- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,379
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep was produced for release in 1945, but for various reasons did not appear in theaters until 1946.
There are two versions of the film. The earlier found in the Warner vaults a number of years ago, and preserved by UCLA.
One of the wonderful things about this new Warner Archive release is that it gives us both -- the 1946 in a new gorgeous HD transfer, and the 1945 in SD, which is not a problem.
It's the changes, the re-shoots and the re-editing between the two, as explained by UCLA's Robert Gitt, here for the first time, unedited, that makes this Blu-ray doubly exciting.
For those poor souls who may be unaware, The Big Sleep in one of the greatest detective/noir films - ever. You remember Philip Marlowe.
It is only slightly more confusing than the second season of True Detective, but that's part of its everlasting charm.
Decades ago, when I was in my late teens and collecting old 16mm prints, I was occasionally gifted something by our distribution exec, that had come off the syndication inventory, as it was too splicy to be useful.
One such print, was The Big Sleep.
I already had a print, gifted earlier, that was off a dupe negative, and just a bit more murky due to TV density than I would have liked. Then this new/old print showed up.
Dupont stock, heavy in silver content, and apparently old enough to have been reduction printed directed from the camera original.
It had detail to beat the band.
That gorgeous print pales in comparison to what the Warner Archive has just made available, with full grain structure, wide shadow detail and rich blacks. Resolution, when the element was shot totally sharp, is undeniable.
Best not to get into the film, especially for those who have not been exposed to it, but suffice to say, that -- at least in this humble archivists opinion -- this very special release of The Big Sleep, turning up the brim of his hat, looking over his glasses and minding stating...
umm...
that it would be Bogart and Bacall at their best.
My favorite line - "[She] tried to sit in my lap when I was standing up..."
My advice?
Just buy this one, watch it.
And be amazed.
The first truly Great catalog release of 2016, and probably one of the best of the coming year.
Image - 5
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
There are two versions of the film. The earlier found in the Warner vaults a number of years ago, and preserved by UCLA.
One of the wonderful things about this new Warner Archive release is that it gives us both -- the 1946 in a new gorgeous HD transfer, and the 1945 in SD, which is not a problem.
It's the changes, the re-shoots and the re-editing between the two, as explained by UCLA's Robert Gitt, here for the first time, unedited, that makes this Blu-ray doubly exciting.
For those poor souls who may be unaware, The Big Sleep in one of the greatest detective/noir films - ever. You remember Philip Marlowe.
It is only slightly more confusing than the second season of True Detective, but that's part of its everlasting charm.
Decades ago, when I was in my late teens and collecting old 16mm prints, I was occasionally gifted something by our distribution exec, that had come off the syndication inventory, as it was too splicy to be useful.
One such print, was The Big Sleep.
I already had a print, gifted earlier, that was off a dupe negative, and just a bit more murky due to TV density than I would have liked. Then this new/old print showed up.
Dupont stock, heavy in silver content, and apparently old enough to have been reduction printed directed from the camera original.
It had detail to beat the band.
That gorgeous print pales in comparison to what the Warner Archive has just made available, with full grain structure, wide shadow detail and rich blacks. Resolution, when the element was shot totally sharp, is undeniable.
Best not to get into the film, especially for those who have not been exposed to it, but suffice to say, that -- at least in this humble archivists opinion -- this very special release of The Big Sleep, turning up the brim of his hat, looking over his glasses and minding stating...
umm...
that it would be Bogart and Bacall at their best.
My favorite line - "[She] tried to sit in my lap when I was standing up..."
My advice?
Just buy this one, watch it.
And be amazed.
The first truly Great catalog release of 2016, and probably one of the best of the coming year.
Image - 5
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
