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Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008 - Page 3

post #61 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:48pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I'd love to say I'm passing on the new Vertigo.... but a new commentary track? Okay, sold. I'd prefer a Blu-ray release, however....
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post #62 of 256
7/7/08 at 5:54pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Covers:





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post #63 of 256
7/7/08 at 7:30pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Having a sizable portion of the Hitch canon on BD would be something that pushes me over the line to buying a BD player. I have no interest in these triple dips though.

Not to put words into his mouth, but Mr. Harris posted something fairly recently stating that with the tools available today that the VERTIGO restoration could be improved. It wasn't clear if such a project was a bona fide possibility though. Mr. Harris obviously would be limited in what he could say if it was.

As far as the MGM set goes, since I have the Criterions and excellent standalone of Lifeboat I have no desire to rebuy those to get this high priced set. Hopefully Y&I, Sabatage, Paradine, Lodger will be standalone releases at some point.

Agree with the prior posters who have lobbied for a high quality R1 release of the Lorre MWKTM.
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post #64 of 256
7/7/08 at 8:07pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O
Having a sizable portion of the Hitch canon on BD would be something that pushes me over the line to buying a BD player. I have no interest in these triple dips though.

Well, I've been Blu for a long time now, but if we could get these in Blu I'd be one happy camper. The cover art posted above makes me drool a bit.

Quote:
As far as the MGM set goes, since I have the Criterions and excellent standalone of Lifeboat I have no desire to rebuy those to get this high priced set. Hopefully Y&I, Sabatage, Paradine, Lodger will be standalone releases at some point.

Ditto.
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post #65 of 256
7/7/08 at 9:50pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I can not see triple dipping into these collections. If I purchased the Universal re-releases it actually would be the third time for DVD. I also have the MGM releases through Criterion or Fox and the other two just can not make me part with the money. I want more new stuff not more new old stuff. Come on Universal, where is Island Of Lost Souls and The Uninvited. Surely they could sell a few discs more than the third time around for Hitchcock.
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post #66 of 256
7/7/08 at 11:41pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

It would have been better if a new thread had been started for the Universal releases. We now have a confusing thread with two different sets being discussed and the topic title referring to the MGM collection.
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post #67 of 256
7/8/08 at 2:07am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

My problem? I actually have to get all three! The Master collection from Uni for those not being released as Legacy, the three Legacies for all the bells and whistles and the Premiere collection to get Notorious et al.

Rich? No. Just a movie fan who wants it all.
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post #68 of 256
7/8/08 at 6:11am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

I don't understand why Universal wouldn't dip its toe into the water with at least one of these classics on Blu-ray? (I'd prefer VERTIGO but I suspect PSYCHO might be the more popular title.)

I just don't want to rebuy these even with the extras unless they're on Blu-ray.
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post #69 of 256
7/8/08 at 6:58am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattH.
I don't understand why Universal wouldn't dip its toe into the water with at least one of these classics on Blu-ray? (I'd prefer VERTIGO but I suspect PSYCHO might be the more popular title.)

Who says they won't? I have no doubt these three titles will be among Universal's first Hitchcock releases on Blu-ray... just not yet. Which sucks, I agree... especially since this is VERTIGO's 50th Anniversary.
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post #70 of 256
7/8/08 at 8:58am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulP
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)


Thanks for the list and links Paul. I got into DVD too late to get the three OOP Criterions and don't want to pay the high Ebay prices so this new set is wonderful for me. I'll definitely be buying it. Your post also reminded me I need the Criterion 39 Steps and Lady Vanishes as well as the Collectors Edition of To Catch a Thief.
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post #71 of 256
7/8/08 at 9:36am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Bizarre about the Universal Legacy editions. I'll probably get Vertigo IF they've corrected the color timing on the face during the opening credits. Psycho is in dire need of a remastering---I just watched the disc from the Masterpiece Collection last night and the white and black levels seemed to fluctuate from shot to shot (as did the grain level). Perhaps this was how it was filmed, but I don't remember it being distracting during the numerous theatrical screenings I've seen. And I wonder if Rear Window will really be 1.66 this time around.
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post #72 of 256
7/8/08 at 10:48am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Wonder if this will be the TCM restoration of The Lodger? The reissues of the films that were on Criterion discs are great, it'll be nice to finally get them for reasonable prices. Wonder if any extras will carry over? Oh, and big question: since this appears to be Harris's restoration of Vertigo, will it include the original mono track?
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post #73 of 256
7/8/08 at 11:25am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138
Wonder if any extras will carry over?

