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post #31 of 256
7/3/08 at 7:15am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I dont understand the rush to ebay the CC's you are taking sight unseen that this is an upgrade worth having.
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post #32 of 256
7/3/08 at 8:22am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Here's hoping Lionsgate comes out with a second volume of early Hitchcock. And then only a handful of titles will need restored R1 editions.

For a complete restored Hitchcock canon one needs now:

Warner Bros. Signature Collection (2004)
Universal Masterpiece Collection (2005)
Lionsgate Collector's Edition (2007)
MGM Premiere Collection (2008)

Plus:

Criterion editions of The 39 Steps (1998) and The Lady Vanishes (2007), as well as the Paramount edition of To Catch a Thief (2007).

Remaining unreleased in a restored edition in R1:

The Pleasure Garden (1925)
Downhill (1927)
Easy Virtue (1928)
Champagne (1928)
Blackmail (1929)
Juno and the Paycock (1930)
Number Seventeen (1932)
Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Secret Agent (1936)
Jamaica Inn (1939)
Under Capricorn (1949)
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post #33 of 256
7/3/08 at 8:23am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by dana martin
I dont understand the rush to ebay the CC's you are taking sight unseen that this is an upgrade worth having.

Because as long as the film is completely out-of-print in the US, people will pay absurdly high prices for it. Right now even used copies are selling for above MSRP. Once this set hits shelves, the price will plummet.

Anyone with all three Criterion discs could easily sell them for $120, then turn around and buy the Fox set for $90 -- a $30 profit plus you end up with five more movies. Fox has an extremely good track-record with their classics division, so it's unlikely they'd screw up a major release like this, and while you wouldn't have all the Criterion extras it's not an unreasonable trade off.

----------------
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post #34 of 256
7/3/08 at 9:36am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by seanOhara
Anyone with all three Criterion discs could easily sell them for $120, then turn around and buy the Fox set for $90 -- a $30 profit plus you end up with five more movies. Fox has an extremely good track-record with their classics division, so it's unlikely they'd screw up a major release like this, and while you wouldn't have all the Criterion extras it's not an unreasonable trade off.

Fox are only the distributors. These are MGM releases.
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post #35 of 256
7/3/08 at 9:37am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Because as long as the film is completely out-of-print in the US, people will pay absurdly high prices for it. Right now even used copies are selling for above MSRP. Once this set hits shelves, the price will plummet.


I highly doubt that the prices on the Criterion's will plummet. They all have different commentary tracks as well as other exclusive extras. People continued to pay exhorbant fees for other out of print Criterions with less substantial extras than these in the past including "Spinal Tap", "Silence of the Lambs", & "Seven Samurai".

I'll hold on to mine until I'm convinced that the new commentaries are on par with the Criterions and until I make sure that some of the other extras are present on the new editions ..... especially all of the screen tests on Rebecca (One of the best extra material ever put on DVD)
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post #36 of 256
7/3/08 at 5:16pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
I own all of these but I'd gladly replace my cheap PD/bootleg versions of The Lodger, Young And Innocent and Sabotage and Anchor Bay's version of The Paradine Case. However, I'm not going to spend $80 for just those movies when I own the other half of the set so I'll just hope that they are eventually released separately.

According to the Bits:

Rebecca, Spellbound and Notorious will also be available separately for $19.98 each.
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post #37 of 256
7/3/08 at 6:22pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by TimJS
According to the Bits:

Rebecca, Spellbound and Notorious will also be available separately for $19.98 each.
I saw that and the irony wasn't lost on me.
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post #38 of 256
7/4/08 at 4:00am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Peterson
I'll hold on to mine until I'm convinced that the new commentaries are on par with the Criterions and until I make sure that some of the other extras are present on the new editions ..... especially all of the screen tests on Rebecca (One of the best extra material ever put on DVD)

I agree. Those screen tests sent yourself back in a time machine to Hollywood working technique. I always thought that with all the material packed in the Criterion editions (tests, memos, pictures, storyboards etc) one could make a beautiful making of doc. I'm glad they finally did it.
These news made my day!
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post #39 of 256
7/4/08 at 7:47am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

It sounds great, but considering the features, it seems like REBECCA should be a double-discer like the Criterion. Hopefully, this portends "hope" for the long delayed David Lean Collection....
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post #40 of 256
7/4/08 at 8:01am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008


While it's not great and it apparently has wrong color timing, Image's DVD for Under Capricorn is official. Seems to be from a new 35mm element from the camera negatives held by UCLA. No extras, though.

