The Ultimate Hitchcock DVD & Blu-Ray Thread

[Guest 53019]

Originally Posted by Douglas R

Establishing the correct ratio for Dial M for Murder has been bothering me for some time but this seems to confirm that the film was composed for, and was originally theatrically shown at 1.85:1. So the R2 DVD is correct.

Yep, after years of having full screen transfers of this film I was thrilled when I got the region 2 DVD - it's perfectly framed and the film looks great in its original ratio.

[Guest 18933]

I'm still not personally convinced that 1.85:1 is the best ratio, especially if the theatrical matte was the same as the R2/4 releases (click for larger version of the image).



The R2/4 transfer crops a lot of image from the bottom of the frame, which is predominantly where the 3D objects are placed (vases, etc).

The R1 transfer retains much more of the original frame, although obviously both transfers are cropped.

The original post at HTF incorrectly states that R2/4 packaging claims to contain the "original theatrical ratio". I have the R1 US release as well as 3 of the European releases (UK, Germany, and France) in my collection and only the US disc contains a statement about the theatrical ratio:

standard version presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical release

The previous DVD releases (the R3 from Asia and the 3D bootleg) also had similar framing to the US transfer.

[Guest 57708]

The ideal ratio for 3D is to have no visible bottom to the frame, like Imax. I'm sure Dave (Tips4Tnt) is right that the 3D version of Dial M must have been less aggressively matted than 1.85:1. His screenshots on the Hitchcock Message Board make the differences clear.

I have watched the region 2 DVD simultaneously with a full-screen VHS version and can see that the foregrounded objects - bottles etc - must have been represented by more than their caps.

On the other hand, I find myself agreeing entirely with haineshisway that the film looks great on the DVD in widescreen.

When we get to see a 3D version, I think it will need to be squarer than 1.85:1. But until then, I think I can retire my commercial VHS version, which rather horridly is a double bill with a dreadful panned-and-scanned North by North-West!

[Guest 14055]

I think it's obvious that this film should be full frame.
Just watch the titles.
See:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCom...mformurder.htm

Just look at the first capture and the third.

Cheers
Maggi

[Guest 18933]

James -- if you've got the DVD too, any chance you could compare the VHS and DVD "God's eye" view of Cary Grant leaving the United Nations?

Here's a couple of screen shots I've been sent previously:

VHS:


DVD:


(the diagonal path was missing on the VHS version)

[Guest 57708]

Yup, can confirm that what I see on that old VHS version is pretty much what you have in that screenshot, Dave. I can't take screenshots off my video. It looked rather sharper but covered the same area and omitted the diagonal path, like the squarer one there.

Coincidentally, for the first time this week I spotted - but did not buy - a copy of the commercial VHS of Dial M on a single tape. The four-hour long double-bill turns up quite often as does the solo N X NW. I was beginning to wonder if Dial M had ever been issued individually.

[Guest 57708]

I was rather slow-witted on this one, I failed to notice until now that it's not just a question of mattes but the path itself which disappears! Very odd! Spooks at work?

[Guest 18933]

It is an odd one! The shot must have used a glass matte painting (much like the famous aerial shot of the town burning in The Birds), but as to why two different versions were used?

[Guest 29334]

At test most likely, cut into an earlier work print or editorial version that was mistakenly left in when they locked. Perhaps one of the last VFX shots done for the film, cut in at the last minute but the original version escaped through into the version used in the VHS.

[Guest 61709]

For anybody in the UK who bought the US box but wants the widescreen Region 2, Marks and Spencer are doing a standalone release of Dial M For Murder for £5 in their Christmas sections. Also a few other standalones previously only out in boxes, To Have And Have Not as well as Now Voyager.

[Guest 55328]

I am interested in acquiring the French Universal DVD of Under Capricorn but would like to know if the French subtitles on the English audio track are removeable - please can anyone confirm? I've checked the forums on the Hitchcock Wiki site and there seems to be a conflicting opinion on this issue. Many thanks

[new]

So anybody got this yet?
The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection

Anyone know if Criterion going to re-do all the old Hitchcock's they used to do?

