Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › Alastair Sim A CHRISTMAS CAROL November 3, 2009 - (UPDATE New 11-1-2011 Release)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Alastair Sim A CHRISTMAS CAROL November 3, 2009 - (UPDATE New 11-1-2011 Release) - Page 2

post #31 of 89
11/5/09 at 8:15am
The previous version had the 1935 Seymour Hicks version as one of its extras. I haven't seen that listed as being included in the new set. I sold my old version and had never gotten around to watching that one (the '35 movie). Maybe I'll buy that one separately (supposedly the previous version had an abbreviated version of the '35 movie).
Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

A Christmas Carol [Blu-ray]
$10.6 at
See it »
post #32 of 89
11/6/09 at 11:29pm
 While there are sections of this transfer that are nice and sharp in Blu-Ray, it's not a stellar transfer - many scenes are printed too dark, and the transfer is quite erratic.  Wonderful Life, on the other hand, looks really nice.
Reply
post #33 of 89
11/10/09 at 5:43pm
 I've never seen this version, but plan on buying it. Thanks for the review on the picture and audio. I saw DVD Beaver's review too. 
Reply
post #34 of 89
12/5/09 at 7:35am
 I watched the film this week. Wow. I was very impressed with the picture and the sound was decent for an older film. If you are on the fence about this one, I would say go for it. 

I also watched It's A Wonderful Life on blu ray. This one also looked very good. 

I'm not sure how the restoration works with studios. It's A Wonderful Life may have been a bit cleaner, but both films had wonderful detail. The sound is 5.1 for A Christmas Carol, but there's a lot of limitations with the audio track but it still sounds good. I just notice some things in the audio going up and down a bit. I believe this is due to a limitation with the audio and the age? 

The sound on It's a Wonderful Life is mono, but it sounds good too. 

I'd recommend both titles. Next up will be the old and new Miracle on 34th Street blu rays. 
Reply
post #35 of 89
12/5/09 at 8:02am
Intellectually, I know I probably don't need to upgrade this title to Blu...but as it's a favorite, I know all I need to have happen is to see it in a store for a reasonable price....

Amazingly, that hasn't happened yet. 

But, I kinda know it will...eventually...
Reply
post #36 of 89
12/24/09 at 1:43pm
As I was saying in the other thread, VCI needs to get their act together with this title. It looks wonderful, if it weren't for the frame jumps that do not seem to be the cause of missing frames, but rather a problem with the transfer. It happens so much that it is beyond distracting. I almost had to take the disc out because I couldn't stand it anymore. Also a weird glitch when Scrooge is sitting in his chair before Marley comes in....the carpet behind him separates from the rest of the frame! Weird. Anyway, I guess this is the version I will watch because the black and white is beautiful and there are no edits to picture or sound. But they need to go back and retransfer their restored elements or find out where the problem started with the final product. I will not be rebuying this title.
Reply
post #37 of 89
2/16/10 at 8:43am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Intellectually, I know I probably don't need to upgrade this title to Blu...but as it's a favorite, I know all I need to have happen is to see it in a store for a reasonable price....

Amazingly, that hasn't happened yet. 

But, I kinda know it will...eventually...

And that never happened.  I NEVER saw this title in ANY stores this past holiday season.

But I see now that amazon has it listed for $14.49!  It is now in my shopping cart. 

As I look around at what else is out there on blu-ray to fill out an order to get free shipping from amazon, I MAY just bite the bullet and say this is one of those movies that gets enough viewings in my household to deserve the upgrade from DVD. 

Reply
post #38 of 89
10/12/10 at 10:26am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Intellectually, I know I probably don't need to upgrade this title to Blu...but as it's a favorite, I know all I need to have happen is to see it in a store for a reasonable price....

Amazingly, that hasn't happened yet. 

But, I kinda know it will...eventually...


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post


And that never happened.  I NEVER saw this title in ANY stores this past holiday season.

But I see now that amazon has it listed for $14.49!  It is now in my shopping cart.
 

 

AND... I didn't pull the trigger fast enough back in February and, since then, this title has been sitting in my cart at $20+ (and much higher at times).

 

It is now back at $14.49 and the trigger has already been pulled!   


 

Reply
post #39 of 89
10/27/11 at 11:35am

From VCI - On sale 11-1-2011 ($17.99 at amazon):

 

51c53pifxSL.jpg

 

 

Quote:
Alastair Sim's tour-de-force performance as the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, has almost single-handedly made this beloved version of Charles Dickens' story into one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Some of Britain's best filmmakers united behind Sim, who was joined by a delightful cast of accomplished and acclaimed English actors; creating what many today believe to be the best and most faithful production of Dickens' immortal tale. Cranky and curmudgeonly Scrooge learns the error of his unkind ways and is taught the true meaning of the holidays when he is visited by the ghost of his late business partner and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future. This Blu-ray edition has been digitally restored from a new 1080p, 24fps high definition transfer master produced from the 35mm negative and fine grain.
 
