Studio Canal/Kinowelt/Optimum

[L.A.]

Some Jacques Becker coming on July 31st: Édouard et Caroline (1951), Casque d'or (1952), Touchez pas au grisbi (1954) and Le Trou (1960).

[Drucker]

Le Trou is playing in a 4k restoration at Film Forum next month, so hopefully this release looks great.

[hearthesilence]

Nice! I was wondering if these would ever get the HD treatment.

[Drucker]

Saw the trailer for Le Trou last night and it looked strong. Grain seemed natural, not clumpy looking like in the Japanese blu-ray screen caps. Hopefully the blu-ray delivers.

[JSC]

Just watched the Studio Canal blu-ray release of La Strada. I haven't seen any
reviews so far so I thought I'd post a few thoughts.

I saw this projected and while the film was certainly watchable, the image appeared a
bit soft in places (with night scenes looking a bit muddy). There are also scenes shot
in bright sunshine where faces almost appear blasted out. On the other hand there
didn't to seem to be much evidence of DNR. I don't know what the state of the film's
source material is, but in comparing it to Criterion's DVD release it was somewhat
underwhelming, especially as the cover art proclaims it as a brand new restoration.

But overall, it's watchable with some interesting extras not on the Criterion disc
including an interview with Giulietta Masina at the Cannes Film Festival.

[Drucker]

Caps A Holic shows the release to definitely be an upgrade, but certainly not a reference quality/knock-it-out-of-the-park upgrade. Wonder how much of this has to do with really bad encodes (like on The Man Who Fell To Earth).

[tenia]

I'm unsure if it's a poor encode or plain DNRed (I'd say the second option).

[david hare]

I'm unsure if it's a poor encode or plain DNRed (I'd say the second option).

I think it's a bit of both. The opening credits are wobbly which suggests the film was not fully "restored". The remaining image quality while OK is really grain less but it doesn't look waxy like DNR, more like they have used a second rate element for the scan. and the audio souinds like it's froma dupe element, thin and boxy. It's a big disappointment. Canal inhouse without any A team handling. and crap compared with the new Canal 4K for M. Lange. which was scanned and graded (I believe) dy Digimage.) BVUt the latter was given full works treatment. Strada has been given cursory treatment.

[Drucker]

Le Trou blu-ray looks like a safe buy and confirms that the Japanese release was weak.

[JamesF]

Studiocanal UK are releasing Blood Simple on Blu-Ray & DVD on October 30th, from the Criterion 4K master and allegedly (according to a user from the other forum) with the following extras:

- New interview with Joel & Ethan Coen
- New interview with M Emmett Walsh
- New interview with John Getz
- Criterion interview with Frances McDormand
- Investor trailer
- Intro by Mortimer Young

[kompromiss]

Some great releases are up for pre-order on amazon.co.uk:
Bunuel Boxset
Melville Boxset

And Hammer films on blu-ray:
Straight On Till Morning
Horror Of Frankenstein
To The Devil A Daughter
Demons Of The Mind
Fear In The Night
Blood From The Mummy's Tomb

But there's no trace of the Fassbinder Boxset. Was it cancelled, or just postponed?

[dda1996a]

How worthwhile are their Tatiana and Godard boxsets? I'm guessing the price will drop for these new boxes? And does Criterion have Le Samourai in the UK?

[domino harvey]

Our thread for the Godard set may be helpful

[Marwood]

How worthwhile are their Tatiana and Godard boxsets?

What is this Tatiana box set? Link?

[dda1996a]

You seemed to not be very happy with the box, that's why I was asking
What about the Tati? Couldn't find any comparisons online for it, only for the BFI/Criterion.
Does StudioCanal have other good director box sets?

[dda1996a]

How worthwhile are their Tatiana and Godard boxsets?

What is this Tatiana box set? Link?

I hate my phone's autocorrect... How is their Tati box? Couldn't find any comparisons online...

[dda1996a]

Could anyone answer regarding the Tati?

[domino harvey]

Threads for the Melville and Bunuel sets

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Our thread for the Godard set may be helpful

In case it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere the new French upgraded box included blus of 'Le Petit Soldat' and 'Made in USA'. From what I can glean there does not seem to be any subs of any description

[Rayon Vert]

Our thread for the Godard set may be helpful

In case it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere the new French upgraded box included blus of 'Le Petit Soldat' and 'Made in USA'. From what I can glean there does not seem to be any subs of any description

I didn't know that box had gotten upgraded with those titles, so I purchased it. I'll report back here when I get it concerning subs for those titles.

The Bunuel box indeed is just in time for the list project, but we're also getting loads of Godards this year which will help out next summer's LP.

[dda1996a]

No one has gotten a hold of their Tati box?

[domino harvey]

StudioCanal is releasing Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express on Blu-ray in the UK next month

[Drucker]

No one has gotten a hold of their Tati box?

The Studio Canal Tati box is worthwhile, but I assume many people posting here bought the nearly identical Criterion box.

Unfortunately, this series of restorations is a bit lacking, and the BFI releases of the first two Tati films are prefereable to the box-set.

If you're a Tati fan or if you have never seen his films, it's a great place to start. Unfortunately, it's just not comprehensive/as perfect as it could have been.

[hearthesilence]

They really dropped the ball by making the alternate cuts/versions SD presentations when true HD masters were available. With those first two films, I actually prefer the original cut of M. Hulot's Holiday and the color version of his debut, which is why I kept the BFI discs.

[Costa]

StudioCanal is releasing Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express on Blu-ray in the UK next month

Along with the other 3 Agatha Cristie movies, which are advertised as "new restoration".
Because I'm always confused with these things, does anyone know if by "new restoration" they mean the 3 year old transfers that were released on bluray?

I wanted to buy those blurays, and I didn't because my favourite one, Death on the Nile, didn't look good at all!