No, the supplements are almost all new.
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post #74 of 256
7/8/08 at 4:34pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by WilliamMcK
Bizarre about the Universal Legacy editions. I'll probably get Vertigo IF they've corrected the color timing on the face during the opening credits. Psycho is in dire need of a remastering---I just watched the disc from the Masterpiece Collection last night and the white and black levels seemed to fluctuate from shot to shot (as did the grain level). Perhaps this was how it was filmed, but I don't remember it being distracting during the numerous theatrical screenings I've seen. And I wonder if Rear Window will really be 1.66 this time around.

I noticed some variations in grain, but they tended to be optical shots with higher levels. Nothing really looked off. Any specific spots? Universal handles film grain perfectly on their B&W titles, at least for the last few years. No or minmal filtering, razor sharp.

Also, Rear Window is 1.66:1 on both the original 2002 and MC re-issue DVDs. The MC lacks the noise filtering on the '02 DVD and has more dirt/scratch removal.
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post #75 of 256
7/8/08 at 6:05pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138
Oh, and big question: since this appears to be Harris's restoration of Vertigo, will it include the original mono track?

Read the specs. Vertigo's mono track is there.
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post #76 of 256
7/8/08 at 9:25pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Woohoo, got $122 for Rebecca and Notorious on eBay, which will more than cover the new box.

As for the Criterion extras not all getting ported over, who cares? I watched them once, and I count on one hand the number of DVD extras I've watched more than once.
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post #77 of 256
7/8/08 at 9:43pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Teller
Woohoo, got $122 for Rebecca and Notorious on eBay, which will more than cover the new box.

As for the Criterion extras not all getting ported over, who cares? I watched them once, and I count on one hand the number of DVD extras I've watched more than once.



I may have to reconsider my position on selling mine. Dang.
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post #78 of 256
7/9/08 at 7:02am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Teller
As for the Criterion extras not all getting ported over, who cares? I watched them once, and I count on one hand the number of DVD extras I've watched more than once.

Tsk. It's having the extras that counts in collecting.

For example, take Blade Runner (if you don't like Blade Runner, it's okay, this is only an example). Are you gonna watch all five versions all the time? No, you might check them out, but will re-watch your favorite version from then on. But it's nice knowing you have these other ones.
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post #79 of 256
7/9/08 at 9:33am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
I noticed some variations in grain, but they tended to be optical shots with higher levels. Nothing really looked off. Any specific spots? Universal handles film grain perfectly on their B&W titles, at least for the last few years. No or minmal filtering, razor sharp.

Also, Rear Window is 1.66:1 on both the original 2002 and MC re-issue DVDs. The MC lacks the noise filtering on the '02 DVD and has more dirt/scratch removal.

I'd have to put the MC Psycho disc in again and make specific notes, but off-hand where I noticed grain differential the most was during the used car lot sequence: the back and forth shots between Janet Leigh and John Anderson.

I know everyone keeps telling me both Rear Window releases were is in 1.66. But both take up my full 1.78 screen (and it doesn't overscan--at least the picture boxing on academy ratio Criterion releases is painfully obvious).
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post #80 of 256
7/9/08 at 10:09am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

If it wasn't for having that over blown still of Jimmy Stewart, that would have been the best Vertigo cover art ever. *sigh*
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post #81 of 256
7/9/08 at 11:34am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by WilliamMcK
I'd have to put the MC Psycho disc in again and make specific notes, but off-hand where I noticed grain differential the most was during the used car lot sequence: the back and forth shots between Janet Leigh and John Anderson.

I know everyone keeps telling me both Rear Window releases were is in 1.66. But both take up my full 1.78 screen (and it doesn't overscan--at least the picture boxing on academy ratio Criterion releases is painfully obvious).

