La Grande Illusion StudioCanal 2020 (1 Viewer)

[titch]

Suddenly, a new blu-ray of this great classic film, Criterion's DVD spine number 1, is released in the UK. But is this a new mastering effort? Absolutely no information to be found anywhere (Beaver just links this release to the 2012 blu-ray).

However, since StudioCanal have been redoing many of their early blu-ray efforts (Breathless, Last Year At Marienbad, The Elephant Man, Belle du Jour), I thought it would be quite likely that this would be a new mastering effort, based on the previous restoration. And it looks like it too. Double the bit-rate and already from the opening titles, it is clear that the contrast has been adjusted a bit, so that the blacks and greys are less blown out. There is no longer any option for a German dub and a few of the extras from the 2012 blu-ray have been dropped.

Whether you want this region B-locked disc probably depends how highly you love this film. For me, it's the same as seeing the 4K mastered Seventh Seal blu-ray on the Criterion Bergman box. La Grande Illusion also happens to be one of my key films, so I'm happy that it has been upgraded.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Looked at DVD Basen and saw no reviews of the recent release so i hope it gets reviewed. Have the Region A StudioCanal Lionsgate release and happy to have it. The Rules of the Game is another favorite from the great Director so i hope Criterion will re-release La Grande Illusion since it's been over 20 years when they released spine #1.

 

[david hare]

It's from the earlier 4K restoration. Same encode.

 

[titch]

It's from the earlier 4K restoration. Same encode.

I do get that this is from the same 4K master, restored from the original nitrate negative for the 75th anniversary. However, the bit rate and contrast on these two discs I have in my collection differ - wouldn't this suggest a new mastering? This is no information anywhere on the packaging that this is the case and StudioCanal do usually trumpet something remastered.

 

[battlebeast]

did the first Blu Ray have any problems, or was it terrific?

 

[B-ROLL]

I do get that this is from the same 4K master, restored from the original nitrate negative for the 75th anniversary. However, the bit rate and contrast on these two discs I have in my collection differ - wouldn't this suggest a new mastering? This is no information anywhere on the packaging that this is the case and StudioCanal do usually trumpet something remastered.

Yes they would call it "Newly Restored" .

 

[titch]

did the first Blu Ray have any problems, or was it terrific?

The first blu ray from StudioCanal was very good. This was a fantastic restoration - easy to see speckles and marks on the print used for the old Criterion DVD (which itself was a vast improvement from the laserdisc transfer)

Grand Illusion • FR Blu-ray vs. US DVD

caps-a-holic.com

So a difference in the gamma or bitrate is not going to make a difference for 99% of the people who already own the original StudioCanal blu-ray. But this is one title I've had since laserdisc days. I still have the laserdisc for the essay on the back!

There is a promotional trailer on the original StudioCanal blu-ray, for other StudioCanal titles. Almost all of them have been remastered and reissued on blu-ray since 2012.

 

[titch]

It's from the earlier 4K restoration. Same encode.

Just had a sudden thought: you aren't by any chance, the acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and film director, Sir David Hare?

 

[david hare]

No. No. And no.