Warner Archive Blu-rays vs. iTunes HD Digitals (1 Viewer)

[Cranston37+]

so The Wrong Man on iTunes uses a different hd transfer than Warner archive Blu ray??

Correct.

 

[Randy Korstick]

so The Wrong Man on iTunes uses a different hd transfer than Warner archive Blu ray??

It uses an older HD master the same one you would see on TCM.

 

[Osato]

It uses an older HD master the same one you would see on TCM.

great to know.

I wouldn’t have known this. So these are never updated in iTunes??

 

[Cranston37+]

great to know.

I wouldn’t have known this. So these are never updated in iTunes??

Nope! But if we could get people to believe us, this thread wouldn't exist

 

[Osato]

Nope! But if we could get people to believe us, this thread wouldn't exist

good to know!!

 

[cda1143]

So these are never updated in iTunes??

Nope! But if we could get people to believe us, this thread wouldn't exist

I think we need this thread to deal with the question of what are "these" in Osato's post.

... This is from the last Warner Archive email I received on 4/28:

...with 47 classics from Warner Archive available on iTunes for $4.99 each! ... ready to download at the touch of a button, but all of them available in 1080p HD! ...

Since they are being sold under the Warner Archive banner,...

Not only sold, but promoted on iTunes by Warner Archives, as Warner Archive titles - hence the confusion about what "these" are.

Robert explains it very clearly below, but still - those are an awful lot of conditions, spanning all prior releases of a title (disc and digital) to keep track of. And even our host Robert, with all his expertise, had to go through a lot of research before developing his formula to answer this question.

... but just remember it has to be a movie title that was originally released on Blu-ray by Warner Archive Collection. It can't have a prior Blu-ray release from Warner Home Video or Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

And yet still - there might be the rare exception:

...but since no other HD master was available for those titles ...(Innocent Blood), naturally the HD version added to iTunes had to be the latest master....

Innocent Blood is an interesting case: First and only domestic Blu-ray release on Warner Archive. Prior to this, it was only available in SD on iTunes (as far as we know). It's now available in HD on iTunes, but it's not under the Warner Archive Collection.

Everyone reading this thread is most certainly a Warner Archives fan and supporter, but Warner Archive have created this confusion, and they're doing nothing to ameliorate it.

Our host and contributors are performing a valuable service. Thanks to all of you.

 

[Cranston37+]

Curious to see if any Warner Archive product makes its way to HBO Max. TCM and Criterion will both have a presence there.

 

[JPCinema]

I am still waiting for HD upgrades of SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN, HOME FROM THE HILL, THE BOY FRIEND, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN. All of them were released on Blu Ray quite awhile ago. It took quite awhile for UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN to be upgraded to HD. Finally it is in HD.
When BILLY BUDD was released on Blu ray... on ITunes, BILLY BUDD appeared in a lackluster SD version. SUSAN SLEPT HERE was released on Blu Ray but an SD version on iTunes is only available for rental only. I am baffled as to what strategy WB uses...I'm thinking... none.

 

[Mark-P]

Well it looks like at least one WAC Blu-ray transfer got updated to iTunes: Jonny Quest. iTunes added the HD versions for sale. I own the SD. My SD access now appears to be the new transfers. I’m not going to pay iTunes another $25 for HD version. if I get it in HD it will probably be the Blu-rays, unless iTunes puts it on sale ridiculous cheap.

 

[dpippel]

The Blu-ray is currently right at twenty bucks on Amazon.

 

[JPCinema]

Tuesday-Thursday THE GOONIES was on iTunes in 4K and Dolby Vision. Today, Friday its back to being in HD. Very weird.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Tuesday-Thursday THE GOONIES was on iTunes in 4K and Dolby Vision. Today, Friday its back to being in HD. Very weird.

Not really, obviously, somebody at iTunes jumped the gun by about three months when the 4K disc comes out. The same thing happened with "The Wizard of Oz". I kind of expected this to happen once I read Bill Hunt's reporting that the release date is in September. It's very unfortunate, but, it happened before and it's going to happen again.

 

[JPCinema]

I remember a few ago CASABLANCA was listed 4K.....but disappeared days later.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I remember a few ago CASABLANCA was listed 4K.....but disappeared days later.

I don't remember that!

 

[Mark-P]

It was an iTunes banner ad in the storefront that mistakenly had 4K on it. Casablanca was never actually in 4K on iTunes. They do that a lot with Disney titles, getting Sam all excited, and then correct the banner without the 4K emblem.

 

[Cranston37+]

Alright fellas - I scored one for HTF

As you know Warner Archives has a great podcast talking about their new releases every week. At the end of the podcast they read listener e-mails, so about a month ago I thought what the heck and sent them one of the questions we have been talking about in this thread.

And today the read and answered it!

Fire up the episode "Dazzling Doris and Debra" and go to the 39:45 mark...

‎Warner Archive Podcast: Dazzling Doris and Debra on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Warner Archive Podcast, Ep Dazzling Doris and Debra - Jun 16, 2020

podcasts.apple.com

 

[Osato]

Alright fellas - I scored one for HTF

As you know Warner Archives has a great podcast talking about their new releases every week. At the end of the podcast they read listener e-mails, so about a month ago I thought what the heck and sent them in the question we have been talking about in this thread.

And today the read and answered it!

Fire up the episode "Dazzling Doris and Debra" and go to the 39:45 mark...

‎Warner Archive Podcast: Dazzling Doris and Debra on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Warner Archive Podcast, Ep Dazzling Doris and Debra - Jun 16, 2020

podcasts.apple.com

listening now.

 

[Osato]

Alright fellas - I scored one for HTF

As you know Warner Archives has a great podcast talking about their new releases every week. At the end of the podcast they read listener e-mails, so about a month ago I thought what the heck and sent them one of the questions we have been talking about in this thread.

And today the read and answered it!

Fire up the episode "Dazzling Doris and Debra" and go to the 39:45 mark...

‎Warner Archive Podcast: Dazzling Doris and Debra on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Warner Archive Podcast, Ep Dazzling Doris and Debra - Jun 16, 2020

podcasts.apple.com

so.....
Maybe?
Why would platforms not want to upgrade a print? Warner would charge them for the upgrade?

 

[Cranston37+]

so.....
Maybe?
Why would platforms not want to upgrade a print? Warner would charge them for the upgrade?

I had the same question but at least it sounds like they do pay attention to such things.

 

[Mark-P]

Sounded to me like George was passing the buck, saying it is the digital platforms declining to upgrade to the new transfers. Okay, it’s good to know that Warner isn’t holding them back. I guess we need to hassle iTunes to update their files!