Bonus Features: "Commentary Tracks By Marcus Hearn and George Cole INTRODUCTION BY LEONARD MALTIN ""DEAD TO BEGIN WITH: The Darker Side of A Classic""- An all-new documentary exploring the films bleaker themes and how they rivaled London of the 1950's. Featuring British film historian and culturalist Sir Christopher Frayling. (25 mins) ""SCROOGE BY ANOTHER NAME: Distributing A Christmas Carol""- An all-new featurette detailing the American release of this British holiday classic. Featuring US distributor Richard Gordon. (10 mins) ""THE HUMAN BLARNEY STONE: Life and Films of Brian Desmond Hurst""-An all-new documentary chronicling the awe-inspiring life of Ireland's most prolific filmmaker. Featuring Allan Esler Smith, the great, great nephew and biographer of Hurst. (40 mins) A SCHOLAR S VIEW - video narrative by Fred Guida, author of A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations (35 mins) SILENT DICKENS a collection of early examples of Dickens on film. (includes HD: Scrooge -1922, Bleak House 20 mins) BONUS DVD!DVD Extras: MORE SILENT DICKENS (SD A Christmas Carol 1914, Scrooge, or Marley s Ghost 1901, Scrooge 1913) ""CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL""- A digitally remastered version of original 1939 radio dramatization, narrated by Orson Welles and starring Lionel Barrymore. AUDIO ONLY (54 mins) BIBLIOGRAPHIC ESSAY by Fred Guida (10 mins)"
 
Product Specs: BD50; PCM 2.0; RT - 96 minutes; B&W; Aspect Ratio - HD 1080P; Year - 1951; SRP - $19.99

 

 

 

Reply
post #40 of 89
10/27/11 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 
I've got my copy on pre-order from Amazon. Since I just got a Blu-ray player this year, I hadn't got around to upgrading yet. I'm interested in seeing the new bonus material. The introduction by Leonard Maltin is already on YouTube. It's not very festive... I much prefer the Patrick MacNee by the Christmas tree and the fire introducing the film.
Reply
post #41 of 89
10/27/11 at 3:15pm

Somehow I knew I'd hook up with you again in this thread, Andrew!

 

Lucky for you that you hadn't upgraded yet.  I wish they had gotten their act together and had all those bonus features ready for the first blu issue.  I was really surprised to see a new issue of this already.  But I guess it's probably one of VCI's cash cows, eh?!?  biggrin.gif

 

Let me tell you that you are going to love seeing this film in HD!  thumbsup.gif

Reply
post #42 of 89
10/27/11 at 4:00pm

Yeah, what the heck happened?  I just bought the Blu-ray last year...and now this.  It sounds like a great package, but sheesh.

Reply
post #43 of 89
10/28/11 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Somehow I knew I'd hook up with you again in this thread, Andrew!

Lucky for you that you hadn't upgraded yet.  I wish they had gotten their act together and had all those bonus features ready for the first blu issue.  I was really surprised to see a new issue of this already.  But I guess it's probably one of VCI's cash cows, eh?!?  biggrin.gif

Let me tell you that you are going to love seeing this film in HD!  thumbsup.gif

...provided that they fix all those annoying screen jumps this time.

I bought the previous BD version but I'm buying this one too in the hopes that they fix those problems.
Reply
post #44 of 89
10/28/11 at 9:38am

I'm not even up to date on whatever problems there were, so thanks for the heads up.  I can stand to wait for the reviews.

Reply
post #45 of 89
10/28/11 at 10:35am
Someone asked VCI if the jumps would be fixed in the latest transfer on their Facebook page, but though they've answered other questions on this release, oddly on this issue they've remained quiet. Fingers crossed.

BTW, there's another thread around revealing that VCI have scrapped plans for 'More Silent Dickens' on the DVD included in the set. Just so folks know.
Reply
post #46 of 89
10/31/11 at 8:07pm
I picked this one up last year on blu ray. Loved it!

I am also curious to know about the reissue and if it's the same print, etc.

Reply
post #47 of 89
11/1/11 at 10:33am

Amazon has now lowered the price to $10.99!  

 

But it is now listed as "Usually ships within 1 to 3 months."  confused.gif

 

The blu release of two years ago is listed at $15.49.

Reply
post #48 of 89
11/1/11 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Somehow I knew I'd hook up with you again in this thread, Andrew!

biggrin.gifbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif Hey Mike! We love our 1951 "A Christmas Carol", don't we?

I just got this reply from VCI about the delay: "The new Christmas Carol went through the experience of being pushed back in the replicators order of importance. You see, Disney's Christmas Carol was determined as being produced ahead of ours. It did put VCI in a bind for street date, however, it has been delivered to its retail partners and should be available and pre-orders delivering now. Thanks for your understanding. It's a wonderful edition this year and loaded with new added materials."

Hopefully we'll get our copies soon! Is it too early to say Merry Christmas?tongue.gif

Reply
post #49 of 89
11/1/11 at 12:29pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Budgell View Post


biggrin.gifbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif Hey Mike! We love our 1951 "A Christmas Carol", don't we?
...

