PAL AND OTHER-REGION DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS & REVIEWS - Page 2

You sure this is an official disc? I wasn't aware Anchor Bay had some soft of manufactured on demand program. I know there are a lot of bootlegs out there of titles that are now out-of-print. Did you buy this direct from Amazon.co.uk or some third party?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick 

QUATERMASS II. Anchor Bay. I bought this at Amazon UK like all the titles above, but when this arrived, it was obviously a DVD-R. It has the official A.B. logo, and was designated as part of the "Hammer Collection," a title we did not get as a pressed disc in the U.S. There is no indication that this is a UK release. Rather, it is a region-free, NTSC disc, and looks quite fine. 1.33:1, mono, B&W. I was unaware that Anchor Bay was doing VOD's. Anyone have more info? I didn't spent much for this disc (as opposed to THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT Anchor Bay Hammer series DVD, which cost me big time. More on that later...)

THERE IS MORE. I WILL ADD TO THIS POST AFTER I'VE VIEWED THE NEWEST ARRIVALS.

 

And I took this transfer, adjusted it back to the proper 24fps, and edited back the opening and closing credits for BURN WITCH BURN (there is a different ending tag on the US release) and put in the prologue - AND edited the commentary in on an alternate audio track. I anamorphisized the brief Laserdisc footage I used, and I have to say MINE is the best version never released. :-) I have this great software that takes the 25fps PAL original, slows it down to the proper 24fps and re-encodes it beautifully and progressive - and then I use another program to pitch-correct the sound. NO MORE PAL SPEED-UP! :-)
 

"I have this great software that takes the 25fps PAL original, slows it down to the proper 24fps and re-encodes it beautifully and progressive - and then I use another program to pitch-correct the sound. NO MORE PAL SPEED-UP! :-)"

Can you please supply a link or info as to where we can obtain this software?
 

Well, it's only for Mac, and there are several other steps in the process as the software puts the sound at the proper speed but somehow keeps the pitch at the INCORRECT pitch (I use another program to conquer that). I don't think in depth discussion of any kind of reverse engineering is allowed on here, though, so I don't think I can post any more about the details. But mark my words, it can be done, and the result can look as good as a decent studio release.

Koch Media in Germany have Jack Arnold's Man in the Shadow (Jeff Chandler, Orson Welles) coming on June 25. According to Amazon.de, it's in anamorphic scope.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livius 

Koch Media in Germany have Jack Arnold's Man in the Shadow (Jeff Chandler, Orson Welles) coming on June 25. According to Amazon.de, it's in anamorphic scope.

It is. It's a repack that was originally released as part of the Jack Arnold Western Collection along with Red Sundown and No Name on the Bullet.

Thanks, I didn't know that. It would be nice to see Red Sundown get its own stand alone release too.

In July/August (no exact date yet) there'll be a bargain box of three already released westerns by Koch. It's called Classic Western Collection Box Vol. 1 and features Horizons West, Chief Crazy Horse and The Appaloosa. SRP € 20.

I have just noticed that Six Black Horses has been released in Holland. I'm very fond of this one. I thought, previously, that it had only appeared in France...in the range of Westerns which all contain non-removable subtitles. I was wondering if it's safe to assume that the Dutch release is OK in that regard? Most Dutch releases I've seen do have removable subs but I don't want to buy this one only to find that it's the exception to the rule! Anyone picked it up? Link below:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Black-Horses-Dutch-CategoryClassicFilms/dp/B002PP2WXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1275321762&sr=1-1

(I haven't worked out how to abbreviate my links here yet)

Although I haven't seen this release myself, it's almost certain that the subs can be switched off, because there is a choice of Dutch or French subtitles. "None" will almost certainly be the third option then.

Cees

A better price for Six Black Horses can be found here - not a bad retailer, but a little slow sometimes.

The subs are certainly removable but the transfer is really not great, interlaced and non-anamorphic (despite the cover claiming the opposite).

Here are a few screen captures:

Thanks for taking the trouble to post those screenshots Colin. That certainly answers my question. No, the picture quality isn't stellar but it will do I suppose unless someone's heard that Koch have it lined up in Germany.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick 

Disney's MAKE MINE MUSIC is available on a Scandanavian R2 disc uncut, and includes the U.S.-censored episode "The Hatfields and the McCoys" for a total running time of 75m compared to the R-1's 67m. I found one outfit that carries it in Denmark, but they will not ship to the U.S. I cannot get a translation of other sites that carry it. I really want this film. Any suggestions?

