- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,419
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
What a difference a year makes.
The replacement of Kodak color negative 5248 with 5250 in 1961 plays a major role in film preservation, as 5250, properly stored, should be very printable.
And Fox's new Blu-ray of Michael Curtiz's The Comancheros, is a perfect example of what can be done with the film stock when everything is handled properly.
To view this new Blu-ray on a large screen is like being at a premiere screening of a new print struck from the camera original back in the fall of 1961.
Color is beautifully rendered, grain looks proper, shadow detail, along with blacks are letter perfect. This is a magnificent job of taking a piece of film to Blu-ray via quality scanning and a well-produced HD master.
Audio, both via a new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as the original 4-track stereo in Dolby Surround are also perfectly rendered.
From a personal perspective, I visited the Fox lot (when it was the original Fox lot) in the summer of 1961. Being given a grand tour, I was asked if there was anyone on the lot that I'd like to meet. Knowing that The Comancheros was in production, my answer was easy. I almost didn't recognize Mr. Wayne, as he wasn't wearing a hairpiece. He seemed genuinely surprised that a kid would know his history going back to the '30s, and kindly gave me quality time. I still recall shaking his hand, and getting a feeling that I had just stuck my hand in a mail box with a tight grip.
Those apologists out there, who feel that it's alright for a film to look less than stellar if it's old, ie. from the '50s or '60s can get the record straight by watching this new Blu-ray from Fox.
Here's a half century old production, that is perfect in every detail on Blu-ray.
Very Highly Recommended both as a piece of entertainment as well as software.
RAH
The replacement of Kodak color negative 5248 with 5250 in 1961 plays a major role in film preservation, as 5250, properly stored, should be very printable.
And Fox's new Blu-ray of Michael Curtiz's The Comancheros, is a perfect example of what can be done with the film stock when everything is handled properly.
To view this new Blu-ray on a large screen is like being at a premiere screening of a new print struck from the camera original back in the fall of 1961.
Color is beautifully rendered, grain looks proper, shadow detail, along with blacks are letter perfect. This is a magnificent job of taking a piece of film to Blu-ray via quality scanning and a well-produced HD master.
Audio, both via a new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as the original 4-track stereo in Dolby Surround are also perfectly rendered.
From a personal perspective, I visited the Fox lot (when it was the original Fox lot) in the summer of 1961. Being given a grand tour, I was asked if there was anyone on the lot that I'd like to meet. Knowing that The Comancheros was in production, my answer was easy. I almost didn't recognize Mr. Wayne, as he wasn't wearing a hairpiece. He seemed genuinely surprised that a kid would know his history going back to the '30s, and kindly gave me quality time. I still recall shaking his hand, and getting a feeling that I had just stuck my hand in a mail box with a tight grip.
Those apologists out there, who feel that it's alright for a film to look less than stellar if it's old, ie. from the '50s or '60s can get the record straight by watching this new Blu-ray from Fox.
Here's a half century old production, that is perfect in every detail on Blu-ray.
Very Highly Recommended both as a piece of entertainment as well as software.
RAH