Hopefully we'll get our copies soon! Is it too early to say Merry Christmas?tongue.gif


Yes we do, Andrew! 

 

But how did you know that I just went and ordered the new release when I saw the $10.99 price on amazon?!?   blush.gif  Be a buddy and don't tell my wife, eh?!?  After all, my amazon account reminded me that I just ordered the prior release in October of last year!  eek.gif

 

We do love our 1951 "A Christmas Carol"...maybe a little bit too much!  And something tells me the transfer will probably be exactly the same on this new release as the old one.  Time will tell. 

 

Reply
post #50 of 89
11/1/11 at 12:55pm

Ooooh!  I think I just realized something!

 

The specs at amazon on the new release says it's got a 2.0 PCM audio track (in fact, it's the only audio track listed).  That could be a nice improvement over the release of two years ago which, IIRC, had 2.0 and 5.1 SD audio tracks. 

 

I KNEW their had to be a good reason for me to upgrade--again--so soon.  laugh.gif

 

EDIT:  Further ooooooh! 

 

I just checked DVD Beaver's review of the 2009 Blu release and it says it was released on a BD-25.  The specs on the new title says:

 

Quote:
Product Specs: BD50; PCM 2.0; RT - 96 minutes; B&W; Aspect Ratio - HD 1080P; Year - 1951; SRP - $19.99
 
This Blu-ray edition has been digitally restored from a new 1080p, 24fps high definition transfer master produced from the 35mm negative and fine grain.

 

Maybe it does have a new transfer.  Although I suppose the BD-50 could be necessary simply for the bonus features. 

Reply
post #51 of 89
11/1/11 at 2:38pm
Well, in this thread they said: "The high definition master has undergone additional digital restoration to further improve the quality of the picture and sound..."

A little confusingly (I think, here, they again mean the same master), on their Facebook page they added: "...It's the same HD transfer, but our restoration people are taking another pass at it, since we now have technology that we didn't have 2 years ago."
Reply
post #52 of 89
11/1/11 at 2:58pm

I missed that thread completely, John. 

 

It's all adding up that they've tweaked the HD transfer.  The question remaining would be "how much and to what effect?"

 

The addition of a lossless audio track would be no small addition.

Reply
post #53 of 89
11/1/11 at 3:19pm
A personal anecdote:

I remember like it was yesterday my older brothers and sisters talking excitedly about going to see A Christmas Carol at our local flea pit. I was devastated at not being invited along. "Too young", they said.

Fast forward to ca. 1973 when, thanks to Siobhan McKenna, I got to meet and become friends with Brian Desmond Hurst. What kills me is that it wasn't until many years later that I discovered that not only had he known T.E. Lawrence, he'd been Korda's chosen man to direct that producer's version of Lawrence of Arabia. Brian was literally in a sea-plane waiting to take off for a recce to the Middle East when word came that the British Colonial governor of whatever country it was to be filmed in thwarted the plan. He didn't want any situation that involved 'a large gathering of Arabs". This is info I gleaned from reading up on the various attempts to make a movie about TEL, none of it from Brian himself, so take it with the proverbial grain of salt.
Reply
post #54 of 89
11/1/11 at 3:34pm
You get more than a flavour of Korda's proposed 'Lawrence' in The Four Feathers don't you?
Reply
post #55 of 89
11/1/11 at 9:04pm
Thanks, John. That'll be my homework for tonight!
Reply
post #56 of 89
11/2/11 at 8:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson View Post

You get more than a flavour of Korda's proposed 'Lawrence' in The Four Feathers don't you?

What are you talking about? Other than some North African location shooting, I can't think what they would have in common.
Reply
post #57 of 89
11/2/11 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeDoakes View Post

What are you talking about? Other than some North African location shooting, I can't think what they would have in common.

The scale, the epic sweep, the 'Boys Own' heroics, the locations (the budget); gives *me* a flavour of the kind of production Korda would have been aiming at. That's what I'm referring to; surely that's clear?

BTW, in a vain bid to drag the thread back on track, Deepdiscount shipped my copy of Scrooge (aka A Christmas Carol in the Colonies) today.


Edited by John Hodson - 11/2/11 at 10:25am
Reply
post #58 of 89
11/2/11 at 10:15am

Hmmm.  Amazon is now showing "In Stock."   But, my estimated delivery date is still December 16 thru December 30.

 

 

Reply
post #59 of 89
11/2/11 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
No worries, your secret is safe with me, Mike! biggrin.gif

I just checked my orders page at Amazon and it's listed as shipping soon!
Reply
post #60 of 89
11/2/11 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Budgell View Post

I just checked my orders page at Amazon and it's listed as shipping soon!

Have they adjusted your price yet (down to 10.99)? Mine isn't listed as "shipping soon" yet but still shows 11/7-14 as the expected delivery date (still at $15.99).
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Blu-ray

Gear mentioned in this thread:

A Christmas Carol [Blu-ray]
$10.6 at
See it »
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › Alastair Sim A CHRISTMAS CAROL November 3, 2009 - (UPDATE New 11-1-2011 Release)