RobertSiegel

Greg, thanks for the info, perhaps I did see the hdtv version, although compared to some classic movies I have recently seen on HDNET, it did not look like hdtv to me. I had it on my dvr, but erased it as soon as I saw some of the sides were cut. I thought, how dare they broadcast a pan and scan hd classic, got mad and erased it. It looked 4:3 to me but I could be wrong. I wish I would have saved it to compare further. I do remember the quality was poor, it's as if the ABC affiliate here had the same thing on their regular channel and the HD channel.

Since the film is due for a remastering this year and a new 40th anniversary dvd, I wonder if they are making a new transfer, since they already made a high-def transfer last time and used that for the dvd. We'll have to wait and see. This is my all-time favorite movie, and I've owned 5 different VHS versions, and 3 laserdisc versions and the dvd. I am still not impressed, especially with the sound on the dvd. Oklahoma from 10 years earlier sounds MUCH better. That great 20th Fox sound doesn't seem as good to me on the dvd or any other version for that matter. According to the story you mention (the link), the masters were in pretty bad shape, I am assuming worse than Oklahoma's. It's really a shame. The best sound recording of the score is on the 2 disc special edition soundtrack on RCA that came out for the 35th anniversary. One of the best remastering jobs ever done to this score, and the best I've heard it, if you don't have it, run, don't walk and pick it up. The 2nd disc has an interview with Richard Rogers and alot of music not on the first disc or previous releases, taken from the music masters for the film. Those don't sound as good to me as the disc 1, the original soundtrack RCA released, recorded in Webster Hall exclusively for the LP issue in 1965.

Joe Caps

something is very goofy here. I don't have the rca 2 cd set, but are they saying in th enotes the original album they releazsed is a rerecording done in Webster Hall? It most certainly is not, but is the fox soundtrack with new intros recorded and some bridges recorded to cover cut material.

Erik_H

Today's NY Times has a lengthy article on the 40th anniversary of "The Sound of Music."

The article includes some specifics on the upcoming DVD reissue: "Twentieth Century Fox plans to release a special 40th-anniversary two-DVD edition in November, with new documentary material (including interviews with Ms. Andrews, other cast members and creators) prepared by Michael Kantor, who directed the PBS series "Broadway: The American Musical" last year."

The article also notes that "SOM" has been on the Billboard Top 40 video sales chart longer than any other film (300-plus weeks).

Other R&H news: A high-def transfer of "The King and I" will be shown on INHD2 this Saturday (June 4).

Robert Crawford

Here is a link to this excellent article. If have to be registered with the NYT to read it.

Also, before anyone asks, the video presentation has been revisited by Fox to eliminate the problems associated with the previously released dvd. Furthermore, other R&H musicals are in the dvd pipeline.








Crawdaddy

G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.

RobertSiegel

I saw that transfer of the King and I on INHD, they already broadcast it once. The picture is one of the best I've seen so far of a classic in HD. It was just beautiful. Unfortunately, the movie starts in 2:35:1 (or somewhere near that) and after the credits, if you can believe this, switches to 1:85:1 for the rest of the film. If you get the chance, watch it, the picture is stunning.

Paul Anthony

I recently saw the current DVD of "The Sound of Music" on my Sony 36" XBR set, and thought the transfer was totally rad! Don't understand why TSOM is being re-mastered, but that's cool with me.

Mark Bendiksen

RobertSiegel

Here's what Talkin Broadway just listed for the new Sound of Music set:

My Favorite Things - Special Set
(Fox Home Entertainment - new on 2 DVDs)
Sound of Music film with 5.1 Dolby Digital, and 4.0 Dolby Surround Sound, with special "Sing-Along" features. The new DVD will be hosted by Julie Andrews, joined by Christopher Plummer and Charmian Carr, with reminiscences from director Robert Wise, screenwriter Ernest Lehman and co-choreographer Dee Dee Wood, amother others; directing the all-new documentary bonus material will be Michael Kantor.

You would think to get more people to replace their old version Fox would have included DTS as well, dumb move.

Joe Caps

Too bad about the documentary, the last dvd set and laser box swet had an excellent definitive documentary by Michael Mattesino that will not be a part of the new set.
I would also like to see all of the footage with Christopher Plummer singing for himself before he got dubbed by Bill Lee. A little bit of htis was on Hollywood Scrren tests Volume one.

MarcoBiscotti

^ I'm sure it'll still beincluded. I don't think Fox would leave off any of the previous supplementals. As for DTS, I didn't have a DTS track on my 2-disc Five Star Collection?

Andrew Budgell

First A Christmas Carol, then The Wizard of OZ, and now The Sound of Music - three of my top tens in a matter of two months!

Andy

Elizabeth Taylor Resource