![The Bird with the Crystal Plumage [Blu-ray]](http://static.hometheaterforum.com/imgrepo/thumbs/b/b9/B001KNL1ZE-410RlbSTMRL.jpg/60x60px-LS-B001KNL1ZE-410RlbSTMRL.jpg)
After a dozen or so outings as screenwriter for other filmmakers, the now legendary Italian Dario Argento made his first mark as a director in his own right with the 1970 The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.
Screening the new release on Blu-ray from Blue Underground was initially a bit of a puzzler. The BD has all of the attributes of a transfer from original negative, but lacks that look of solid HD OCN resolution that has become standard on quality transfers. And this IS a quality transfer. Other than that, and a bit of red push during the opening, the film looks terrific, especially for a 1970 low budget Italian affair.
A quick question to Blue Underground's guru Bill Lustig provided the answer.
Crystal Plumage was not shot 35/4, but rather 35 2-perf, which provides the answer to the overall look. This makes perfect sense, as the format was originally conceived for printing directly from a 2-perf OCN to Technicolor matrices, which with its slight softness hid the grain, while filling in blacks beautifully.
Grain goes untouched, and is apparent especially in the many dark scenes -- and Crystal Plumage is a dark film. Argento has become a cult figure among horror aficionados, and many consider this to be his best work after Suspiria (1977).
From the time of its original release, TBwtCP has been linked with the name Hitchcock, and those who have not yet had the opportunity to view will understand why with immediacy.
I could not be more pleased to see Blue Underground hitting their aim for quality in what is still one of their very early Blu-ray releases.
Recommended.
RAH
Screening the new release on Blu-ray from Blue Underground was initially a bit of a puzzler. The BD has all of the attributes of a transfer from original negative, but lacks that look of solid HD OCN resolution that has become standard on quality transfers. And this IS a quality transfer. Other than that, and a bit of red push during the opening, the film looks terrific, especially for a 1970 low budget Italian affair.
A quick question to Blue Underground's guru Bill Lustig provided the answer.
Crystal Plumage was not shot 35/4, but rather 35 2-perf, which provides the answer to the overall look. This makes perfect sense, as the format was originally conceived for printing directly from a 2-perf OCN to Technicolor matrices, which with its slight softness hid the grain, while filling in blacks beautifully.
Grain goes untouched, and is apparent especially in the many dark scenes -- and Crystal Plumage is a dark film. Argento has become a cult figure among horror aficionados, and many consider this to be his best work after Suspiria (1977).
From the time of its original release, TBwtCP has been linked with the name Hitchcock, and those who have not yet had the opportunity to view will understand why with immediacy.
I could not be more pleased to see Blue Underground hitting their aim for quality in what is still one of their very early Blu-ray releases.
Recommended.
RAH
