UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection - Volume Two -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

With great pleasure, this one couldn't be easier.

Five great Hitchcock films:

Saboteur - 1942
Shadow of a Doubt - 1943
The Trouble with Harry - 1955
Marnie - 1964
Family Plot - 1976

All beautifully restored or newly scanned and mastered from original elements.

Two black & white.

Three Color.

One VistaVision.

In a phrase - I'm thrilled by what I've just seen.

On all five, grain seems appropriate, color (or black & white) is perfect, black levels are gorgeous, and HDR is delicately applied.

Make note. Sir Alfred was known to use matte paintings, back drops and other physical effects to bring his films together, and on occasional - in 4k - those seams may show a bit, but nothing troubled me.

I'll let other reviewers on this site give you the background on each film, but suffice to say, this is a buy.

Two other tiny notes, although the first two films are delineated as 1.33, I believe that's a typo, and the number should be 1.37.

As to packaging, those who purchased the set of five (as did I) will probably find that the 4k discs are on the left - in those virtually impossible to remove holders - and the old Blu-rays are on the right.


Image – 5 (HDR)

Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 2.0 Monaural)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from Blu-ray - Without a Doubt

Makes use of and works well in 4k - All films except Harry - 4
The Trouble with Harry - 5

Very Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Robert Crawford]

So you think "The Trouble with Harry" looks great in 4K? That will be a great relief to many HTF members.

 

[Rob W]

So you think "The Trouble with Harry" looks great in 4K? That will be a great relief to many HTF members.

Harry knocked my socks off in 4K HDR on my 83" OLED - it's the highlight of the set IMO.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Harry knocked my socks off in 4K HDR on my 83" OLED - it's the highlight of the set IMO.

Thank you for your comments.

 

[Kyle_D]

As to packaging, those who purchased the set of five (as did I) will probably find that the 4k discs are on the left - in those virtually impossible to remove holders - and the old Blu-rays are on the right.

I haven't had an opportunity to watch these yet, but I HATE the book packaging. As RAH notes, it's exceedingly difficult to remove the discs from the book sleeves, and my copy of Family Plot arrived visibly scuffed due to friction with the packaging. I tested it in my drive, and sure enough, it won't read. I will RMAing.

 

[Robert Harris]

So you think "The Trouble with Harry" looks great in 4K? That will be a great relief to many HTF members.

Harry is perfect, down to the original cyan scratch on the Paramount logo behind the VistaVision credit. It’s always been a part of the original optical, and it’s like seeing an old friend.

Universal did an amazing job on all five films!

 

[bujaki]

Upgrade from Blu-Ray - Without a Shadow of a Doubt
What a relief that Harry is owned by Universal! I just viewed all 5 films and wholly concur with RAH. The 4Ks are must haves!

 

[Powell&Pressburger]

The news on Harry !!!

 

[Chuck Pennington]

I’m looking forward to Marnie as that last Blu-ray release was quite fuzzy.

 

[haineshisway]

The OLD Blu-rays??? That is shameful, sorry, and there is zero excuse for it.

 

[Powell&Pressburger]

The OLD Blu-rays??? That is shameful, sorry, and there is zero excuse for it.

I think what makes it more shameful, its not as if they are using older recycled BLUs from the previous box sets (that had picture art) these are clearly NEW pressed discs that feature the basic black print job. So they made NEW discs! Total missed opportunity

Just lazy to not be able to put the new transfers on BLUs for those that aren’t up to 4K yet. They could have had more sales for this batch. These are for those that either don’t own them on BLU at all or for most of us that want the 4K.

I bet later on they will issue an all new HITCH collection once the final batch get announced/released (maybe?)

 

[Paul Penna]

I'd seriously consider upgrading my existing Harry Blu-ray with a Blu that used the new transfer.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I think what makes it more shameful, its not as if they are using older recycled BLUs from the previous box sets (that had picture art) these are clearly NEW pressed discs that feature the basic black print job. So they made NEW discs! Total missed opportunity

Just lazy to not be able to put the new transfers on BLUs for those that aren’t up to 4K yet. They could have had more sales for this batch. These are for those that either don’t own them on BLU at all or for most of us that want the 4K.

I bet later on they will issue an all new HITCH collection once the final batch get announced/released (maybe?)

I don't think it's laziness at all. I think it's a conscious effort to force people to upgrade to 4K disc. It's a similar strategy with Paramount not including any Blu-ray with their 4K disc releases. Warner has done the same with the upcoming "Giant" 4K release. Also, part of this strategy is what digital is supplied to the different digital services including their own streaming platform. This business strategy might not work with many people, but it will work for some people. Frankly, those that can't upgrade to 4K disc or can't/refuse to stream are basically being chalked up by the studio bean-counters as segment of consumers that they considered lost for good.

 

[Keith Cobby]

I can't see the point of including old blu rays with 4k discs, it's unnecessary packaging and cost. I didn't like including DVDs with blu rays, which is still happening.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I can't see the point of including old blu rays with 4k discs, it's unnecessary packaging and cost. I didn't like including DVDs with blu rays, which is still happening.

Frankly, I'm surprise they included Blu-rays at all, but probably did so for the bonus material. Paramount and Warner are releasing 4K discs without any Blu-rays. I think that trend continues and will most likely increase further across the different studios.

 

[titch]

It wasn't obvious 10 years ago, when these films were first released with very lacklustre transfers in The Masterpiece Collection, that they would ever be rescanned and remastered for a new physical media home video release. I held off purchasing all of these titles then, apart from Shadow Of A Doubt, because of the reviews. Now I'm going to sit down this evening and watch Marnie for the first time ever!

 

[compson]

Frankly, I'm surprise they included Blu-rays at all, but probably did so for the bonus material. Paramount and Warner are releasing 4K discs without any Blu-rays. I think that trend continues and will most likely increase further across the different studios.

This makes sense. Rather than release a five-movie box set without extras, they include the old Blu-ray extras. I don’t see anything shameful in that. The Blu-ray Masterpiece Collection apparently is still in print, and maybe they think increased sales resulting from new 1080 Blu-rays wouldn’t justify the costs of producing them. In any case, I’m thankful to have this spectacular 4K set of classic movies, produced by people apparently striving for perfection.

 

[Robert Harris]

This makes sense. Rather than release a five-movie box set without extras, they include the old Blu-ray extras. I don’t see anything shameful in that. The Blu-ray Masterpiece Collection apparently is still in print, and maybe they think increased sales resulting from new 1080 Blu-rays wouldn’t justify the costs of producing them. In any case, I’m thankful to have this spectacular 4K set of classic movies, produced by people apparently striving for perfection.

Haven’t compared extras, but there are extras on the 4k discs. Plenty of real estate, especially with the 1.37 films.

 

[compson]

Haven’t compared extras, but there are extras on the 4k discs. Plenty of real estate, especially with the 1.37 films.

Maybe they want to impress people with the superiority of 4K over 1080 Blu-ray, so they include old, clearly inferior, Blu-rays.

 

[Reed Grele]

Already watched Shadow of a Doubt and The Trouble With Harry. Waited for the "grain report" before posting. Couldn't be happier!