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Been waiting for this upgrade a looong time

I love that they're keeping the novel

Yesterday I saw Howard Hawks’ Ball of Fire (1941) which I liked very much. Gave me an inspiration to see more films from Stanwyck so great timing.

Interesting that they're adding a new interview with Imogen Sara Smith (presumably on western noir as a concept). Does that technically make this a reissue rather than a straight upgrade?

Yes!

soundchaser wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:35 pm Interesting that they're adding a new interview with Imogen Sara Smith (presumably on western noir as a concept). Does that technically make this a reissue rather than a straight upgrade?

I don't know, I associate 'reissue' with more of a kind of full makeover. The forthcoming blu-ray edition will offer the uncompressed mono soundtrack and this additional feature. It appears the packaging and contents will be the same otherwise. The transfer is the same. Feels more upgrade-y to me.

Such great black and white photography, though, really glad to see this title coming to blu-ray.

Psst, I’m the one who designates the distinction for voting purposes

Nevertheless, I submit to you that my reasoning is impeccable.

Beaver review is up:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_ ... lu-ray.htm

While I guess I should be grateful this coming out at all, IMO it isn't much of an upgrade.

I think that looks significantly better in every category B&W upgrades are usually graded by, though: contrast, image depth, detail, film grain... I can almost count Gilbert Roland's eyelashes!

If I recall correctly, this was not on the list of endangered Paramount licenses, right? Still, probably best not to take chances and get this along with the Sternberg silents in the June B&N sale. This is one of my favorite 1950s westerns in spite of the softened ending compared to the novel, which I look forward to re-reading. I was expecting worse when I first read this is from the same twelve, thirteen year old master. Still, shame it's not in 4k like Forty Guns.

I happen to think it looks fantastic for using the source it's using. Cannot wait to upgrade

senseabove wrote:I think that looks significantly better in every category B&W upgrades are usually graded by, though: contrast, image depth, detail, film grain... I can almost count Gilbert Roland's eyelashes!

Might be a good one but it remains a visibly dated master. Highlights are clipped, film grain is too harsh and thick, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's wobbly too.

True, it's not a brand new shiny restoration á la WAC. I mostly meant that if I liked the movie and already had the DVD, I'd still think that was worth the upgrade.

Oh yeah, it certainly is a good HD master, even if dated. I just wanted to remind that it remains the same than what was used on DVD, and thus retains most of its original limitations.

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I'm planning on rereading the novel this week before I watch the blu ray.
I read the novel once before, when the DVD was released and remember really enjoying it.
I'm glad that criterion releases novels sometimes, and wish they would do so more often.

This weekend was a slow one at work for me, so I read Picnic at Hanging Rock and Blazing Guns on the Chisholm Trail as i recently purchased the dual format editions of those.

This has ascended my ranks from solid but mid-tier Mann to one of his best, its novelistic narrative idiosyncrasies played off much more successfully than I remembered. It's curious to read upthread that the film loses people in its last segment, as the dramatic shift requires an additional act to bring the familial and romantic dynamics to their judicious conclusions. The romance does not necessarily need to be resolved interpersonally, but it's surprisingly done so in this case to great effect. Regardless of how I feel towards Corey's off-putting enigma, the characters' flaws match up as well as their strengths do, and I was genuinely surprised the film went there - even if pairing up was the standard Hollywood fare, it feels tacked on here in a daring and somewhat sinister manner. A wonderfully unpredictable and operatic psychological western.