You're right about some of those shots. I guess they had to use another element... better than filtering it out, though.

Maybe it treats 4x3 and 16x9 content different for overscan.

Here's a cap from the DVD with the pillarboxing intact: http://www.hitchcockwiki.com/1000/40/0424.jpg
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post #82 of 256
7/9/08 at 12:49pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
Maybe it treats 4x3 and 16x9 content different for overscan.

Here's a cap from the DVD with the pillarboxing intact: http://www.hitchcockwiki.com/1000/40/0424.jpg

OK, I'm convinced. I actually copied the cap into "paint" and measured the pixels of the actual image sans pillar box bars and got a 1.65625 ratio. Now I have to figure out why my set overscans 16x9 images. Thanks for the link (should have done that years ago myself).
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post #83 of 256
7/9/08 at 4:51pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Dalek
If it wasn't for having that over blown still of Jimmy Stewart, that would have been the best Vertigo cover art ever. *sigh*

Agreed. As it stands, the original DVD edition remains the best (which is why I still have it, despite owning the Masterpiece Collection, and why I'll STILL have it after buying the new Legacy Edition).
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post #84 of 256
8/6/08 at 1:34am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Schnittbericht :: Psycho :: Schnittberichte.com (Mehr als 4300 weitere Zensurberichte zu Filmen, Spielen, Comics ...)

Tim Lucas' VideoWatchblog and a few other sites are talking about a German station playing the "pre-cut" version of PSYCHO, which includes some longer scenes that were cut before the U.S. release. I guess it's too late for this stuff to be included on this new set so this one here is certainly worthless now. You'd think Universal would jump to release this "uncut" version.
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post #85 of 256
8/6/08 at 3:20am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Yes, it was I who initially posted the news to Tim Lucas, Rue Morgue, Fangoria and The Digital Bits.
Interesting to see it spread like wildfire...still, I hope this news falls into the hands of the decision makers at Universal.

I'm guessing it will be too late for them to bother with restoring Psycho to an uncensored "director's cut". But stranger things have happened!
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post #86 of 256
8/6/08 at 4:38am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Caleb
Yes, it was I who initially posted the news to Tim Lucas, Rue Morgue, Fangoria and The Digital Bits.
Interesting to see it spread like wildfire...still, I hope this news falls into the hands of the decision makers at Universal.

I'm guessing it will be too late for them to bother with restoring Psycho to an uncensored "director's cut". But stranger things have happened!

If I remember correctly this 'pre cut' version of PSYCHO is actually the one seen in the UK which always included these shots unlike the US version which was censored. This is the version that appeared on VHS years ago and has been shown on UK TV.
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post #87 of 256
8/6/08 at 6:17am

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Thanks Kevin,

When you say, appeared on UK video years ago, would that mean the CIC pre cert VHS? I.E. the first video release.

Rgds.
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post #88 of 256
8/6/08 at 4:48pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Isn't it possible that the extra footage was taken out by Hitchcock, but after some film elements were made? Even if it exists, it would be terrible to put it back in if he didn't intend it to be there.
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post #89 of 256
8/6/08 at 10:23pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

My understanding of Hitchcock is that footage wasn't even SHOT if it wasn't "intended to be there."
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post #90 of 256
8/6/08 at 11:18pm

Re: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection - Oct 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark B
My understanding of Hitchcock is that footage wasn't even SHOT if it wasn't "intended to be there."

This is silly. I don't want a version of Psycho that is not the release version from the US. That was the film he sent to theaters, that was the film that made him wealthy beyond even his imaginings, and we don't need this other thing IF it even exists. For example, the only version of Topaz that's available on DVD is the preview version - I want the version that was released to theaters - the other is a nice extra.

EDIT: I've now looked at these caps. No one has any idea what this is - but it seems like this extra, what, twenty or thirty seconds of film was an overseas version. Really, twenty seconds (this person puts up a German version of the letter being written and counts that as being longer - utter nonsense). Leave Psycho alone, and if this twenty seconds is so interesting, put them on as an extra - don't muck about with a classic film. I can't believe this person Tim Lucas is actually calling for Universal to change this great film.
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