals 14 films).

Warner:

Dial M for Murder
North by Northwest
Strangers on a Train

Of the Warner owned titles (9 total), these 3 seem to be their most marketable. We already know that North by Northwest is in the pipeline.

Criterion:

The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps

I could see Criterion getting around to these staples from their early DVD days.

Fox:

Notorious
Rebecca
Spellbound

Seeing as how they just released these on DVD only it may be a while.

Paramount:

To Catch a Thief

As their only Hitchcock title it's not out of the realm of possibility. However, Paramount isn't exactly quick to release catalog titles on BD so far.

The titles owned by Lionsgate are too minor to see BD anytime soon.

Also, shouldn't this be on the HD board?

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I think this is the most appropriate area for this discussion.





Crawdaddy

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I read that Paramount is having another go at TO CATCH A THIEF as one of its next Centennial Collection releases (along with THE ODD COUPLE). Obviously, these have been remastered in high definition but that doesn't mean they'll see a Blu-ray release any time soon.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Would love to see any and all Hitchcock on Blu-ray. VERTIGO goes to the top of the list. Would love to be able to scrutinize PSYCHO in hi-def. Am eager to see Warner's NORTH BY NORTHWEST. I am also quite partial to SHADOW OF A DOUBT and the original THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, but don't think we'll be seeing those two on Blu-ray anytime soon.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

There isn't a Hitchcock film on Blu-ray Disc I wouldn't buy, so bring them on I say!

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

As I type this, North By Northwest is running right now on the Moviepix HD cable channel here in Canada. If this same transfer makes it's way to Blu-Ray people should be very pleased.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I'm starting to get very impatient with lack of Hitchcock titles on Blu-ray. Since I haven't heard anything, apart from North By Northwest, I assume no news isn't good news in this particular case.

I guess if I haven't heard anything by the next DD 20% Off sale, I may have to bite the bullet on some of the new SD editions. Rest assured that as soon as I do that BDs will be announced soon after.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I thought so, too, when I sprang for the new VERTIGO, but I just had to get rid of that nonanamorphic original DVD. So far, nothing, however. I wish Universal would dip its toes in with just one of these titles.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Vertigo and Rear Window probably need a new restoration anyway. I think (well, hope) Universal will wait how the North By Northwest restoration will turn out.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I'm just hoping Uni does these titles justice and not release some "barely acceptable" transfer of an old master done for DVD. I'd rather wait for a product done right than have something rushed to the market for the sake of having something out.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I'd love to see "Dial M For Murder" on Blu-ray.... with the 3-D version included as a bonus feature. Yeah, home anaglyph viewing isn't exactly state of the art, but it would be cool to have and I'd certainly watch it.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Not sure why Paramount isn't jumping at the chance to release To Catch a Thief since it looks like according to the DVDbeaver the new Cent. Edition is so much better looking than the two prev DVD editions...

Same for all the Cent collection sets for sure... I want to own those so bad but I don't like double dipping so I will wait until the eventual BD releases.

here is the DVD beaver review for To Catch a Theif though the dvd screen grabs for the new edition looks good.. so a BD would be great.

To Catch a Thief - Grace Kelly Cary Grant

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Yeah, if it can be assumed the excellent DVD master originated from an excellent 1080p master (or 2K), it seems like a wasted opportunity to put out a BluRay.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I'm brand new to Blu-Ray discs - I have over 2,000 DVDs and my new Sony 550 Blu-Ray player, and 10 discs (!), arrive tomorrow. Next week I get my nice new 58" Panasonic Viera plasma set.

I'm not bragging (actually, the cost of this is depressing me even as I type these words). My question is, on older films such as the Hitchcock classics, how much of a boost do they get from Blu-Ray over DVD? Is the difference really night-and-day? What other films are out there that might suggest how much of an improvement I might experience? The Searchers? Any others?

I do NOT want to repurchase my whole collection. I don't. Really. But I will repurchase classics that are worth the upgrade and would be very curious as to your experience in upgrading older films.

