DVD Review HTF REVIEW: James Stewart: The Signature Collection (RECOMMENDED). (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

Cees,
My boxset arrived today and I watched this dvd using the HD-XA1 player that upconverted it to my new 65" HD display and though the picture was soft in some instances with some artifacting, it is far from absolutely terrible. I compared this dvd with my DVD-R recording of it from TCM and IMO, this dvd has a superior video presentation, particularly in regard to facial features being much more detailed. Warner could of done a better job with the video presentation, but as RAH alluded to, it would've taken a greater financial investment. All studios including Warner have a thin line to walk in regard to ROI issues as they pertain to hundreds of titles they may have in their film library.




Crawdaddy

 

[Robert Harris]

In regard to Naked Spur, it has been confirmed that the cable broadcasts and DVD are derived from precisely the same master, with the broadcast being more heavily compressed.

It was important to make Naked Spur available to those who desire it. This is part of Warner's customer ethic. Also, it must be understood that we are not speaking in terms of tens of thousands seeking this film. A full and proper restoration could easily run into six figures, necessitating a higher than rational selling price.

I'm quite happy with what we have.

RAH

 

[Robert Crawford]

I can confirm that too because there is a scene in which Stewart falls off his horse after being shot and there is a green spot defect for several seconds as the camara pans the blue sky. It's present on both, the new dvd and my DVD-R recording of the TCM showing.

Furthermore, as many of us know there are more lines of resolution on this new dvd and with greater detail than possible with the DVD-R. Both discs were played on the same HD-XA1 player.

 

[Jim Bur]

I have no opinion yet on the quality of The Naked Spur DVD, as I have not yet received my copy of the Stewart boxset. However, I am in profound disagreement with Mr Harris's sentiments concerning the underlying merits of the The Naked Spur as a film (Am I correct in assuming he echoes the studio's opinion?). The Naked Spur is not just some unpopular "cult" film as his comments would suggest. In addition, The Naked Spur is not unworthy of a restoration, as Mr. Harris' comments also suggest. The Naked Spur is one of the great American westerns. I don't think there is a competent western film critic in the country who thinks that The Naked Spur is anything other than an outstanding film.

But I don't ask you to just take my word that the Naked Spur is a outstanding and special film. Brian Garfield is his excellent book on western films listed The Naked Spur as one of the 26 superior western films which in his opinion stood the test of time and repitition. Phil Hardy who authored the influential Wesern film enclopedia called The Naked Spur an extraordinary western. Even general film critics are in agreement with the western specialists on this film. Leonard Maltin calls The Naked Spur, "One of the best westerns ever made". The Time Out Film guide describes The Naked Spur in part as follows: "Through strong clear story telling and tremendous use of landscape, Mann infuses the familar scenario with a remarkable psychological complexity", and Time Out also describes The Naked Spur as the most effective of the colloborations between Jimmy Stewart and Anthony Mann, and lest we forget those collorborations include such classics as Winchester 73, The Man From Laramie, Bend of the River, The Far Country, etc.

Brian Douglas Eames who wrote the official MGM studio history described The Naked Spur as a strong thriller which made a juicy profit for MGM. This would seem to belie Mr. Harris' suggestions that The Naked Spur was not a popular, money making, film with the general public. In fact, even the U.S. government is in agreement with both the critics and public on this one, as The Naked Spur is one of only 425 films which have been deemed worthy of being preserved as part of the National Registry of Films. How many films did Warners release so far this year (that had been previously unreleased on DVD), that have been deemed worthy of inclusion in the National Film Registry? Apart from the John Ford/John Wayne colloborations, I can't think of any new to DVD film issued by Warners this summer more worthy of a red carpet type restoration than The Naked Spur. Although I really like the film, The Stratton Story, I agree with many others on this forum that The Naked Spur is the best film in the set, and should have been considered the crown jewel of this particular Jimmy Stewart collection.

It is my personal opinion that the reason the westerns are not held in greater regard from a business standpoint by the major studios is that often times the studios will choose to pass over the superior western films in their library and instead choose an inferior western to release, or when they do choose to release a superior western they will release it with hardly any fanfare and/or in a substandard presentation. Because they don't put their best foot forward the public doesn't buy as many as hoped for, and those that do buy sometimes get a wrong impression of the potential quality of western films and are turned off for future Western purhases A great example of the first instance is what happened last year with Sony. They decided to at long last release a group of Randolph Scott westerns. In deciding which westerns to release they passed over some of the all time great western films such as Budd Boetticher's The Tall T, Ride Lonesome, Commanche Station, Buchanan Rides Alone, Decision at Sundown, and other oustanding westerns such as Coroner Creek, and instead choose for release some the most mediocre westerns that Scott made in his career (i.e. Ten Wanted Men, etc,). If Sony had chosen the right westerns for release, and ballyhooed it as an important event (i.e the release of Boetticher's western masterpieces), I believe that they would have had strong sales and the would have turned on the customers to want even more westerns. Instead, we haven't seen a western release out of them since then.

