Notorious (1946) Blu-ray Review (Criterion Collection)

AnthonyClarke · Apr 5, 2019

Dammit. Another compulsory purchase. I'm running out of ways to smuggle into the house these double-dips!

dpippel · Apr 5, 2019

Great review Josh, thanks!

Steve Y · Apr 5, 2019

Thanks for the great review, Josh. I bought this sight unseen, my second Notorious purchase on BD, but now I'm really glad I did.

dpippel · Apr 5, 2019

Steve Y said:
Thanks for the great review, Josh. I bought this sight unseen, my second Notorious purchase on BD, but now I'm really glad I did.

It's a pretty significant upgrade. One of the best looking B&W films I own on Blu.

PMF · Apr 6, 2019

Josh, when jotting down "exquisite" on your note pad,
were you responding to Ingrid Bergman or Criterion's transfer?

No doubts on this one, "Notorious" is a front-burner purchase.
Thanks for a most confirming review. :thumbs-up-smiley:

bujaki · Apr 6, 2019

The two Swedes, Garbo and Bergman, gave us the most luminous, exquisite close-ups ever. Bergman, however, irradiated more warmth and humanity than Garbo; but Garbo was...divine.

PMF · Apr 6, 2019

bujaki said:
The two Swedes, Garbo and Bergman, gave us the most luminous, exquisite close-ups ever. Bergman, however, irradiated more warmth and humanity than Garbo; but Garbo was...divine.

As I always say, Liv and let Liv.

Nelson Au · Apr 6, 2019

Great review Josh. I’m really looking forward to watching this disc. I’m still in the 1930’s in my Hitchcock viewing project. But have this disc waiting as I get to it.

Josh Steinberg · Apr 6, 2019

Nelson Au said:
Great review Josh. I’m really looking forward to watching this disc. I’m still in the 1930’s in my Hitchcock viewing project. But have this disc waiting as I get to it.

I look forward to reading your thoughts when you get to it. And I’ve been enjoying your Hitchcock project - I’m glad you took it on!

Scott Merryfield · Apr 6, 2019

Terrific review, Josh... or should I say “exquisite”?

We watched my copy a few weeks ago, and I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. It’s great to have such a fine package of one of Hitchcock’s best film on the shelf.

Josh Steinberg · Apr 6, 2019

I thought I was completely satisfied with the MGM/Fox disc until I saw this. I’ve always liked Notorious but felt that I didn’t love it as much as I was “supposed” to. Seeing this new restoration really felt for me as if I was watching it for the first time, and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed the movie as much as I did this time.

filmnoirguy · Apr 10, 2019

Josh Steinberg said:
I thought I was completely satisfied with the MGM/Fox disc until I saw this. I’ve always liked Notorious but felt that I didn’t love it as much as I was “supposed” to. Seeing this new restoration really felt for me as if I was watching it for the first time, and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed the movie as much as I did this time.

In the past, I've had the same reaction to Notorious, Josh. Looking forward to the Blu-ray and "watching it for the first time."

AnthonyClarke · Apr 10, 2019

My copy went into the post from Amazon yesterday .. should arrive in about 10 days. To save postage, I pre-ordered 'Swingtime' as well .. Amazon charges just one postage cost (about $8) but ship separately. Every dollar saved, when ordering in US dollars, given the parlous state of the Australian dollar.

Johnny Angell · Apr 10, 2019

I gotta ask, what’s it take to get 5 out of 5 for special features? On the surface, this release should be awarded 5 points.

Josh Steinberg · Apr 10, 2019

Johnny Angell said:
I gotta ask, what’s it take to get 5 out of 5 for special features? On the surface, this release should be awarded 5 points.

I always wrestle with the numerical ratings. In this case, I decided not to give it a perfect score for bonus features because there were significant bonus features from the MGM-Fox release that did not carry over. The MGM-Fox disc included two different audio commentaries, an isolated music track, a half hour documentary, two other featurettes, and two audio interviews.

(Typically, this type of bonus material is available for license, or is included in the licensing for the film itself. For instance, Shout Factory's new version of "City Slickers" includes all of the bonus material from MGM-Fox's previous disc.)

And that's why I felt I couldn't give it a perfect score on bonus features; what's there is great, but it's also missing previously produced material. This means that collectors will need to hold on to both editions in order to retain all of the bonus content, which I find less than ideal. On the other hand, I didn't want to leave the impression that it was a poor quality effort, which is why the score is almost perfect.

Johnny Angell · Apr 11, 2019

Josh Steinberg said:
The MGM-Fox disc included two different audio commentaries, an isolated music track, a half hour documentary, two other featurettes, and two audio interviews.

Doesn’t the Criterion have the same two commentaries?

Johnny Angell · Apr 11, 2019

To answer my own question, each versions has two commentaries but all 4 are unique. I know that because the first user review (when sorted by top reviews) has a detailed explanation of the differences in the releases.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JVF7M7...olid=3399ER5R6AD9I&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Nelson Au · Jun 20, 2021

I re-watched this disc last night. Never gets old! And I just re-read your review.

I mentioned in another thread how re-viewing the film last night, it reminded me of the very first time I watched Notorious. I was at my favorite laserdisc shop, the Laserdisc Exchange in the 1990’s and I happen to be there to see someone sell his copy of the Criterion laserdisc of Notorious to the owner of the store. I said to him that I’ll buy that disc right now! The store owner did not even have a chance to put it into inventory! The disc looked brand new and the previous owner must not have watched it more then once. I still own that disc! Watching that disc was the first time I’d seen the film! The wine cellar scene was quite memorable! It was quite cool to see Hitchcock set up the suspense as Devlin knocks the bottle over and has to quickly cover his tracks.

Nelson Au · Jun 21, 2021

Yesterday I finally listened to the Lux Radio Theater play that’s on this disc while cooking. I haven’t heard it before, it had Joseph Cotten as Devlin and Bergmann as Alicia. . It was very interesting as it follows the movies dialogue more or less. But they severely edited scenes out amd I guess for time and probably some scenes were harder to translate to radio. What kind of surprised me was Ingrid Bergman’s performance, it sounded so much like it was exactly the same as in the film. I thought there might be differences in line delivery nuances. Made me wonder if they just lifted her dialogue from the film’s sound track. But after the show was a interview with her and Joseph Cotten. So maybe it was really a live performance in front of an audience. I realize these were done live back in the day. It was neat they left in all the Lux ads and the side bits in the show.

it just wasn’t the same with Cotton in the role of Devlin, but it wasn’t bad!

Notorious (1946) Blu-ray Review (Criterion Collection)

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