Any GUNGA DIN Reviews Yet? (1 Viewer)

[Larry Sutliff]

GUNGA DIN is probably my most anticipated DVD release for December, and I'm curious if anyone can comment on the transfer quality? Also, are there any online reviews that I may have missed? Thanks for any info!

 

[Herb Kane]

Larry,

According to the WB press release that was sent when I received screeners of George Stevens: A Filmmakers Journey and I Remember Mama it mentioned that Gunga Din and George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin were held up "by manufacturing".

I doubt the street date will be affected but Gunga Din is a title I intend to make a priority for review here.

Herb.

 

[Larry Sutliff]

I'm looking forward to your review, Herb! Hopefully you'll have the disc soon, and the title will make street date.

 

[steve blake]

recieved my copy of gunga din this morning,had a quick look and it seems to be a very nice print,a bit of grain here and there,but it is the best i have ever seen it,mono sound which is to be expected.nice extras,which are commentary with rudy behlmer,2 trailers,looney tunes porky pig cartoon in black and white,called the film fan.and an 11 minute documentary about the making of gunga din,which includes nice behind the scenes footage of gunga din,filmed in color.well done warners another classic to add my collection!

 

[Larry Sutliff]

Thanks for the info, Steve, I'm really looking forward to this disc.

 

[Jaime_Weinman]

I got a look at a copy last night -- seems like a very good transfer overall. Behlmer's commentary is, as usual, a very detailed assortment of biographical and production info. The making-of is good too, including archived interviews with Pandro Berman (producer) and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and a new interview with the movie's biggest fan, writer William Goldman.

I don't know yet if Behlmer mentions this on the commentary, but Hecht and MacArthur, two of the writers on the film, ripped off their own The Front Page to create Fairbanks's storyline (like Hildy in Front Page, he wants to quit his job, get married and lead a normal life, but his scheming colleague hatches plan after plan to keep him in his job). It works great, though.

 

[danak]

I'm frustrated that every DVD site I've visited neglects to mention the extras (especially the commentary and featurette) on Gunga Din. It seems like the only places I could find something are from users in this post and from a user review on Amazon.com. Why is this? Could it be it was sent out later than usual? Does anyone know of DVD sites that do a really accurate job of listing a DVD's special features, especially of classics?

Dana in MD

 

[Herb Kane]

Well Dana, I try...

Problem is, Gunga Din as well the Stevens' D-Day documentary were held up due to manufacturing. I can't speak for the other sites but I still have not received it (or the D-Day documentary).

Lately, it would seem as though (at least with WB) the window between the review screeners being sent and the street date is narrowing - presumably due to fears of pirating (?). This makes it difficult at times to have reviews completed by street date, particularly with large sets.

 

[John Hodson]

I don't know of any news site that mentioned the extras for Gunga Din and that's surely down to Warners PR department, who unusually didn't send out the full details. As Herb said, users here usually fill in the gaps, and the news on the extras for Gunga Din were posted on this very forum some weeks ago.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'm still waiting for my dvd to ship while I received "I Remembered Mama" last week. I have to wonder if any stores will have this dvd on Tuesday?






Crawdaddy

 

[danak]

Herb,
I know you do a great job as do other posters on HTF. I'm speaking more of sites that sell or rent DVDs (like Amazon.com DVDEmpire.com Netflix.com etc) and that I go through to see all the DVDs being released for a particular week. I rely on knowing if a classic title has special features. If it's a bare bones release, I'm liable to try to catch it on TCM rather than rent it.

While I'm at it, Herb, I appreciate the very thorough job you and other HTF reviewers do in your reviews. You certainly show a love for the medium.

Dana in MD

 

[Mark_Wilson]

I got the D-Day documentary last week but no sign of Gunga Din.

 

[Herb Kane]

I have this in my hot little hands. Mr. Grant and I will be spending some quality time together, tonight...

 

[Haggai]

That's a little more information than I needed to know, Herb.

J/k...looking forward to your review!

 

[Roger Rollins]

Still no reviews anywhere for this ultra- classic!

Picking it and I REMEMBER MAMA and KEATON up tomorrow....

 

[Terry H]

So what happened to the review? The search function isn't coughing it up... I would appeciate some more opinions on the video quality of this release. I have read two reviews and they conflict. :frowning:

 

[David Jay]

Terry, DVD-Basen is your new best friend.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=219299 Looks pretty sharp, according to Herb!

 

[Mark Anthony]

Haven't watched it in a while, but if I remember correctly if you consider it's over 65 years old and has a few age-related artifacts such as dust and tramlines now and again, particularly in the first reel, you won't be disappointed.

Viewed on a 82" screen, it looked appropriately detailed and not overly grainy - considering the elements used were less than optimal, no doubt due to RKO's notorious bad storage of prime elements. The soundtrack was clear with minimal hiss.

However, none of the above distracts from one of the all time great film's and it's a cliche, but I doubt it'll look any better until hi-def or a Lowry-style full digital restoration.

M

 

[Terry H]

Thanks for the information. I didn't know that review archive existed. Odd the review seems to have been removed from the HT Software forum. There are certainly much older and less useful threads there...
DVD-Basen is indeed my new best friend.