As a western film fan I wish that Warners would more often give the care and attention to the western film that it gives to other genres such as Film noir and gangster. In my opinion Warners has so many strong western titles in its library, that if they took the same firist class approach with the classic adult western film of Hollywood's golden age that they take with film noir, they would likely have the same or greater success. The classic adult western films of Hollywood's golden age (1929-1962, and especially the post war years) overlaps the same era as film noir. The directors of some of these westerns, and of some of the films noirs and crime dramas, are often the same (i.e. Mann, Ray, Hathaway, Wise, De Toth, Daves, Walsh, etc., and the better made westers of this era are just as strong as the best of film noir, plus there are more of them. As we are anticipating set number 4 of Warners Film noir series, shouldn't we be awaiting sets number 1 and 2, etc, in Warners Classic Western series. I'm sure many of us will buy a restored The Naked Spur again if included in such a series. c Jim Bur

 

[Simon Howson]

I agree that The Naked Spur, along with The Searchers is one of those Westerns that has become canonised by the film brats, those Hollywood writers and directors who studied film at University. Paul Schrader talks about it as the great James Stewart performance (ranking it ahead of Vertigo I guess), and there is an excerpt of the end in Scorsese's American cinema documentary.

The DVD version looks a lot better than the transfer used for that excerpt, so it is an improvement. But my guess is that Warner will only justify the cost of an ultra resolution restoration for films that warrant a 2 disc set. I personally would've prefered a 2 disc set of The Naked Spur, rather than Stage Coach, but that is because I find 1950s Westerns a lot more interesting than the more 'Classical' Westerns of the 30s and 40s.

What we really need is an in depth documentary on Anthony Mann presented on DVD, he is a supremely under rated film maker - Man of the West is possibly my favourite Western, but I'm yet to see a Mann western that I didn't think was first rate.

But this makes me wonder, how do the costs break down. How much does it cost to do a new transfer of a Technicolor film from an existing interpositive? How much extra does it cost to make a new interpositive? Does ultra resolution effectively triple the transfer cost, becuase it is like doing a transfer for 3 individual films, but only for the release of a single movie?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Jim,
I'll let RAH address your comments in regard to his earlier comments. However, I have to agree with him that "The Naked Spur" is not a type "A" film in which you invest a great deal of money in restoring like "The Wizard of Oz", "The Adventures of Robin Hood" or "Singin in the Rain". It's a good western, but it's not "The Wild Bunch" nor "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and I think other Stewart/Mann collaborations such as "Winchester 73" and "The Man from Laramie" were superior films. I don't expect you to agree with me, which is fine and dandy because we generally have a difference of opinion as to how good and popular "The Naked Spur" is today and whether Warner should make the necessary investment in improving the video presentation. IMO, I think it's the second best film in this boxset behind "The Spirit of St. Louis", but what do I know except my own taste in film.

By the way, I think Robert Ryan's performance makes "The Naked Spur" such a good film. He was generally one of the least appreciated actors from yesteryear.





Crawdaddy

 

[Robert Crawford]

It goes without saying that most of us wish there was an unlimited budget in which all films could be released to the best home video format available without regard to cost which means complete restorations of film elements. However, the real world is what we live in and compromises and financial decisions have to be made. Such decisions are not always right nor acceptable to film buffs such as ourselves so we should continue to make our opinions known in such a way that studios will take notice and just maybe, make some correct decisions that many of us can agree with.





Crawdaddy

 

[Jim Bur]

Crawdaddy;

