Is it actually good because after having to withstand the '30s version a few months ago I'm immediately suspicious of all of these live action versions I haven't seen before.

I suspect that the answer to that will be highly correlated with how much fun the idea of "Alastair Sim plays Scrooge" sounds like to you. If you generally like Sim, then I would expect you to like his version of A Christmas Carol. If you don't find Sim entertaining in general, then this version of the story probably won't stand out to you.

There's no equivocating. This is the best film version by far. Bar none. Period. End of story.

Even better than the Richard Williams version?

I might be inclined to say that the Williams version is actually superior, but it's so hard to come by that it hasn't achieved the endurance of the Brian Desmond Hurst film. However, as Sim provided the voice of Scrooge in the animated film, you might find it interesting to see him playing the role in the flesh as well.

Also, if you were referring to the 30s Hollywood version earlier, the Hurst film is appropriately darker than that version.

Actually, I haven't seen that since it was on TV when I was a kid and had forgotten it existed, but I vividly remember particular images that I now see are from this version. I've been watching every b&w version available for years to try to find those images.

It really is an amazing adaptation by one of the most underrated film makers ever.

So, here are the specs of the "Santa Claus" blu-ray:

Both US English dubbed cut version and Mexican original theatrical version in Spanish
2.35:1 aspect ratio

1: Commentary track by K. Gordon Murray documentarian Daniel Griffith
2: "SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE DEVIL: A Retrospective" Produced by Ballyhoo
Motion Pictures STANDARD DEFINITION
3: Three Archival K. Gordon Murray Short Subjects (in STANDARD DEFINITION):
"SANTA CLAUS AND HIS HELPERS" (1964)
"SANTA'S ENCHANTED VILLAGE" (1964)
"SANTA'S MAGIC KINGDOM" (1966)
4: Deleted Scene (in STANDARD DEFINITION):
"Extended Hades Musical Sequence" (In Spanish Language Only)
5: Original K. Gordon Murray Scenes (in STANDARD DEFINITION):
"Main Titles"
"Toy Factory Musical Sequence"
6: "SANTA CLAUS" Theatrical Trailer (in STANDARD DEFINITION)
7: "SANTA CLAUS" TV Spot (in STANDARD DEFINITION)
8: "SANTA CLAUS" Radio Spot
9: "SANTA CLAUS" Promotional Gallery

I bolded the aspect ratio because apparently, VCI has released it in 1.78:1 by mistake...

Actually, the aspect ratio is correct on the VCI edition. The film WAS released in Mexico using a process known as 'Mexiscope', but this does not mean that it was framed at 2.35:1. Mexican studios used the process as a gimmick. The original aspect ratio of SANTA CLAUS is 1.85:1. The HD master VCI used to restore the film had been re-formated to 1.78:1 (16x9), which is an industry standard for films shot at that ratio. Now, SANTA CLAUS may have originally been shot at 1.37:1 (open matte) and then cropped to 1.85:1 for its theatrical release. "800 leguas Por el Amazonas" was produced the same year as SANTA CLAUS and was also released under the 'Mexiscope' banner. But that film was shot at 1.37:1 and later matted at 1.85:1.

VCI made an error on their product specs, but that is it. I wouldn't let a minor error in the technical specifications on the packaging sway me from enjoying this release. We should all thank VCI for investing their time and energy on such a venture. This is, in my opinion, a VERY misunderstood holiday film!

VCI posted the following on their Facebook page

Oooo, hopefully The Bird with the Crystal Plumage will be a good alternative to the OOP Blue Underground. Please not another Storarofied makeover!

Seriously. I have the Blue Underground, but that film needs to be in print and in the original aspect ratio.

Gorgo on Blu? Count me in! I wonder what else is in store on Monday...

VCI told me in an email yesterday and, in response someone else's question, posted on their facebook page that their Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu-ray will be 2.35:1.

I suspect that their Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu, whenever it is released, will also be blasted with DNR.

And Then There Were None (1945) blu-ray 8/27/13

Great news. Did you find any link for pre-ordering? I saw its up for pre-order @classicflix, but I never bought anything from them! I would love to have this BD in my collection.

ATTWN should be on Criterion, but please at least let this "restoration" be something worth the $5 I'm sure this will cost...

So, we're getting both I Married A Witch and And Then There Were None on Blu-Ray within the near future? That's terrific news! Now if only Kino would step up with It Happened Tomorrow...

They've finally announced their The Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu-ray:


They are also releasing their own White Zombie Blu-ray on the same day.

Isn't the aspect ratio on 'The Bird With the Crystal Plumage' the same as the one on the Arrow Video release which isn't the same as the Blue Underground release? I think it's the one that the DP bloke is trying to force on films he's worked on.

2.35:1 is the correct aspect ratio for Bird (and the way it was presented on the Blue Underground Blu), the Arrow release is cropped to 2:1 because Storaro is an ass. VCI is using the same master that Blue Underground used.

I'm intrigued to see how VCI's White Zombie will compare to the "raw" version on the Kino edition. I wonder if more extras will be announced for these releases or if this is all we get.