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post #91 of 157
2/9/09 at 8:42am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

It's not pan-and-scan or cropped.
This is an open-matte version, especially filmed that way to make fit for TV broadcasts as well.
There's no part of the widescreen image missing. One could add the mattes oneself. Of course it's not anamorphic, though.


Cees
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post #92 of 157
2/9/09 at 9:12am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Not in full-frame though; alledgedly, Optimum has redone the film since that '07 release for their R2 Losey boxset, but I can't confirm that it's anamorphic OAR - anyone?

John, I hadn't heard that they'd re-mastered The Go-Between for that boxed set - I'd assumed it was a straight re-packaging. If it is now in anamorphic OAR, I'd be very interested. I hope someone can confirm it.
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post #93 of 157
2/9/09 at 9:42am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison
John, I hadn't heard that they'd re-mastered The Go-Between for that boxed set - I'd assumed it was a straight re-packaging. If it is now in anamorphic OAR, I'd be very interested. I hope someone can confirm it.

Silly me; didn't check Optimum's own specs: "The Go Between (1970) – presented here having been restored to its former glory and 1.85:1 original aspect ratio."

Doesn't say anamorphic, but a quick email to Optimum should confirm that
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post #94 of 157
2/9/09 at 10:00am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Silly me; didn't check Optimum's own specs: "The Go Between (1970) – presented here having been restored to its former glory and 1.85:1 original aspect ratio."

Doesn't say anamorphic, but a quick email to Optimum should confirm that

Thanks John. I've just emailed them asking that question. (Do they usually reply to emails though?)
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post #95 of 157
2/9/09 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison
Thanks John. I've just emailed them asking that question. (Do they usually reply to emails though?)

Depends on the question If it's anamorphic, they'll reply.
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post #96 of 157
2/9/09 at 4:04pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more.

Indeed - very much so.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Zimmer
Great to hear the Toho set is still on track; it's been pretty quiet about that lately so I was starting to get nervous.
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post #97 of 157
2/9/09 at 5:40pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great news about the Lemmon set. Hope all the titles are new to DVD and include Operation Mad Ball, Notorious Landlady, Phffft, You Can't Run Away From It, Three For The Show, Under The Yum Yum Tree and Good Neighbor Sam.

Top of the list of missing Columbia titles is Pepe and I'm crossing my fingers for a 2009 release.
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post #98 of 157
2/9/09 at 9:22pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

It's a music rights nightmare, but I'm wishing on a celestial body for Michael Apted's STARDUST with David Essex. Perhaps with a commentary track from them both.
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post #99 of 157
2/10/09 at 6:21am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Depends on the question If it's anamorphic, they'll reply.

Well I've had a reply from Optimum regarding 'The Go-Between'. They have said that the new edition in the box set is taken "from a new 16:9 master".

To my mind, this is still ambiguous - it could merely mean that it is now in a 16:9 aspect ratio, which we already know. I've requested a clarification regarding the anamorphic/non-anamorphic question, but haven't heard back from them yet.

Maybe I'm being unduly pedantic. What is your understanding of the phrase "a 16:9 master"? Does it imply that it's anamorphic?
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post #100 of 157
2/10/09 at 6:33am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison
Maybe I'm being unduly pedantic. What is your understanding of the phrase "a 16:9 master"? Does it imply that it's anamorphic?
I agree with you, it sounds ambiguous to me.

Sadly the people in charge of answering the questions often don't understand the distinction between aspect ratio and anamorphic encoding.
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post #101 of 157
2/10/09 at 6:36am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Well, I'm satisfied. Thank you Bruce.

They've also corrected their version of 'Far From The Madding Crowd', though no doubt there are still old copies on offer both in shops and at etailers.
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post #102 of 157
2/10/09 at 7:02am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

I have spoken to Mike through e-mail. A very nice guy. He is not involved in Sony's tv-on-dvd department. I wish we had someone as nice and well-versed in that department to talk to.
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post #103 of 157
2/10/09 at 9:51am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Well, I'm satisfied. Thank you Bruce.

They've also corrected their version of 'Far From The Madding Crowd', though no doubt there are still old copies on offer both in shops and at etailers.

John, I hope you're right to be satisfied - anyway I'll post here again if I get confirmation from them. Are you going to buy the box set?

