The Ghost and the Darkness needs a new transfer (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Masters]

Please help to make a new transfer of "The Ghost and the Darkness".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116409/

The cinematogpraphy of Vilmos Zsigmond is masterful, but unfortunately only a very old HD master exits that was used in Germany for two horrible Blu-rays. Maybe this is one of the oldest transfers of the DVD era, they used for Blu-ray.

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=3701

Maybe Kino Lorber, Criterion or Shout Factory could licence this film and make a complete new 2K scan from the original camera negative. Otherwise the film will never presented in the quality it deserves.

 

[skylark68]

Please help to make a new transfer of "The Ghost and the Darkness".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116409/

The cinematogpraphy of Vilmos Zsigmond is masterful, but unfortunately only a very old HD master exits that was used in Germany for two horrible Blu-rays. Maybe this is one of the oldest transfers of the DVD era, they used for Blu-ray.

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=3701

Maybe Kino Lorber, Criterion or Shout Factory could licence this film and make a complete new 2K scan from the original camera negative. Otherwise the film will never presented in the quality it deserves.

I have the old DVD, never upgraded to any of the bluray transfers. I would love a proper US release that has been done well. This was always a favorite film of mine, even though it was changed a bit from Patterson's original book. Val Kilmer was excellent.

 

[Randy Korstick]

Please help to make a new transfer of "The Ghost and the Darkness".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116409/

The cinematogpraphy of Vilmos Zsigmond is masterful, but unfortunately only a very old HD master exits that was used in Germany for two horrible Blu-rays. Maybe this is one of the oldest transfers of the DVD era, they used for Blu-ray.

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=3701

Maybe Kino Lorber, Criterion or Shout Factory could licence this film and make a complete new 2K scan from the original camera negative. Otherwise the film will never presented in the quality it deserves.

Unfortunately this is owned by Paramount and they have little to no interest in releasing their old catalog. The only deal Kino was able to get with them is for films previously not released on DVD. I believe this is now true for Olive and Shout too.

 

[Malcolm R]

Yep, this is one of my "most wanted" HD/blu titles. But given that it's a Paramount title, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Mr. Masters]

When you look closely, Paramount only distribuite the film:

Production Companies

• Constellation Entertainment (presents) (as Constellation Films)
• Douglas/Reuther Productions (as Douglas/Reuther)
• Bernina Film
• Mont Blanc Entertainment GmbH

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116409/companycredits?ref_=tt_dt_co

So maybe a chance exist.
In Germany, Splendid also release the Rainmaker on Blu-ray. It looks to me, they licence booth films from Douglas/Reuther Productions, not Paramount.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119978/companycredits?ref_=tt_dt_co

 

[Brent Avery]

I purchased the latest version and frankly, projected onto a 128" 2:35 screen it looked pretty decent to me, screen shots do not usually feel the whole story - although no expert I usually notice over sharpening, dnr, etc. and it looks very acceptable. Perhaps you could elaborate for those interested.

 

[Mr. Masters]

I don't think so. :-(
This movie deserve a better transfer. The actual transfer is very old and outdated. Colors are dull, contrast is dull, details and sharpness are not very good. I watched this movie partly over christmas in HD on an 75" LED TV.

Look how good an even older film could look with a newer transfer (Paramount catalouge title, no big remaster like Sony titles):

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a=0&d1=3321&d2=3322&s1=30561&s2=30569&i=0&l=0

 

[Brent Avery]

I will say this much - if one likes the film and nothing else is forthcoming it is at least passable, and by no means that terrible. When watching I never got the feeling that I was looking at something that was unviewable or that was in need of a major restoration or rescan etc. Of course that is just me and remember, this was projected and bad transfers readily show themselves.


No doubt it could be improved but it may never be.

 

[The Drifter]

The Ghost and the Darkness is one of my favorite '90's films & extremely underrated these days. Excellent & epic adventure story, in the spirit of old-time Hollywood flicks like Bogart's The African Queen, etc. Val Kilmer & Michael Douglas are excellent here, and the incredible scenery of the open African plains is truly fantastic.

This definitely needs to be on Blu - or at least a better DVD transfer. The existing R1 DVD has a cropped/non-anamorphic transfer, and looks awful.

 

[dpippel]

It's already available on Blu-ray, just not in Region A.

 

[The Drifter]

It's already available on Blu-ray, just not in Region 1.

Thanks - I'm aware of the German (I think) Blu, but don't believe that plays on Region 1 Blu-ray players. I was specifically requesting a Region 1 Blu/DVD upgrade over the existing version.