A Few Words About A few words about…™ To Catch a Thief (redux) – in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

EDITED AND APPENDED 5/10/2020
 
Sir Alfred’s 1955 VistaVision trifle has always been a favorite of mine.
It’s beautifully shot, and just plain fun.
For the third release in Paramount’s commemorative set, there have been a number of changes. Some of the more interesting extras on the original Blu-ray are gone, and replaced by far fewer.
I NOW HAVE MAJOR problems with grain structure, ALONG WITH COLOR AND DENSITY, and there’s the rub.
Every print that I’ve ever seen has had a green cast to night scenes – not referencing the green tile roof in certain sequences. That’s gone, and it’s now blue.
Do I know which is accurate?
I don’t. I can only refer to what I’ve always seen in original prints. One is best to check the Hitchcock print, if it survives, and compare.
What is a problem for me is an overriding brightening, almost as if someone was preparing the master for broadcast.
The worst is the elimination of the night effect in the sequence about 3/4 through the film. It used to be...

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[dpippel]

Wow. I guess we can finally put the debate to bed. Thanks so much for weighing in on this controversial release, Robert!

 

[Andrew Budgell]

Thank you, Mr. Harris. I'll stick with my 2012 release.

 

[Nelson Au]

Thanks for the review. This is really too bad this blu ray release got a fail. I am really looking forward to seeing this film in its best possible version.

This new Paramount Presents line appears to be a premium line so I would hope the studio cares and does fix the day for night scene and other issues and does a recall. I’d hate to wait another 5 years for the 70th anniversary. Or maybe a sooner 4K blu ray release will be done that’s the perfect version? One can hope.

In the mean time, I’m still looking forward to seeing this new blu ray and adding it to my collection of the earlier DVD and 2012 blu ray versions.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I wasn't in any hurry to upgrade, but this finally puts the decision at end for me. I will stick with my current BD. Thanks, Mr. Harris.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Yeah, I wasn't planning on buying this BD anyway. I still hope iTunes upgrades my HD digital to 4K so I can see for myself without having to spend any money.

 

[ahollis]

And there we have it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

And there we have it.

I trust RAH's opinion so I'm not questioning it. However, I still wonder if the video on this latest Blu-ray will be more pleasing to my eyes. I probably won't ever know, unless, iTunes upgrades the digital.

 

[Robert Harris]

I trust RAH's opinion so I'm not questioning it. However, I still wonder if the video on this latest Blu-ray will be more pleasing to my eyes. I probably won't ever know, unless, iTunes upgrades the digital.

appears to be same base transfer, Robert

 

[Angelo Colombus]

I wonder why the decision to change the night scenes? Was watching the new release last night and I am ok with it but I guess not a good way to start your Paramount Presents series.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Yeah, I wasn't planning on buying this BD anyway. I still hope iTunes upgrades my HD digital to 4K so I can see for myself without having to spend any money.

I'd recommend downloading your current version in the event iTunes "upgrades" the transfer. You'll still have the old transfer to watch.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'd recommend downloading your current version in the event iTunes "upgrades" the transfer. You'll still have the old transfer to watch.

I have the 2012 Blu-ray so it doesn't matter to me as I'm hoping iTunes upgrades that digital.

 

[StarDestroyer52]

I was debating whether to get this, but it looks like I can save my money as I have the 2012 release and am happy with that. Thanks for the quick review.

 

[ArnoldLayne]

While the 2012 disc is overall very nice, it seems over-sharpened a bit (harsh). But the new screencaps show something over-filtered, with less detail, in addition to incorrect color, based on CG's jacket being more blue than grey, at least during the outdoor drive.

 

[Robert Harris]

While the 2012 disc is overall very nice, it seems over-sharpened a bit (harsh). But the new screencaps show something over-filtered, with less detail, in addition to incorrect color, based on CG's jacket being more blue than grey, at least during the outdoor drive.

When grays go blue, you’re seeing fade

 

[Jim*Tod]

I am not sure where but I seem to remember reading a Hitchcock interview where he mentioned using green filters for the night scenes. So that may well be the way it is supposed to look.

 

[Worth]

I am not sure where but I seem to remember reading a Hitchcock interview where he mentioned using green filters for the night scenes. So that may well be the way it is supposed to look.

If you're interested, there are several pages of debate about it in the other thread:

Pre-Order - Paramount Presents: To Catch A Thief (Blu-ray) Available for Preorder

Take your arrow for entering and leave it smack on the "like" icon and 7 emojis should appear. One of them is a thumbs down. Thomas, thank you. I was wondering about that.

www.hometheaterforum.com

 

[Patrick McCart]

Disappointing, but I find the existing Blu-ray to look wonderful. Between being an inferior master and losing most of the supplements, that's one less disc I have to upgrade. Maybe they'll do it right for 4K.

 

[Nick*Z]

Sir Alfred's 1955 VistaVision trifle has always been a favorite of mine.

It's beautifully shot, and just plain fun.

For the third release in Paramount's commemorative set, there have been a number of changes. Some of the more interesting extras on the original Blu-ray are gone, and replaced by far fewer.

While I still have some minimal problems with grain structure, there are color and density changes, and there's the rub.

Every print that I've ever seen has had a green cast to night scenes - not referencing the green tile roof in certain sequences. That's gone, and it's now blue.

Do I know which is accurate?

I don't. I can only refer to what I've always seen in original prints. One is best to check the Hitchcock print, if it survives, and compare.

What is a problem for me is an overriding brightening, almost as if someone was preparing the master for broadcast.

The worst is the elimination of the night effect in the sequence about 3/4 through the film. It used to be night - a greenish cast, but definitely night.

That's gone, and the entire sequence is now incorrect, with the night effect removed.

It now appears to be pretty day, shot to be darkened in post...

But it isn't.

Best to stick with the 2012 release, which may not be perfect, but is still a treat, and generally correct.

If this were my commemorative release, pushing the history of the studio, I'd recall it, and start with a new scan.

Image - 3

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Fail

Upgrade from previous Blu-ray - No

Definitely Not Recommended

RAH

Many thanks for this, Robert. I was getting a lot of flack for suggesting similarly that the image had been brightened and that the green tint was gone - for what reason, not sure. Also, did you notice the minor aliasing during the main titles. Again, loved the 2012 Blu and this one was a wash - especially since we lost nearly an hour of grade 'A' extra features. Thanks for your expertise on this. Maybe some of the others who jumped me on this will settle down now.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Man, you guys take these disc presentation discussions much too personally. Life is too short especially considering what we’re dealing with right now.