I've just bought the new Region 1 DVD released by Warner of 'Far From The Madding Crowd'. It's in the correct 2.35 ratio and the general quality isn't bad, although I don't think they've put much effort into it. The print is clean and free from speckles, etc. and the colour timing seems correct, but there are a few places where the transfer is more than usually grainy/noisy.

My memory of the old Region 2 DVD is that, even leaving aside the cropped ratio after the credits, the credits sequence itself looked as if it had been filmed at dusk rather than in bright daylight! The new Region 1 is definitely better than that.
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post #104 of 157
2/10/09 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison
John, I hope you're right to be satisfied - anyway I'll post here again if I get confirmation from them. Are you going to buy the box set?

Oh yes. However, my usual modus operendi is to wait until it becomes ridiculously cheap (especially when there is a degree of double dipping). And it will.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison
I've just bought the new Region 1 DVD released by Warner of 'Far From The Madding Crowd'. It's in the correct 2.35 ratio and the general quality isn't bad, although I don't think they've put much effort into it. The print is clean and free from speckles, etc. and the colour timing seems correct, but there are a few places where the transfer is more than usually grainy/noisy.

My memory of the old Region 2 DVD is that, even leaving aside the cropped ratio after the credits, the credits sequence itself looked as if it had been filmed at dusk rather than in bright daylight! The new Region 1 is definitely better than that.

I haven't seen it myself, but comments I've read indicate that the corrected R2 is significantly better in every way than the old version. I'd be surprised, however, if it was vastly different from the Warner disc though.
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post #105 of 157
2/10/09 at 2:46pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

For those interested in the Toho set, Mike S. posted on Monster Kid Classic Horror forums a couple of days ago regarding contents.
Quote:
The Toho box is still scheduled for this year, with dual versions of MOTHRA and H-MAN, and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (which was not significantly altered) with both language tracks. ROM3 is no longer part of the box, pending another possible set later on. I can say no more; I've said too much already.

Mike S.
(rowr)
As far as I'm concerned, this is outstanding news. It's no sacrifice to give up Return of Mothra 3 in order to get dual cuts of the actual classic films.
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post #106 of 157
2/11/09 at 3:39am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by mdnitoil
For those interested in the Toho set, Mike S. posted on Monster Kid Classic Horror forums a couple of days ago regarding contents.

As far as I'm concerned, this is outstanding news. It's no sacrifice to give up Return of Mothra 3 in order to get dual cuts of the actual classic films.

I agree. Return was an odd fit for this set so I was a bit indifferent as to it's inclusion. As long as the original language versions of Mothra, H-man, and BIOS were included I would've been content. Having both versions is fantastic (and the way to go with all the classic Toho Sci-fi films).
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post #107 of 157
2/11/09 at 3:54am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

In reagrds The Go-Between, it is a very nice anamorphic transfer in that Losey set.



The Go-Between review.
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post #108 of 157
2/11/09 at 11:35am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

So the ROM 3 statement makes it sound as if they might re-release 1 & 2 together with 3? That's the only package that really makes any sense at all as far as I can see.

That probably makes more sense than including it in this box too.
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post #109 of 157
2/11/09 at 11:49am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by R-T-C Tim
In reagrds The Go-Between, it is a very nice anamorphic transfer in that Losey set.



The Go-Between review.

Thanks Tim.
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post #110 of 157
2/11/09 at 3:29pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Zimmer
So the ROM 3 statement makes it sound as if they might re-release 1 & 2 together with 3? That's the only package that really makes any sense at all as far as I can see.

That probably makes more sense than including it in this box too.
Considering how badly they butchered the aspect ratio on 1 & 2, it is certainly a possibility. I'm just surprised Sony would even be interested in revisiting the material. They haven't shown much interest in that before and there are certainly more worthy titles to be revisited, even confined to the Toho sphere.
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post #111 of 157
4/30/09 at 12:30pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Since Warner is dumping most of its unreleased catalog onto DVD-R's (at high prices), and seems to have forgotten regular DVD for the time being for its catalog...Sony/Columbia has now moved ahead of them as my favorite studio in regards to classic film releases on DVD.