[Guest 52145]

Originally Posted by new

So anybody got this yet?
The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection

Anyone know if Criterion going to re-do all the old Hitchcock's they used to do?

Eagerly awaiting my copy of this. Should be here by now, but I've got a bunch of stuff coming from the US that's taking longer than usual.

[new]

Jackel (or anyone else) - did your copy turn up, & if so have you had time to watch it yet?

[Guest 52145]

Got mine the other day. Was going to watch it Sunday but the Patriots-Steelers game on TV took priority. Had a chapter through, though and I'm happy with it. There's a DVD Beaver comparison including the new release here.

[Livius]

A tip from the Criterion Forum - A ten disc Hitchcock - The British Years coming from Network on Feb. 25.

[new]

Originally Posted by Livius

A tip from the Criterion Forum - A ten disc Hitchcock - The British Years coming from Network on Feb. 25.

Here is the post from that Forum, posted by a some what missed form here these days; John Hodson:

Amazon UK claims what will be a 10 disc 'Alfred Hitchcock: The British Years (Box Set)' is on the way from from Network in February - I've been waiting for something like this for a while. Fingers crossed that not only will the set include the titles in the acclaimed German Concorde box (it must surely), but that they will be of the same very high quality. I'd be hoping for some decent extras, but this being Network, who knows?

A guess, but with Optimum having released an excellent early Hitchcock set this year, I would think the titles Network will license from Granada may be:

Jamaica Inn (1939)
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Young and Innocent (1937)
Sabotage (1936)
Secret Agent (1936)
The 39 Steps (1935)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Downhill (1927)
The Lodger (1927)
The Pleasure Garden (1925)

10 discs; could be more (or less) than 10 films, of course.

[Guest 18933]

Just double checked the French "Under Capricorn" from Universal and I can see why there's conflicting info -- when I play the DVD on my PC the subtitles don't appear, but when I play it on my standalone DVD player they do appear (and can't be removed).

Just got my copy of the new Criterion "Lady Vanishes", so I'll try and get screengrabs added to the site in the next day or two

Great news about the Network set -- it's a shame Granada had so little interest in releasing their Hitchcock titles in the UK. John's list is a correct list of the titles Granada owns the rights to and a release of "The Pleasure Garden" (hopefully not the Rohauer Collection version) would be most welcome! In terms of extras, Hitchcock - The Early Years has appeared on several of the sets licenced from Carlton.

The two British films that I'm not sure who owns the rights to are "Waltzes from Vienna" and "Easy Virtue" (the latter is more likely to be owned by StudioCanal).

[Guest 18933]

Just heard back from Network and I can confirm that the 10 titles listed by John are the ones that will be included in the set! There will be some special features, but they're not able to confirm what these will be just yet.

I think it's highly likely that "The Pleasure Garden" will be in the incomplete Rohauer Collection version (which has scenes missing and all of the intertitle cards were replaced with "Americanized" versions) rather than the more authentic BFI print. I'm basing this on the fact that the Carlton "Early Years" documentary used the Rohauer transfer (the print damage matches the DVD bootleg that's been available for a while).

(edit) Yep -- it's definitely the Rohauer Collection print that they're using in the set.

[Guest 18933]

Network have now added details to their website:

Hitchcock The British Years

Special Features:
* Digitally restored versions of The Lodger, The 39 Steps, Sabotage, Young and Innocent, The Lady Vanishes and Jamaica Inn
* Cinema: Alfred Hitchcock – unseen for forty years, Mike Scott interviews Hitchcock about his life and career
* Aquarius: Alfred the Great – taken from the 1972 arts programme, this show includes candid photography of Hitchcock filming Frenzy in London
* Charles Barr On… - a series of featurettes in which film historian Charles Barr introduces and analyses each of the ten films contained within this set
* On Location featurettes for both Sabotage and The 39 Steps, introduced by Robert Powell
* Original theatrical trailer for The Lady Vanishes
* Hitchcock: The Early Years - 25 minute documentary covering Hitchcock’s pre-war career
* Script PDFs for The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes and Jamaica Inn
* Image Galleries
* Introductory booklet written by Charles Barr
* More TBC