I might be interested my self and could get 2 - one for me and one for you. I would think they could ship to Germany. What info do you have on the company.  What else might they have? I assume it has at least english,

New Warner/Impulso releases in Spain for June:

The Last Challenge

El Condor

Lone Star

The Rain People

Universal Cinema Classics releases in Spain for June:

Freud

Interlude

Gambit

One Desire

I have the MAKE MINE MUSIC DVD in question. It is uncut, PAL, and interlaced from an NTSC source without PAL speedup - but it does have continuous ghosting on the image due to the poor NTSC to PAL conversion. I ordered it around 4 years ago from some website... I can't remember the name at all, but it started with an A. LOL - that probably doesn't help much. It is a dual-layered disc and in English, though it has other language options for subtitles.

I would be interested in checking out the uncut MAKE MINE MUSIC region 2 if someone locates where it may be bought.

I bought the uncut and uncensored MELODY TIME from amazon U.K. Cheaper to buy it from them than to buy the censored edition domestically. Under ten dollars with postage. I'll probably get the two uncut and uncensored Chip and Dale collections from amazon U.K. as well.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel H. 

Universal Cinema Classics releases in Spain for June:

 

Freud

Interlude

Gambit

One Desire

Thanks for the heads up on these.

I'm interested in FREUD,  one of a handful of "lost" John Huston films, and in INTERLUDE, which Douglas Sirk directed during his most creative period.

http://www.axelmusic.com/ - That's where I got it. I was reading a blog and that website was mentioned, and then I remembered that it is where I ordered MAKE MINE MUSIC. I don't know what the exchange rate is now, but it was close to $50 in US$ with shipping when I got it 4 yrs ago - overpriced for a poor NTSC-to-PAL conversion that is interlaced and has ghosting built into it.

Well I got a nice surprise today - whilst coming back from work I stumbled on a new Greek release of John Huston's Moby Dick. It's a MGM/Fox release and the case stated that it was 1.85:1 anamorphic, so I thought I'd take a chance on it. On popping it into my player I found that it's actually a 1.66:1 anamorphic transfer. I think this is the first time this title has come out anywhere in OAR.

Livius - I've been waiting years for an OAR of Moby Dick.  I'd be grateful if you could supply any information about your supplier in Greece.  Many thanks.

Ken, there's not really much choice when it comes to online retailers within Greece - e-shopping just hasn't taken off to any extent here. I just picked the movie off the shelf in a B&M store - classic titles are pretty well represented here. The only company I've used in the past, and that was for a domestic order, can be found with this link. The site says they do ship internationally and cost is dependent on weight. I found them reliable on the two occasions that I used them in the past.

Thanks Livius, that's very helpful.  Despite the fact that the trailer they've attached is for the Patrick Stewart version the cover art certainly appears to be the Gregory Peck movie I've been waiting for.  Thanks again.

I have found a link with a store in Denmark.that sells Make Mine Music

http://www.dvdcity.dk/?52X31X3531XA8323232393

I haven't had time to check with them. I would be surprised if they don't ship to Germany. I will probably order and can oder several and send them to someone in the US, It would be chaper to send several to one US address and to send 1 to several addresses. Will check in a few days and again post here. I also have a Boston Bank checking  account.

Courtesy of a tip off from John Hodson on another forum: Fritz Lang's While the City Sleeps is getting a release in the UK on July 26 - Amazon UK have it up for pre-order.

Interesting to see how the quality will be.

July will bring the following Universal Cinema Classics DVDs in Spain:

Arise, My Love

Horizon's West

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel H. 

July will bring the following Universal Cinema Classics DVDs in Spain:

 

Arise, My Love

Horizon's West

Arise My Love! Unlike Walter Abel, I am happy. I am happy at all.
 

July announcements from Warner/Impulso in Spain:

Goodbye, My Fancy (1951)

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973)

The Little Drummer Girl (1984)

Young Bess (1953)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel H. 

July will bring the following Universal Cinema Classics DVDs in Spain:

 

Arise, My Love

Horizon's West

More titles added:

Blindfold (1965)

Bengal Brigade (1954)