Ten Commandments : Se (1 Viewer)

[Patrick McCart]

VistaVision can wildly vary...

However, 1.78:1 is probably fine for the film. Now, the 2.21:1 ratio on the Super VistaVision re-release was flat-out wrong.

 

[David Von Pein]

Is Amazon correct here. It shows the current TTC release as being 1.66:1.
Empire reports a 1.85 transfer. ???

 

[David Tolsky]

It looks pretty darn great on a 9' wide Stewart Firehawk 1.78:1 screen :- )

Another exerpt from the book: "The idea behind horizontal Vista Vision was impressive.
Theaters equipped with CinemaScope were to retain their screen width but increase the screen height to encompass the 1.85:1 (the image was cropped somewhat) aspect ratio of Vista Vision".

David, the current release is 1.85:1.

 

[David Von Pein]

does this mean that TTC (the new SCE) will be split over two discs ?

Confirmed here. 2 discs it will be.

 

[rutger_s]

David, the current release is 1.85:1.

Its actually 1.66:1 windowboxed inside a 1.85:1 frame.

 

[David Von Pein]

Its actually 1.66:1 windowboxed inside a 1.85:1 frame.

Huh? How weird is this??

And WHY would a film be presented in this fashion? (Any screenshots of such an unusual '1.66 within 1.85' transfer?)

 

[Qui-Gon John]

According to DVD WIdescreen Review, the current version is 1.78:1 anamorphic.

And the link in the announcement says this new one will be 1.85:1 anamorphic. Not much of a difference.

 

[Brent Bridgeman]

Great movie. I just watched it again a few weeks ago (after re-reading Exodus) and the transfer is really pretty good. I'll be anxious to read reviews to see if it's a new transfer, and if there is any improvement.

I love Billy Crystal's impersonation of Yul Brynner from this film "Moses and the Hebrewites..." (yes, I know "Hebrewites" isn't a word, but I think that's how he said it). Also, I think he does a great impersonation of Edward G. Robinson from this film "Yeah, yeah, you and all the slaves, see....see..." Well, it's alot funnier when it's not written down.

How about a thread on unusual Biblical epic casting:
Edward G. Robinson?
Max Von Sydow, maybe the most Nordic looking man alive, playing Jesus?
Harvey Keitel? I didn't realize Judas was from the Bronx (sorry if that's not Keitel's actual accent).
Donald Pleasence and Fernando Rey as wise men or magi, ostensibly from the Iraq area?
Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate? I keep waiting for him to ask Jesus "Who loves ya, baby?"
And a drawling centurion played by the Duke.

 

[Stephen PI]

Mark Zimmer:
I haven't revisited it in a long time, but the 1999 transfer was certainly very nice for its day. I wonder how it holds up now?

The DVNR dirt/scratch removal was what ruined the first dvd release for me, I just hope that this new release is free of it.

 

[MatthewLouwrens]

Haven't watched this in almost ten years. Would love to ee it again. This sounds like a good release. Exciting.

 

[ChristianLiemke]

Wonderful news, does this mean that TTC will be split over two discs ?

A French DVD-site says, that the movie will be split over two discs. The third disc holds the documentary and the trailers.

 

[Mark_TS]

If I recall correctly, I believe that the last transfer was done right as DVD as a format was launched, in 1997 -even thought the DVD didnt come out until 1999 (in anticipation of Anamorphic-also used on the LD re-issue in 1997 )so its getting on what, 7 years old?
I would hope this means a new transfer...

 

[Ruz-El]

I've had the previous version in my hands many times but always held off on buying it. This one I'll get the day it comes out, unless they screw up the transfer.

 

[Kristoffer]

Same here. I look foreard, but no new transfer no sale.

 

[greg_t]

Same here. I look foreard, but no new transfer no sale.

Same here. The current transfer still looks very good. I'll buy for a better transfer.

 

[ScottFH]

Ditto!!!

 

[GregK]

This info is from a closed thread regarding the upcoming DVD:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=181417

I couldn't wait to find out (looks like no one was answering anyway) so called Paramount in Hollywood and asked what were the differences. The girl who answered the phone didn't know right off but she was polite and professional and made a phone call to get my answer. Apparently there will be a new 16:9 enhanced transfer, upgraded 5.1 audio, and 6 new documentaries added to the extras. There may be other differences but that is basically what they said.

So based on this unconfirmed info, the new SE may have a new transfer. And the "upgraded 5.1 audio" has me puzzled. The original multi-track mag mix for "The Ten Commandments" has been considered lost for some time, with various stereo remixes or 5.1 remixes made for the previous LDs and DVDs. I wonder if the original mag tracks have surfaced? Or perhaps yet another 5.1 remix has been made for this new release? Then again, with this being 2nd hand, maybe it's still the same 5.1 remix that was used on the last DVD and LD....

 

[ChristianLiemke]

The Press Release sais, that this will only be a 2-disc-set, NOT a 3-disc-set:

Running Time: 220 minutes (231 minutes including overture/intermission/exit music)
S.R.P.: $19.99 (C$21.99 in Canada) Two DVD-9's

From the Press Release

 

[Dan Hitchman]

I hope Robert Harris chimes in on this release since there seems to have been criticisms by some film buffs of the previous restoration efforts of the negatives and audio tracks for The Ten Commandments.

As I was watching Lawrence of Arabia Superbit I still was slightly disappointed because the widely directionalized dialog (pretty cool) seemed to have been steered mostly to the center channel (ugh).

The R.A.H. effort on Spartacus for Criterion seemed to maintain more of a stereophonic spread than Lawrence. IMHO.

Dan

 

[Robert Harris]

Dan...

What you're hearing in LoA v. Spartacus is the difference between native 3 channel discreet stereo mixes vs. a full 6 channel discreet mix.

LoA never had the directional dialogue of Spartacus.

This is primarily the difference between British stereo mixes of tbe period vs. US mixes, and specifically why Mr. Kubrick had the final reel of 2001 mixed in the US at 6 channel vs. a British 4.

RAH