I find myself in agreement with some of the points you make in your post. When it comes to whether or not a film is a Class A type film, I guess it just depends on how big you decide to make your Class. If you limit class A films to just the 100 best Amercian films of the golden age, the The Naked Spur likely doesn't make it. If you, expand your Class A to include the best 200 or 250 films of the golden age, The Naked Spur really should be included. I think all 5 of the Anthony Mann/Jimmy Stewart western colloborations were great films. If I was forced to personally choose between these 5 westerns, my preference would actually be the same as yours (the critic I quoted thought the Naked Spur the strongest of the collaborations). I also strongly agree with you that Robert Ryan is one of the most underappreciated actors. Robert Ryan is magnificant in the Naked Spur, though I do think that all 5 members of the cast were outstanding. I think Robert Ryan's performance in The Naked Spur is one of his best, to go along with his terrific performances in On Dangerous Ground, The Set Up, The Proud Ones, Day of the Outlaw, The Tall Men, The Wild Bunch, Inferno (which I just recently had a chance to see on FMC), to name just a few. Obviously, the studio has to make its own cost benefit analysis, and I respect their business acumen. My main point was that The Naked Spur is a much better film than Mr. Harris suggested, and if that also reflects the studio's opinion, perhaps they might want to reconsider that opinion in making future decisions. The Naked Spur (restored), Blood On the Moon, Station West, Pandhandle, Colorado Territory, The Lusty Men, Fort Dobbs, The Hanging Tree (restored), Wagon Master, and The Sheepman. Let me suggest those 10 titles for Volumes 1 and 2 of a Warners Classic Westerns set, and you could start off Volume 3 with Devil's Doorway, Escape From Fort Bravo, etc. I think those titles would be just as strong, and perhaps even stronger, than their first two film noir sets. Respectfully. c Jim Bur

 

[Member 323668]

Robert, did you compare the screenshots of the DVD vs. the DVD-R TV recording? In regard to overall detail and facial detail in particular, I think the TV recording has a lot more detail and less filtering. I couldn't see any film grain at all on the Warner DVD, so I guess all higher frequencies were completely filtered out.

I was very disappointed about Warner's DVD when comparing to my TV recording. And I remember an ever better broadcast of "The Naked Spur" on german TV station ZDF, based on a "restored" print by Juergen Labenski and the former Kirch group. (btw, they also "restored" a VistaVision print for TV screening of "To Catch a Thief" and IMO it looks a lot better than Paramount's current DVD)

So there already are superior masters in existence.


Warner DVD (NTSC resolution)

http://www.onlinepictures.de/2/?img=...c693cf3jpg.jpg


TV recording (PAL resolution)

http://www.onlinepictures.de/2/?img=...a148e16jpg.jpg

 

[Robert Crawford]

Using screenshots is not the final confirmation for me because I watch movies/dvds in real time. I've made comparisons between the two discs in several different 4-5 minute segments and without question, the SD-DVD has more detail and is more vibrant in color than the DVD-R disc. Furthermore, in your NTSC screenshot the lines on both Ryan's and Leigh's foreheads are hardly noticable, but watching that scene in real time, they're noticable on my display.




Crawdaddy

 

[MarcoBiscotti]

Wow, if those screen grabs are anything to go by, than this has certainly got to be among the worst DVD transfers from Warner Bros I've seen yet. It almost looks like video. Extremely soft, dark and murky, horrible contrast. I hope that's not an accurate reflection of the disc itself!

 

[Robert Crawford]

They're not! I can't wait until more of you watch the dvd because screenshots can be misleading especially with comments about it looking like video.




Crawdaddy

 

[Danny_N]

So it's part of Warner's customer ethic to deliver substandard product just to satisfy a "small" following of a "cult" film? They don't look particularly satisfied to me. Nice ethics ...
So why did Warner not apply the same ethics to The Hanging Tree? I believe you said that that title was left off the Cooper box because it needed restoration. Surely The Hanging Tree is more of a cult film than The Naked Spur? (to illustrate, The Hanging Tree has 416 votes on IMDB vs 1278 votes for The Naked Spur). Why is Warner willing to invest dollars in that restoration but not in The Naked Spur?

 

[Simon Howson]

Warner have so many films, it makes me think they should just release something else that is in better condition. But I guess in some cases the most popular films will have poorer condition elements due to reissues.

See! They should just release films based on what elements are in the best condition, to hell with the reputation of the film, its stars, or director.

 

[Member 323668]

More screenshots over at Gary Tooze's "Beaver" review site.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm


My screenshots above were not intended to provide an "accurate reflection" of the DVD. Just wanted to demonstrate the difference in detail resolution compared with the BBC TV recording.

About the box set: This is a great collection of Jimmy Stewart's Warner movies at a great value and absolutely recommended. TNS is (unfortunately) the only disappointment and I feel very sad about that.

 

[Robert Harris]

To DannyN...

Please do not attempt to place a reverse spin on my words. It is wasteful of your time, effort and web space.

To Mr. Bur...

The problems with Naked Spur, which I have NOT referred to as a bad film, relate to a negative confluence of events. A new interpositive was struck from the camera originals within the past decade or so. It was accepted by someone at the studio. The element has problems, but the dollars have now gone out.

