Barabbas HELP !!!!!!!!! (1 Viewer)

[Joe Caps]

Am trying to watch this now. this is the worst transfer of any major spectacle. Youd think Sony would be ashamed to have it out there.
The stereo track was copies from a collectors print. that print was technicolor and looked glorious. What oare the chances that Sony will restore this?

 

[Malcolm Bmoor]

Back in the Great Roadshow Era when my father took me to films at the marvellous, and very long gone, Cardiff Capitol, BARABBAS was probably the first time we both thought a film was truly terrible. ( I was about 14 at the time). Of course I have no technical opinion but it would have been in 70mm.

I have some interest in seeing it again after all this time for a second opinion but it would have to be on a decent copy.

 

[OliverK]

Am trying to watch this now. this is the worst transfer of any major spectacle. Youd think Sony would be ashamed to have it out there.
The stereo track was copies from a collectors print. that print was technicolor and looked glorious. What oare the chances that Sony will restore this?

For some time now this to me seems the big epic that is next in line for its studio doing it justice based on both the quality of the film and the existing home video version.
My condolences if you got one of the current Blu-rays.

 

[Alan Tully]

I remember the DVD of Barabbas looking awful, I couldn't get past the first few minutes (& we were a lot less fussy in those days, with those tiny TVs). Blu-ray is just made for these well shot ancient world epics, it's a shame so many are missing. I could list what we want, but what we have looking really great on Blu-ray would be a much shorter list:

Samson & Delilah
The Egyptian (good luck tracking the TT release down)
The Ten Commandments
Ben-Hur
Spartacus.

 

[RolandL]

10/10/62 American premiere

 

[Capt D McMars]

Barabbas (1961) – Imprint Collection #132 | Via Vision Entertainment

What happened to the man of violence in whose place Christ was crucified?

viavision.com.au

 

[RICK BOND]

I remember the DVD of Barabbas looking awful, I couldn't get past the first few minutes (& we were a lot less fussy in those days, with those tiny TVs). Blu-ray is just made for these well shot ancient world epics, it's a shame so many are missing. I could list what we want, but what we have looking really great on Blu-ray would be a much shorter list:

Samson & Delilah
The Egyptian (good luck tracking the TT release down)
The Ten Commandments
Ben-Hur
Spartacus.

I have Barabbas on Digital. It's watchable. It should look like King of Kings does on Bluray ! Imprint is releasing it on Bluray. But I read Nothing about a Restoration. No thanks. Sony, what's the hold up ??

 

[RolandL]

Let's hope the Imprint Blu-ray looks better than what's on caps-a-holic. But the "Audio English LPCM 2.0" doesn't sound too promising.

 

[usrunnr]

I remember seeing this when it was first issued, and it looked very good. I remember it being a better than average biblical/sand and sandal type of epic. Memory is dim however. It was a long time ago.

 

[Capt D McMars]

Well, the other offerings from ViaVision has not disapointed me yet. I currently own BDs of: When Worlds Collide, I Married a Monster from Outer Space, Warning from Space, The Naked Jungle, The Assasination Bureau, War of the Worlds, Major Dundee, Danger Diabolik and have Conquest of Space and Barabbas on order as we speak. Considering that ViaVisions Imprint series is thier premier productline, I'm pretty sure what ever they release under this moniqure will be a nice addition to any collection. So the question of wether the quality is there with this company is...so far so good!!

 

[PaulRossen]

10/10/62 American premiere
View attachment 132513

I saw Barabbas a week after the opening at The DeMille. The sound was amazing as was the video. The overture and entr’acte music is on the soundtrack album cue titled Intermezzo. While the presentation was top notch the film was a disappointment. Recall being on a priority list for tickets and have letterhead with the Barabbas logos. Still have the souvenir program. Maybe it’s asking for too much in having that experience duplicated for a film that didn’t do well at the box office.

