HTF REVIEW: The Wizard Of Oz - Three-Disc Collector's Edition (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). - Page 3

I"m glad we cleared up the error
about the Audio Vault.

WHEW!!!!!!!

The color screencaps that Herb posted from the older disc have far more natural skin tones than the caps from this new set. It's not even close. That said, I don't trust screencaps any farther than I can throw 'em! It also doesn't mean that the newer image isn't closer to the original intended look of the film.

I do, however, trust Mr. Harris' opinion of the accuracy of transfers that he examines. Sounds like this new disc looks just fine.

Neither dvdbeaver nor most of our posters here seem to realize the fact that I'm not comparing the new screenshots to the previous disc. I'm comparing both the new one and the previous one — both inferior, IMæ — to the original DVD from 1997, shortly after the format made its debut, and to The Ultimate Oz laserdisc, which apparently was the same transfer as that original DVD. A comparison of these would reveal the far warmer and more saturated color as compared with the last two go-rounds.

As for "right" or "wrong," if you like your Technicolor pastel and faded, then I can see why you might prefer the last two transfers. Otherwise, I'd clearly have to prefer the old transfers, three-strip negatives or not.

And yes, the misregistration is cured in the new transfer, but it doesn't occur in the same places in those old transfers anyway, so I can't compare on that basis off the top of my head. I do seem to remember that the scene with the apple was noticeably misregistered.

MK

...but they did it and it is significant - and that's a sin!

yes but shouldn't we be comparing *all* of them to the intended look of the historic film print?

Definitely. But that seems to be an "unknown," meaning we can only guess at which is more true to the original intention of the filmmakers. I go with the Ultimate Oz LD and the 1997 MGM DVD, not either of the Warner releases.

I'd sure love to see screencaps of THOSE compared!

MK

Johannes, check out the other Oz thread, and Robert Harris's take on cropping.

Reference prints on many three strip productions are available for examination, inclusive of those used as reference by Technicolor themselves.

I assure you WB does not work in a vacuum.

Yes, Mr. Harris. But did George Feltenstein work in a vacuum when he was preparing the Ultimate Oz transfer?

Why are the hot pink outfits of the chorus girls at the party in Singin' In The Rain a pale pink on the most recent transfer? This too has faded color when compared to the original DVD.

Has anyone made this comparison of the old product with the new, or are we simply trusting the quality of this work as a matter of principle?

IF the screen captures are at least an indication I'll gladly get the new version - partly because all I have at the moment is a standard release from MGM on laserdisc from around 1990 and secondly - the yellow brick road looks great on the latest version, so who cares about the rest of the film, I'm sold!

True. But unfortunately I sold off my original MGM DVD when I heard the Warner one was arriving. Oh well. You live, you learn.

Here are caps from the laserdisc:

(shutterfly crops them a bit....sorry.)

Note even here there is a difference between the dress in Munchinland vs. the cornfield, as with the two WB releases.

Long live laserdisc as it was the only real home viewing device we had...but give me the dvds...both bad and good over the smeared & milky laserdisc. I still have some LDs that I will always have but they seldom get any time now.

I'm still buying the set because I love this film. I'll do my own comparisons. As I said earlier, those in the know seem to feel this new one is the most accurate. I'll wait and get the sucker home before I make up my mind. Besides if I can buy a zillion different copies or releases of Stargate then I'm really ok with buying another Wizard of Oz...even if it's not perfect.

Going back to the earliest DVD and laserdiscs, the source was an interpositive created from the three-strips.

RAH

Looks like reality doesn't match reputation....

I actually think the laserdisc looks damned good. Naturally, it's not going to be quite as sharp as any of the DVD's because of the format's lower resolution.

MK

But the colors don't look unequivocally "better" (or even more consistent). They certainly don't match the theatrical print I saw.

Question: Has the final audio for the 'Jitterbug' deleted scene been correctly matched up with the stills/home movie compilation once again? The previous release substituted a scratch audio track for some unknown reason.

Yes, the Jitterbug has the final audio, fully orchestrated.

There's only one of the comparison transfers which Herb posted, that bothers me a little bit. It's the one of the Tin Man, who really looks bronze all of the sudden. His "tin" has a "gold" sheen to it. His tone has changed so much from the other DVD that one wonders whether there can ever be a "correct" version of the movie.

I'm not saying this one isn't correct -- I'm saying that there may be a problem in determing "correct" color.

It certainly is true that this movie, Ben-Hur, and Gone with the Wind from last year, are all more golden, highlighting the yellows over the grays.

In GWTW, the gray walls of Twelve Oaks all became a tan color. Far be it from me to say which is correct -- it's just something I noted.

Interesting. The laserdisc has the lilac-colored dress in that one shot just like the new DVD, unlike the Warner DVD where her dress matches the blue usually seen in other shots.

-Lyle J.P.

The "golden" look for the tin man would seem correct, with the recent news (possibly shocking to some) that C3PO's heritage has been traced back to this very same entity.

wow what an outstanding review.

Disc 3 would alone be worth the price for those early relases

David, if I misread your intention then I apologize but this statement:

...seems to me anyway to be saying that "we" only prefer the cooler temp because we don't know any better, because we have basically been "trained" to feel that way.....I find that to be condescending and assumptive.

Again, if I misread your intention then I apologize but that is certainly how it reads out to me.

Can someone post a cap from the interior of the farmhouse door before Dorothy opens it? Thanks!

I think I must be in a good mood today, because I was saying on the Sound of Music thread that I thought the new print looked very good, and I have to say I seem to be in the minority on this thread when I say I think the new transfer of Wizard of Oz looks wonderful.

The first shot of Dorothy - the sepia effect looks warmer and I can definitely see more details in the fabric of her dress and the ribbons in her hair.

The shot of the Wicked Witch of the East under the house - the grass and ferns are growing in what looks like soil rather than some weird grey medium. The yellow bricks are sunshine yellow, not school bus yellow.

The shot with the Muchkins - even in a medium shot like that you can discern the gingham pattern of her dress rather than it being just a denim-coloured shape.

The "beauty" shot of Margaret Hamilton - I can see the texture of her black dress, the subtleties of the makeup.

The beauty shot of Judy Garland - you can see her complexion properly and it's a healthy colour, not an insipid pink.

The shots of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion - Wow, the subtleties of those makeups.

All in all I'm champing at the bit for this release, and I have another twelve days minimum longer to wait than you lot.

Mark,

You're not alone in feeling positiive about this release.

I've screened it on four different devices. A great deal of effort has gone into this and has paid off.

There is no downside.

RAH

Like most people on Earth, I enjoy The Wizard Of Oz. Unlike most people in this thread, I am not very familiar with any of its home video incarnations so I'm not 'married' to any particular idea of how the movie should look. However, the screenshots from the new disc look better to my eye.

Kevin,

...not to make slight of anyone but rather the opposite...to explain that it's understandable that folks...myself included...would (in general) find the cooler temperature more pleasing and that for some reason viewers (especially in american audiences...not sure why) tend to prefer the cooler look in general. It is *the* reason that most TV's are preset from the factory to the cooler temperature settings.

I'm sorry if it sounded like I was casting dispersions on anyone's opinion. Rather, I was trying to point out that the draw towards cooler temperature is something that is a widespread tendancy and one that is well documented in video research.