A few words about...™ To Catch a Thief

I'm torn about Paramount's new SD DVD of To Catch a Thief.

Far higher in quality in comparison to the initial release, and with beautiful color and densities, the film, which was produced on Eastman 5248 and in VistaVision, is seemingly devoid of grain, and looks rather unlike film.

This is a problem for me and for others who follow the original grain theory. The many viewers who hate grain will love it, and with
everything else going for it, there's a great deal to love here.

As an overall home video experience the new To Catch a Thief should fit the bill of anyone who has the common sense to wish to view this delightful mini-masterpiece. The track seems to be based upon a stereo music element, but in my current (hotel based) system, it remains a bit uncertain.

Recommended.

RAH

Re: A few words about...™ To Catch a Thief

A bit of information for what might be considered "full disclosure."

Productions photographed on 5248, whether standard 35mm 4 perf or VVLA 8 perf had precisely the same grain structure. They were photographed on the same stock.

The differences came from a number of areas.

The Vista productions used roughly twice the image area, and whether printed down to 35mm or straight across to 8 perf, had an appearance of being less grainy.

This was based upon two points. Projecting an actual Vista print, which was quite rare, meant that the image would only be enlarged by approximately 50% -- larger film element -- same screen size -- more resolved image.

When it came to dye transfer printing, the Vista OCN would be replicated as a reduction image to printing matrices, which in turn would be sent through the dye bath and imbibed to the blank.

Because of the optics, dyes, mordant, etc. via the matrix stock, which had it's own grain structure, the resultant image had a smoother, "less grainy," more velvety look. A well-produced and projected Vista dye transfer print could take on the look of being very sharp, and far less grainy than the standard counterparts. Sharpness was partially an illusion, helped by the contrast of the process.

Creating a video element from a large format source, in this case most likely separation masters, should have produced an image with approximately 50% of the normal grain -- fine, but still a part of the image, as it became lost in the duping process.

RAH

Re: A few words about...™ To Catch a Thief

I have no specific information as to how the clean-up was handled or by whom. I can only report what I see on my monitor, which is a quality product with low grain.

Whether this is positive or negative depends totally on which side of the fence one sits.

RAH