 

[cinemel1]

I remember seeing this when it was first issued, and it looked very good. I remember it being a better than average biblical/sand and sandal type of epic. Memory is dim however. It was a long time ago.

I remember seeing it at the DeMille Theater in NYC. It was not the best theater to see a widescreen epic. It was a bit disappointing after the excellent Ben-Hur, El CID, Spartacus, and the pretty good King of Kings. The cast in Barabbas was excellent, especially, Quinn, who played an interesting lead character who wasn’t the great hero, but a man caught up in a cruel world.

 

[Capt D McMars]

Am trying to watch this now. this is the worst transfer of any major spectacle. Youd think Sony would be ashamed to have it out there.
The stereo track was copies from a collectors print. that print was technicolor and looked glorious. What oare the chances that Sony will restore this?

What edition RU talking about?

 

[Capt D McMars]

I remember the DVD of Barabbas looking awful, I couldn't get past the first few minutes (& we were a lot less fussy in those days, with those tiny TVs). Blu-ray is just made for these well shot ancient world epics, it's a shame so many are missing. I could list what we want, but what we have looking really great on Blu-ray would be a much shorter list:

Samson & Delilah
The Egyptian (good luck tracking the TT release down)
The Ten Commandments
Ben-Hur
Spartacus.

I bought a German edition of the Egyptain, it was one of those sleeper films that I caught on TCM and the cast was amazing with Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Gene Tierney and Peter Ustinov!! It is better than the dvd, that said, a real restoration rathher than a digital message treatment would be wonderful!! Not sure if Samson & Delilah is on BD but everything on the rest of the list is.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

I think I recall that the Twilight Time Blu-ray of The Egyptian was from a newer master than the German version.

 

[PaulRossen]

I remember seeing it at the DeMille Theater in NYC. It was not the best theater to see a widescreen epic. It was a bit disappointing after the excellent Ben-Hur, El CID, Spartacus, and the pretty good King of Kings. The cast in Barabbas was excellent, especially, Quinn, who played an interesting lead character who wasn’t the great hero, but a man caught up in a cruel world.

Spartacus played Roadshow at The DeMille. Other Roadshows at The DeMille…Fall of the Roman Empire, Those Magnificent Men, Hawaii, war and Peace, The Cardinal….among others. No it was not as attractive as The Loews Capitol or Loews State or Criterion but it was one of a handful of theaters that valued presentation during the Roadshow era in NYC. Other theaters of note in the Times Sq area… The Rivoli, The Warner which played the aforementioned EL Cid. All gone now…

 

[Capt D McMars]

I think I recall that the Twilight Time Blu-ray of The Egyptian was from a newer master than the German version.

One you say you can't find and the other you can, you make the call? Eventually there may be a fully restored edition of the Egyptain, for now the Greman one will do, for me. One title not in the BD titles MIA is Joan Collins Land of the Pharoahs 1955. Only in a poor and tired dvd version, that lone wolf needs some one to champion them...the list goes on.

 

[RobertMG]

One you say you can't find and the other you can, you make the call? Eventually there may be a fully restored edition of the Egyptain, for now the Greman one will do, for me. One title not in the BD titles MIA is Joan Collins Land of the Pharoahs 1955. Only in a poor and tired dvd version, that lone wolf needs some one to champion them...the list goes on.

I alway felt Barabbas was a downer, dark depressing film - could have been so much more - Christopher Fry really nailed Ben-Hur adding much to that film, not this one. I think this is a rare time I agree with 'THE' Bosely Crowther!

 

[RobertMG]

I alway felt Barabbas was a downer, dark depressing film - could have been so much more - Christopher Fry really nailed Ben-Hur adding much to that film, not this one. I think this is a rare time I agree with 'THE' Bosely Crowther!

 

[haineshisway]

When will people learn about Imprint? They release whatever they're given and they don't care if Sony hasn't restored or even thought about Barabbas, a huge flop. This is an old transfer that looks awful. It ain't gonna look any better on Blu-ray.