Thanks,
Stu

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Mileage will vary according to which film you're looking at and which studio did the transfer.

THE SEARCHERS? Undoubtedly.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON? Without a doubt.

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD? Stupendous.

PINOCCHIO? Breathtaking.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

That's helpful. Overall, what is the difference I'd see? Clarity, sharpness? Isn't the improvement a function in part of the source material? Other than big projects like The Searchers restoration, will an average older film be noticeably improved (that is, worth the $$$ in upgrading)?

While my goal is to avoid The Dreaded Repurchase of My Collection, I'm perfectly fine about upgrading truly classic films where it's worth the $$$.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Stu

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Clarity, sharpness, depth of color (or richness of grayscale for B&W films). Those four films I mentioned above certainly have those qualities.

An average older film? Well, if the film is properly mastered in high definition, yes, it should look noticeably more appealing.

I can tell you my first Blu-ray experience was THE SEARCHERS, and even the CREDITS knocked me out they were so super sharp. Often, the clarity is such that your eye is fooled that it's watching 3-D. (Of course, Vistavision is known for its uber-sharp picture.)

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Another great example is CASABLANCA. It has the benefit of some serious restoration, so it's probably not typical... but my god, it's stunning to behold.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Well, I bought The Searchers based on your say so, and now it appears I have to buy Casablanca. (sshhhh....don't tell my wife...)

Thanks for this info - very helpful.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

You definitely won't regret buying The Searchers.

Sleeping Beauty is another knockout, and I'm quite impressed with the UK release of The Seventh Seal. While I'm at it I'll also put in a good word for The Sand Pebbles. There, that's three classic titles beginning with "S" that look great in HD.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I thought Bullit looked really good. Don't know if it's worth an upgrade though. The same can be said for Rio Bravo and The Wild Bunch. What I can truly recommend as an upgrade are the early James Bond films Dr. No & From Russia with Love. These look very good.

Back on topic, Vertigo, 39 Steps, Lady Vanishes, & Psycho top my list of Hitchcock films I'd like to see on BD.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Is North By Northwest coming to blu ray in 2009? I saw that the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind are coming from WB, however North By Northwest wasn't mentioned this time.

I will pick up North By Northwest on blu ray. I would also like to see Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, Vertigo and probably any other ones they do put out on blu ray.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Watching "To Catch A Thief" on HDNet Movies. I am certainly no expert on how films should look, but to my eyes, this looked FANTASTIC!

Can't wait for the BD.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

Any and all Hitchcock would be welcome on Blu-ray, especially the 1950s James Stewart and Cary Grant films (and The Trouble with Harry). I'd like them all on BD, but I'd be happy to start with those.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

It's not Hitchcock, but the original Day the Earth Stood Still is worth upgrading if you already have it. It is a good example of how good black and white can be. BTW, the upcoming release on BD of the remake includes the BD disc of the original. If it exposes more people to the original, than the remake was worth it.

Re: Hitchcock on Blu-ray?

I don't know about Universal, but if Paramount does a good job with the HD transfer of "North By Northwest" like they did with the SD version, I'll be very pleased.

It depends on the source. A good print from a technicolor film can look spectacular in HD. In some cases, even better than the original theatrical presentation due to the more accurate registration process, a cleaner print and fewer intermediate prints. Since computers don't slip like sometimes occurred when optically combining the technicolor strips, it means sharper colors. You also see a more direct master than a theatrical release print and it will look like a day one, first show projection.

Sure, the theatrical print had more resolution, but it was also being blown up onto a bigger screen and often suffered from the issues above.

Aside from many of the Hitchcock films listed here, I'm anxious to eventually get "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" on BD. That's onather well done DVD that should end up an excellent BD.

The biggest issue with older movies is being able to pause and study the sets and special effects. You only have to take a look at "The Robe" to see how those things don't age well. Granted, Hitchcock was very good at making them convincing, but it's easy to spot the move to the sound stage on closeups verses the wider location shots.