In terms of real dollars to make a film like Naked Spur look correct, I would suggest a number around the $250,000 mark. This is not a simple process, which is further exacerbated by the fact that the film was made after the nitrate era. Two years earlier, and things should have been easier.

Early on in the era of digital transfers, a video master was prepared for television and home video. The transfer was of requisite quality, but based upon the less than stellar interpositive.

Let's get something straight.

It doesn't matter what critics, lovers of this or that western, or famed filmmakers think about The Naked Spur.

It simply isn't relevant.

Personally, I find it an interesting little gem, with a terrific performances, especially by Robert Ryan. I happen love three-strip Technicolor, and the work herein by William Mellor is up to his usual high quality standards.

But all of this is irrelevant if the general public hasn't heard of the film, doesn't care about the film...

and will not purchase a copy of the film.

There are currently a number of extremely high visibility films which have been pulled from the HD schedule because they have been mastered in 1080i.

They are being re-mastered at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to make them as perfect as possible.

I'll now tell the world a dirty little secret.

For anyone who has ever shopped for a car, a new monitor, or anything that can get a bit expensive, and has ended up with something that was not precisely what they would have liked...

possibly a Ford Taurus or a BMW 3 series instead of that fly yellow Ferrari...

you'll understand that one has to check their bank account to see how much they can spend, and budget appropriately.

Well, the secret is this:



The largest studios work in the same fashion in most functions, with the exception of salaries and perks of top stars and top executives, the work of whom can have a huge affect on the bottom line.

And film elements are generally at the lower end of the scale.

So it comes down to this.

There has been a request from cultists...

not from the general public, to release a film like Naked Spur on DVD.

The position is easy.

Do you take your current master and release to fill the void, and not see to the needs of (I'll pick a title here) Singin' in the Rain...

or do you not release, and give the cultists, and writers of the western genre nothing. I'm leaving famed directors who might love the film out of this as they really don't matter. They can borrow 35mm print derived from that same less than perfect IP.

What is occurring is that as our technology gets better and better in its ability to not only create higher quality, cleaner film elements derived from archaic originals (think Lowry Digital), and to then press those images to higher quality carrying devices to be played back on 2k projectors, everything that has been done to a reasonable and satisfactory quality in the recent past is going to look worse.

With HD Much Worse.

Film restoration can be a veritable money pit, as (like Mr. Blandings) you seldom know precisely what you're getting into until you actually begin.

And unless someone wishes to put up the dollars necessary to properly restore films like Naked Spur, which will not have any immediate calling in the HD world or to the public in general, we are left in the great conundrum of art vs. commerce.

The question is whether those who feel a need to own Naked Spur would rather simply go without.

RAH

 

[Simon Howson]

I can't really complain it was AUD$11 for a film that probably won't be released locally until half way through next year.

I do think The Naked Spur is an example of a film that was canonised thanks to auteur criticism of the 1960s and 1970s. It is now considered an excellent example of a sophisticated 50s Western, yet since it isn't regarded by the mainstream as a classic of the genre (like say Stagecoach), it doesn't justify a stellar no expense spared release.

But it could be worse, if its reputation wasn't revived by Sarris and the film brats, then it probably would still be sitting in Warner's vaults, like hundreds of other films that didn't receive critical re-evaluation during the 1960s.

This kind of leads back into some some criticism of Warner for mainly releasing the noted classic films. Whereas in some instances Fox are more adventurous, like releasing The River's Edge, which I thought was a fabulous B film, directed by pioneer of the medium. I can't imagine they thought they would make a huge profit on that film, but it is those surprising selections that makes buying classic DVDs interesting.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This pretty much sums up my position on this matter. I bought this boxset of five films for $34.99 and due to that low price and acceptable quality to me, I don't feel the need to rain on Warner's parade over what they could've done with a much larger budget with a more expensive sale price. Sure, many of you would buy it at that higher price. However, Warner is trying to sell as many units as possible without pricing it too high in which the overall sale numbers would be too low to allow them to make a net profit on these titles.




Crawdaddy

 

[Danny_N]

Indeed. Fox should be commended for their outstanding work. Didn't they spend 2 million on the restoration of The Black Swan? With the DVD sellling for about $8 I can't imagine that they are recuperating the costs of the restoration as The Black Swan seems to be even less popular with the general public than The Naked Spur (Black Swan has only 512 votes on IMDB).

 

[PatrickDA]

I'll go WITHOUT! Thanks a lot Warner Bros.! SHAMEFUL!