There is an extremely important distinction between a three-strip Technicolor production being digitally recombined using the Ultra-Resolution process and then being put through further meticulous digital clean-up, and a photo-optical / photo-chemical recombine of the three records.
While the former yields a final result with perfect (or near-perfect) tracking and overlay of the three records and very clean final result, the result of the latter can have registration problems caused by splices, damaged perfs or dupes, as well as the occasional YCM dirt that comes with the territory.
While WB's new DVD (strangely the film arrives in some foreign territories in Blu-ray in November, but not domestically) is the best looking rendition of the film yet to hit home video, it is not an Ultra-Rez product, as stated on the packaging. That said, the recombine is very good for the majority of the film and only occasional UR might have been necessary.
The image is sharp, with color that serves as a great reminder of precisely how great three-strip Technicolor was as a process, as well as how close this release stands in replicating that look -- or should I say, looks.
I've seen prints from both the original release as well as later printings, and while some had a slightly warmer shading, others had pure Technicolor reds, purples and whites.
This transfer stands somewhere in between, probably more reminiscent of the later dye transfer prints, with a bit of warmth, and yet a purity in the whites when necessary. Flesh tones are rich and smooth and the costumes always vibrant.
The audio is also a treat, as Quo Vadis contains one of the great scores, probably the granddaddy of scores when it comes to the Roman epics of the '50s and '60s. To put it simply, the score by Miklos Rozsa is one of the greatest to be heard on any film. A stellar classic score. As a side note, the original overture and exit music are returned.
While I'm distressed that we're not receiving the Blu-ray, with its higher profile color standards and resolution, this will suffice for the time being.
Recommended.
RAH
While the former yields a final result with perfect (or near-perfect) tracking and overlay of the three records and very clean final result, the result of the latter can have registration problems caused by splices, damaged perfs or dupes, as well as the occasional YCM dirt that comes with the territory.
While WB's new DVD (strangely the film arrives in some foreign territories in Blu-ray in November, but not domestically) is the best looking rendition of the film yet to hit home video, it is not an Ultra-Rez product, as stated on the packaging. That said, the recombine is very good for the majority of the film and only occasional UR might have been necessary.
The image is sharp, with color that serves as a great reminder of precisely how great three-strip Technicolor was as a process, as well as how close this release stands in replicating that look -- or should I say, looks.
I've seen prints from both the original release as well as later printings, and while some had a slightly warmer shading, others had pure Technicolor reds, purples and whites.
This transfer stands somewhere in between, probably more reminiscent of the later dye transfer prints, with a bit of warmth, and yet a purity in the whites when necessary. Flesh tones are rich and smooth and the costumes always vibrant.
The audio is also a treat, as Quo Vadis contains one of the great scores, probably the granddaddy of scores when it comes to the Roman epics of the '50s and '60s. To put it simply, the score by Miklos Rozsa is one of the greatest to be heard on any film. A stellar classic score. As a side note, the original overture and exit music are returned.
While I'm distressed that we're not receiving the Blu-ray, with its higher profile color standards and resolution, this will suffice for the time being.
Recommended.
RAH