The Lodger, Sabotage, and Young & Innocent are owned by Granada. Oddly enough, they're the ones who licensed The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes to Criterion (probably via an earlier Janus Films contract). The Pleasure Garden, Downhill, and Easy Virtue also seem to be owned by Granada (with TPG possibly having rights with Douris). The rest of the British films are StudioCanal except for Jamaica Inn, which also seems to be Douris.
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post #41 of 256
7/4/08 at 8:21am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

That's true about Under Capricorn, Patrick, but there is a 2006 French edition with a vastly improved transfer (though still not perfect).

I'm just hoping for a couple of sets from anyone who owns these rights to release fully restored editions of these remaining films. Having a complete restored Hitch canon is essential!
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post #42 of 256
7/4/08 at 8:43pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

If Under Capricorn is ever officially reissued Warner should be asked to do an ultra resolution preservation of it - even if it is released by another company.

I think it is one of Hitchcock's most under rated films. But I guess it has special significance for me given its setting in colonial Australia, and the long takes that are even more sublime than those used in Rope.
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post #43 of 256
7/4/08 at 9:48pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulP
That's true about Under Capricorn, Patrick, but there is a 2006 French edition with a vastly improved transfer (though still not perfect).
Can you provide a link to the French edition?
Do you know if the subtitles are burned-in or optional?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulP
I'm just hoping for a couple of sets from anyone who owns these rights to release fully restored editions of these remaining films ...

... without further delay.
What are the rights holders waiting for?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulP
Having a complete restored Hitch canon is essential!
Of course it is.
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post #44 of 256
7/5/08 at 8:34am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard--W
Can you provide a link to the French edition?

If you'll click on Under Capricorn in my previous post, I linked it to the great Hithccock Wiki. In there you will see the 2006 French edition release by Paramount. You can see the specs and the screenshots.
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post #45 of 256
7/5/08 at 8:41am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
Seems to be from a new 35mm element from the camera negatives held by UCLA.
You sure? Its got cigarette burns on it. Unless the neg is a dupe element those shouldn't be there.
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post #46 of 256
7/5/08 at 12:14pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by seanOhara
Because as long as the film is completely out-of-print in the US, people will pay absurdly high prices for it. Right now even used copies are selling for above MSRP. Once this set hits shelves, the price will plummet.

Anyone with all three Criterion discs could easily sell them for $120, then turn around and buy the Fox set for $90 -- a $30 profit plus you end up with five more movies. Fox has an extremely good track-record with their classics division, so it's unlikely they'd screw up a major release like this, and while you wouldn't have all the Criterion extras it's not an unreasonable trade off.

I would advise anyone who is selling their Criterion Hitchcocks to be patient and wait until you get the price that will make you happy. I sold my five Criterion Hitch titles on Amazon Marketplace and made about $500 total. REBECCA took a year to sell at $200, but it finally found a buyer. I think the price may drop a bit with this news, but there are pure Criterion collectors out there who really want the rare OOP Hitchcock titles. It's debatable whether to list them now before the news of the new editions starts making non-Criterion buffs wary of buying the old ones or to wait and see if the new transfers are as good as the Criterion ones.
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post #47 of 256
7/5/08 at 1:59pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor Echo
I would advise anyone who is selling their Criterion Hitchcocks to be patient and wait until you get the price that will make you happy. I sold my five Criterion Hitch titles on Amazon Marketplace and made about $500 total. REBECCA took a year to sell at $200, but it finally found a buyer. I think the price may drop a bit with this news, but there are pure Criterion collectors out there who really want the rare OOP Hitchcock titles. It's debatable whether to list them now before the news of the new editions starts making non-Criterion buffs wary of buying the old ones or to wait and see if the new transfers are as good as the Criterion ones.

I made a total of $198.00 for the three over the past two days. Considering I paid about $75 total for them when they were new, I'm pretty happy.
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post #48 of 256
7/6/08 at 10:09pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Is this up for pre-order yet?
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post #49 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:40am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

More Hitch from Universal:

Universal Studios Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of new Two-Disc Special Editions of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Rear Window and Vertigo on 7th October 2008. Priced at $26.98 SRP each, these two-disc sets are released under the Universal Legacy Series banner and offer the following features…

Psycho

Disc 1: Main Feature
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English and French DD2.0 Mono
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello (author of "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho")
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho
The Shower Scene
The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass
The Psycho Archives
Posters and Psycho Ads
Lobby Cards
Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
Production Photographs
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer
Re-Release Trailers

Disc 2: Extra Features
The Making of Psycho
In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
Alfred Hitchcock Presents "Lamb to the Slaughter"

