We are delighted to be releasing the beautiful 4K digital restoration (from the VistaVision negative) of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Vertigo theatrically from the 13th of July – and we want to share the new 60th Anniversary trailer and poster with you. Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, the all-time favourite of film critics and fans alike, Vertigo, will screen in Cannes Classics Cinema de la Plage on the 15th of May, before its 60th Anniversary release across the UK on the 13th of July. (Source: Park Circus)
Could a new blu ray be on its way this fall?!
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Unless they mean the separations, I'm not exactly sure if Park Circus knows what they're talking about when they say "VistaVision Negative".
I’m in for a new blu-ray, a 4K blu would be amazing!
Why, are the original cut negatives faded beyond use, or unusable?
Yeah they were in pretty dire shape back in 1995.
I bought my first 4k television (Panasonic OLED) last week and a UHD blu-ray would be very welcome, as would North by Northwest.
I'd be very interested to hear Robert Harris' opinion of this "beautiful 4K digital restoration" as he knows this film and the elements so well.
I’ve spoken with him, and his opinion is simple.
Generally, it looks terrific. Still some niggling problems, and a bit a digital massaging to be done.
Digital technology is able to dig deeper into a negative, and because of its size, grain does not seem to have been a problem.
Is Harris happy with Universal’s work in this?
Generally, yes!
Can't wait! My wish list for the blu ray release:
1) original mono track choice
2) Kim Novak commentary
Is this the same master that was used for the existing blu-ray or a new one?
I've only seen Vertigo once, and I'd love to see it again. I guess I'll hold out until a 4K Blu Ray is released.
If a new disc does happen this year, a set of some new extras would be great! The stuff on the current disc is old, 1996 AMC documentary and so forth. We need something up to date.
The mono track is available on the existing blu-ray.
The mono track is only available on the existing US Blu-ray.
Fixed it for you. 🙂
This sounds very intriguing. Is the tower sequence at the end still too light, like the Blu-ray? I recall RAH's commentary that 1958 Technicolor prints rendered those scenes darker, that Hitchcock wanted to emphasize flashes of jewelry, and that's what he went for in the 1996 restoration; the original DVD conveyed that.
The opening rooftop scene also appeared too light in the Blu-ray. I'd be very interested to know if that has been corrected (although granted, these might be video mastering choices and not necessarily reflective of the actual studio master).
Of course there's also the matter of the faded background in Bernard Herrmann's title card, color issues in some shots in the first museum scene and the tower finale, etc. And many of the fadeouts/fadeins appear too early/late on the Blu-ray.
I don't know how this would look on a UHD release, but it would be nice to find out.
22 years ago:
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-06-16/entertainment/ca-15471_1_restoring-vertigo-heights
I'm happy to see that you are on speaking terms.
Is this going to be a one/two night release (like the Fathom events) or something longer? Can’t wait to see it again!
Yes, but from my understanding, their words are "few"… 😉
Yes, but from my understanding, their words are "few"… 😉
Fortunately, I do not suffer from any form of vertigo.
A fear of heights, though, may be a different matter.
Nonetheless, from where I stand, this new announcement has brought me to dizzying proportions.
Fortunately, I do not suffer from any form of vertigo.
A fear of heights, though, may be a different matter.
Nonetheless, from where I stand, this new announcement has brought me to dizzying proportions.
As long as “Harris” is Happe I am Happy 😉 – Thanks again !
NOTE to a mod: Please fix the spelling of the director's name in the threads' title. Thanks.
VERTIGO released in 4K UHD would be a real sensation!
Any Hitchcock on UHD will be a day one buy for me, especially VERTIGO, NORTH BY NORTHWEST and TO CATCH A THIEF.
I fell in love with these classic Hitchcock pictures since the return of the five "missing" Hitchcock films in 1984. VERTIGO didn't look bad in 1984 when Universal / Mr. Pollock and Mr. Katz re-released the films, though. (15 years before the restoration of Mr. Harris and Mr. Katz)
Mr. Katz and Mr. Pollock (former Executive VP of MCA and Chairman of Universal Pictures) discussed the restoration in Jan. 2017 after a screening of VERTIGO. (highly recommended)
https://www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock-events/expanded-hitchcock-vertigo/
The current Blu ray was released in May of 2014. It’s time!!
I have to agree and I would also want to see Vertigo be released on 4K UHD Blu-ray! This is something that is missing with 4K and that is classic titles! Correct me if I am wrong but there is no true classic titles in 4K UHD Blu-ray at this time other than Bridge Over River Kwai. When Vertigo is released on 4K Blu-ray it will be a must buy!
Any restoration of Vertigo, particularly one whose principal purpose is improve the visual elements, is most welcome indeed. A truly great film.
Mr Katz's memory has faltered a bit insofar as comments about the recording sessions of Bernard Herrmann's score. For example, Muir Mathieson conducted The Sinfonia of London [not the LSO]; and, later on, an unnamed orchestra comprised of the best musicians in Vienna. The VSO was not employed.
Is the current 4K master coming mostly from the camera negative and the separations? And were the separations digitally combined?
I'm confused. According to this post from 2014, "Vertigo was scanned in 4k by Universal for the Blu-ray" already.
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/posts/4122836/
So, has there been another new 4K restoration since? Or Park Circus just saying that it's new for UK cinemas?
+1
Also, aside from Vertigo, what Hitchcock films are ready / could be made available with minimal work for UHd Blu Ray???
Clearly most of the films in the box set are not ready for anything. Vertigo could use another pass, frankly, and then Psycho, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, and Family Plot, not to mention The Trouble with Harry and The Man Who Knew too Much all need new 4K transfers – those were all from old masters and most of them are really bad.
Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, Notorious, North by Northwest have been restored in 4K.
Thanks!
I heard about north by northwest.
I’m hoping we see some of these on UHd Blu Ray in the next few months.
Not likely, I'm afraid. Cohen Media Group has Jamaica Inn and Criterion has Rebecca and Notorious. Both companies haven't released any 4K Blu-ray yet. Also, I don't think Jamaica Inn is commercially viable enough. And Notorious is released in January this year, so even if Criterion should go 4K tomorrow, they wouldn't upgrade it so soon.
I guess Vertigo and North by Northwest are two most likely titles for now, since they are with major studios and two of the most popular Hitchcock films. Then again, both Universal and Warner Bros. haven't released any old Hollywood movie in 4K Blu-ray yet, so I wouldn't hold my breath…
A proper restoration of Trouble With Harry and Man Who Knew Too Much would require going back to something resembling the original 8-perfs, which Universal either doesn't possess or simply can't use due to deterioration.
Otherwise I wouldn't bother trying to get a 4k scan out of a 4-perf reduction dupe from the mid-80s. It's already compromised.