I just want to thank Mike Schlesinger for a great job in getting Columbia's library out onto DVD. The upcoming, Jack Lemmon, Film Noir & Sam Fuller boxsets (the last 2 mentioned in the Film Noir thread)and The Strange One are all eagerly awaited by me.
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post #112 of 157
4/30/09 at 6:27pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Sony is indeed doing a great job and congrats and thanks to Mike S for being a dedicated champion of many of these.

Anyone heard anymore on the rumored B movie collections that were said to be in Sony's plans (Jungle Jim and the Lone Wolf)?
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post #113 of 157
5/1/09 at 4:05am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O
Anyone heard anymore on the rumored B movie collections that were said to be in Sony's plans (Jungle Jim and the Lone Wolf)?
...or the Lorre set?
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post #114 of 157
5/1/09 at 4:18am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Sony probably want to see what sales are like on the sets we know about first. I hope they sell well as there is a gap in the market at present and Sony appear intent on filling it.
I was very happy with last years offerings (Boetticher and the two Hammer sets) which were well presented and good value for money. Keep 'em coming please.
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post #115 of 157
5/1/09 at 7:12am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Livius
I was very happy with last years offerings (Boetticher and the two Hammer sets) which were well presented and good value for money. Keep 'em coming please.
Generally I agree, but I think they are letting themselves down a bit with their marketing. For example, they should've promoted the Boetticher set more as a Randolph Scott westerns collection to attract more Westerns fans who (sadly) have no idea who Budd Boetticher is. I know quite a few people who are big Westerns fans, yet didn't get the set, even though it contains 5 of the best westerns of the 1950s.

Also, it is sad to say that the Boetticher set includes excellent transfers, except for the fact there is a lot of ringing / halo artefacts caused by extreme application of edge enhancement. For that reason alone I am hopeful that the set will be reissued on Blu-ray in a few years.

I bought the Hammer Adventure set, and well, it is great except for the fact it contains quite possibly the worst cover art on a legit (non-public domain) release I have ever seen. Again this is very important, because some engaging cover art can attract blind buys.
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post #116 of 157
5/1/09 at 8:00am

BOSTON BLACKIE!!!!!


I sure would go for both JUNGLE JIM (Johnny Weissmuller) and THE LONE WOLF (Warren Williams, Gerald Mohr and Ron Randell) film series DVD releases! I sincerely hope that these are definitely not mere rumours but actually in the works for 2009.

I would also like to further suggest Columbia Pictures' incredible BOSTON BLACKIE film series with Chester Morris which aired Saturday mornings for a while on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES and was an absolute hoot! A very nice balance of both engaging detective mystery and hilarious laughs.

As has been already mentioned these prospective projects would certainly fill the gapping desired B-film void generally neglected by the other major studio DVD distributors.

Hopefully someone at Sony Home Entertainment is methodically reading this particular discussion thread!

Jeff T.
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post #117 of 157
5/1/09 at 8:01am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
I bought the Hammer Adventure set, and well, it is great except for the fact it contains quite possibly the worst cover art on a legit (non-public domain) release I have ever seen. Again this is very important, because some engaging cover art can attract blind buys.
This has been a persistent problem with Sony releases for many years. Do studios design these in-house, or contract the work out? Either way, I believe some fresh blood is needed.
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post #118 of 157
5/1/09 at 8:24am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Tucker

This has been a persistent problem with Sony releases for many years. Do studios design these in-house, or contract the work out? Either way, I believe some fresh blood is needed.
I'd love something along the lines of Warner's Horror Double Features, adapting some form of the poster art. Or something original like Criterion's 'Monsters & Madmen.' But tinted stills just look dull.
I would gladly design these for free - FREE, I say!
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post #119 of 157
5/1/09 at 8:58am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

To be fair, by the time Sony got round to the Hammer Horror set, they'd improved the cover design considerably, and the 'choose a design' tie-in with Amazon was a nice move.

We'd been calling the Boetticher set a Scott / Boetticher set from the moment the first rumours emerged (well, TBH, long before that...), it was a real puzzle that they decided to keep Scott's name off the cover art. Nevertheless, I'd bet it sold by the lorry load.

And JeffT, I'd snap that Boston Blackie set up in a heartbeat - with that art!

Meanwhile, well done Mike S and Sony; keep it up chaps. Please.
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post #120 of 157
5/1/09 at 8:59am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

I don't think you can beat the original poster design (esp from that era). The Fox Studio Classics range looked so good using the original poster art.
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