Rear Window

Disc 1: Main Feature
1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English and French DD2.0 Mono
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Feature Commentary with John Fawell (author of "Hitchcock's Rear Window: The Well-Made Film")
Production Photographs
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer
Re-Release Trailer Narrated by James Stewart

Disc 2: Extra Features
Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary
A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes
Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master
Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock Presents "Mr. Blanchard's Secret"

Vertigo

Disc 1: Main Feature
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English DD5.1 Surround and DD2.0 Mono
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Feature Commentary with Associate Producer Herbert Coleman, Restoration Team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz and Other Vertigo Participants
Feature Commentary with Director William Friedkin
Foreign Censorship Ending
The Vertigo Archives
Production Notes
Original Theatrical Trailer
Restoration Theatrical Trailer

Disc 2: Extra Features
Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock's Masterpiece
Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators
Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
Alfred Hitchcock Presents "The Case of Mr. Pelham"

Details at DVD Times.
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post #50 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:58am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

It seems a bit late in the game to be triple-dipping on some of these Hitchcock films. I love these films, but at this point I think I'll hold out for Blue-Ray when I make the conversion. Although, the commentary on "Rear Window" is very tempting.
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post #51 of 256
7/7/08 at 6:26am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Other than the commentaries, these extras, at least at first glance, seem to be duplicated from the Masterpiece set.
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post #52 of 256
7/7/08 at 8:06am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

These releases are a slap in the face to everyone who shelled out $$$ for the Masterpiece box. I'll wait for Blu-Ray.
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post #53 of 256
7/7/08 at 8:20am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I'll wait for the eventual Blu-Ray releases simply because I'm not buying the same movies for the third time on DVD (especially when the current DVDs are perfectly acceptable to my eyes and the new DVDs won't be that much better).
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post #54 of 256
7/7/08 at 10:47am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

This would be a great time to release these on Blu as well. For some reason though I have a feeling Universal won't this time around. I never picked up the Masterpiece set and I'm still holding on to the old non anamorphic Psycho and Vertigo discs. My 2001 Rear Window disc is fine, but I'm dying to get rid of the other two.
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post #55 of 256
7/7/08 at 11:05am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jrf2
I never picked up the Masterpiece set

You should do so. Now.
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post #56 of 256
7/7/08 at 3:21pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

i have copy copies of the criterions, but only own LIFEBOAT, so I'll grab this for sure! Can't wait!

Missed the uni re-releases... quadruple dip? Might pick them up if they are cheap or if Mr. Harris comments on them being huge upgrades from the Master Piece collection set.
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post #57 of 256
7/7/08 at 4:05pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I'll be picking up the Vertigo set....I've never been able to find the previous versions anywhere, and I don't buy used discs. (sorry!) Maybe the Rear Window set also if it's an improvement on the previous releases. It must be Hitch's year eh? LOL
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post #58 of 256
7/7/08 at 4:47pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Originally Posted by PaulP
Remaining unreleased in a restored edition in R1:

The Pleasure Garden (1925)
Downhill (1927)
Easy Virtue (1928)
Champagne (1928)
Blackmail (1929)
Juno and the Paycock (1930)
Number Seventeen (1932)
Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Secret Agent (1936)
Jamaica Inn (1939)
Under Capricorn (1949)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
While it's not great and it apparently has wrong color timing, Image's DVD for Under Capricorn is official. Seems to be from a new 35mm element from the camera negatives held by UCLA. No extras, though.

The Lodger, Sabotage, and Young & Innocent are owned by Granada. Oddly enough, they're the ones who licensed The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes to Criterion (probably via an earlier Janus Films contract). The Pleasure Garden, Downhill, and Easy Virtue also seem to be owned by Granada (with TPG possibly having rights with Douris). The rest of the British films are StudioCanal except for Jamaica Inn, which also seems to be Douris.

I wouldn't be surprised if the best R1 ever sees of Jamaica Inn is the Kino version. Kino is no Criterion, but they're still better than most.
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post #59 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:01pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Are these new transfers of Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window? If not, why on Earth would anyone who had the Masterpiece set buy these?
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post #60 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:06pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyFeldman
Are these new transfers of Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window? If not, why on Earth would anyone who had the Masterpiece set buy these?

I'm happy with the MC until Blurays come out for these three. However, Vertigo has wrong color timing in the opening credits from the fade-in after the VistaVision logo until the spiral appears in the eye. It's a dull orange when it should be greyscale.

For a BluRay, it would be interesting if Universal attempted a new 5.1 remix with better foley effects.

It seems like the only advantages are the new featurettes, AFP episodes, and commentaries.
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