The best pre-1960s transfers? (1 Viewer)

[Jon Robertson]

I'm trying to get a friend of mine into DVD, but he loves older films, and is pretty suspicious of digital telecine technology as many of his "restored/digitally remastered" VHS tapes use decidedly ragged prints, so I need to show him that older films can look absolutely amazing on DVD.

Some absolute jaw-droppers I can think of are:

Written on the Wind

Citizen Kane

And God Created Woman

North by Northwest

Vertigo

Black Narcissus

The Red Shoes

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Any more?

 

[DaViD Boulet]

Rebecca (criterion) sports a STUNNING 3-D transfer that looks as good as projected film on a big-screen.

Many of the Warner B&W films are excellent too. Dark Victory was a pretty good transfer if I remember.

The Birds

Time Machine (Robert Taylor)

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Funny Girl (WOW...what a transfer!!!!)

Lion in Winter (1968)

Lost Horizon (1937) (varies in quality with elements, but some parts are very good...also looks good on a big screen)

Man for All Seasons

Passion of Joan of Arc, The - Criterion Collection

those are some that I have that I think have excellent transfers.

 

[Matt Pelham]

How about Bridge on the River Kwai? Very good transfer.

 

[John Torrez]

North By Northwest

 

[Brian W]

I would put Written on the Wind and NXNW on top too.

My other picks-

Now Voyager

Rebecca (Criterion)

His Girl Friday (Columbia, not the public domain versions)

It Happened One Night

Snow White

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Bus Stop

West Side Story

Funny Girl (also had to list, though 1968 ,not "pre-60's")

Lion In Winter (also not "pre 60's" but not bragged about enough and also had to include it)

Annie Get Your Gun

Citizen Kane

All That Heaven Allows (great companion to Written on the Wind, though WOTW is the most definitive 50's Technicolor transfer that I've seen to date)

more I could mention but these come to mind right now...

 

[Jack Briggs]

The Casablanca DVD is gorgeous, as are It's a Wonderful Life and Harvey. This format does tremendous justice to these classics.

 

[Thomas T]

Written On The Wind

North By Northwest

Casablanca

Born Yesterday

Little Women (stunning transfer for an almost 70 year old film)

Vertigo

Rebel Without A Cause

Reap The Wild Wind

The Searchers

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Duel In The Sun

Pillow Talk

The Conqueror (lousy film but gorgeous widescreen transfer)

 

[Brook K]

42nd Street

Bob Le Flambeur

Children of Paradise

Nosferatu

 

[Jerry C]

I'm pretty happy with the transfer on Rear Window. Terrific movie as well.

 

[Patrick McCart]

City Lights

The Bride of Frankenstein

Harvey

Nosferatu: Special Edition (red-cover)

It Happened One Night

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Wizard of Oz: Special Edition (WB)

Citizen Kane

The Maltese Falcon

Dumbo

Arsenic and Old Lace

Casablanca

Notorious: Criterion

It's A Wonderful Life

North By Northwest

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Jon,

You need to tell us what you mean by "older". Pre 1970? Pre 1960? Pre 1950?

Don't miss The Third Man......that's got to be an 'older film' no matter what the definition.

 

[Mark C.]

Singin' in the Rain and The King and I are both beautiful to look at.

 

[Dave H]

I would have to say 2001 (remastered) and The Time Machine are quite good - even though these aren't pre-1960, I thought they may be close enough.

 

[Jon Robertson]

Jon,
You need to tell us what you mean by "older". Pre 1970? Pre 1960? Pre 1950?

I thought the title header explained all.
Thanks everyone - these are some really good suggestions, but by all means keep them coming - another DVD supporter is at stake (and one who is voraciously pro-OAR and respectful of the director's wishes at that) - he just wants to be SURE he's getting into something good now; he's very aware of HDTV, but I assured him DVD will be around for a good few years yet as it's so popular, and the quality is already outstanding.
I'll take all the newly suggested titles down and recommend them to him. Thanks!

 

[Greg_R]

The colors & clarity in the Ben Hur transfer really stood out to me. I also liked Spartacus's transfer (but seem to recall some controversy).

 

[Damin J Toell]

I also liked Spartacus's transfer (but seem to recall some controversy).

The controversy really only came from one source, as I recall. Robert Harris, who restored the film, confirmed that it properly represents the colors as approved by Stanley Kubrick.

DJ

 

[BrianP]

A lot of good suggestions but you should see the Ten Commandments on DVD. Also Rio Grande and Psycho looked good. And Cleopatra is worth a look even though it is a 1963 film.

 

[RoyGBiv]

Some Like It Hot.

One of the best movies ever made (AFI ranked it the number 1 comedy of all time), and a very good transfer.

SMK

 

[Sean Oneil]

The Ten Commandments has some really amazing color in some scenes. Give it a look.

 

[Greg_M]

Black Narcissus

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes