Universal: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

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Doug Cummings
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#51 Post by Doug Cummings » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:47 pm

Umm...that's hardly a counter-argument, he just basically says Kehr doesn't know what he's talking about without offering a single shred of evidence. Lame.

A few posts later, Harris writes: "The reality of the situation is that we were limited in the tools available to restore 'Vertigo' / "Vertigo" to perfection. This is one of those cases where, if we could do a bit of fixing, the image could now be made perfect."

Okay, so it has problems, he admits it. What still needs to be fixed? What doesn't? What things have been "fixed" that shouldn't have been?

BWilson
Joined: Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:06 pm

#52 Post by BWilson » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:48 pm

This set deserves a big red flag.
Got this set last night and decided to watch Marnie first. Dropped it into my Toshiba and it would not load. After turning the player on and off a few times it finnally loaded. On the first shot of the film after the credits (the yellow handbag) the player froze. After a little rewinding it played fine. It played fine all the way through the film. Then, two minutes before the end it froze, jammed, would not play, would not return to menu, and after being turned on and off would not load at all.

I should have heeded all the warnings and not bought any Universal discs. Everything they release is flawed. The biggest problem is the size of this set. What am I supposed to do, watch 14 movies looking for problems? And then when I get my replacement set am I supposed to watch all 14 movies again?

Buy with caution.

Eclisse
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:29 pm

#53 Post by Eclisse » Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:27 pm

BWilson wrote:
I should have heeded all the warnings and not bought any Universal discs. Everything they release is flawed. The biggest problem is the size of this set. What am I supposed to do, watch 14 movies looking for problems? And then when I get my replacement set am I supposed to watch all 14 movies again?

Buy with caution.
You said everything.Every time I buy some crap from Universal I feel like I have to watch the whole thing as fast as I can.So you buy some of the movies you love and it never is a pleasant experience.At all.

Rear Window looks like crap to me.I also watched Vertigo.As it always happens with Universal some of the discs have a lot of scratches.My dvd of "Trouble with Harry" has so many scratches that I will be amazed if it actually works.

Only 15 minutes of the AFI tribute to Hitchcock.The greatest moments of that night are not in here. To me,(again-That means => in my personal opinion)this is not the best DVD Release of the year,month or even week.This is Universal getting your money one last time before HD dvds.It is an "upgrade" (of sorts) but maybe(for some people) an unnecessary one.
Last edited by Eclisse on Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Doug Cummings
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#54 Post by Doug Cummings » Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:41 pm

I'm really curious why the Vertigo mono track should sound so bad?

In the HTF thread linked to above, PatrickMcCart writes:

"The mono track for Vertigo has massive amounts of compression (I mean dynamic range compression, not data compression). There is virtually no depth at all, and whatever the relative levels of music dialog and sound effects were supposed to be in the original mix, you would have a hard time telling by listening to this track."

Robert Harris replies:

"The mono track for "Vertigo," once again, is derived from an assemblege of used 35mm optical prints. What would have been at least partially hidden amongst the components of 1930s to '40s theatre sound systems, in place when the film was released, is now front and center via modern audio playback technologies.

Very, very few films released to DVD from this era are mastered from optical dupes.

You cannot add high or low end where it no longer exists."


...so the question remains, why was Vertigo mastered from optical dupes?

kekid
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:55 pm

#55 Post by kekid » Fri Oct 07, 2005 3:52 pm

I just want to clarify whether the objections raised here against the quality of "Vertigo" and "Rear Window" equally applied to the previous incarnation of these films on DVD, or are they specific to the recent boxed set.

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mbalson
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#56 Post by mbalson » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:51 pm

They are not specific to this set at all. The Vertigo intro thing is a bit annoying however. I just finished watching the new Vertigo disc and it is a HUGE improvement over the older disc. Fine detail and color are vastly improved. People are being extremely rough on this set and while it's not 100% perfect, what set could be that included this many films of this age for under $100? I love it so far. Even the packaging.

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Lino
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#57 Post by Lino » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:03 pm

mbalson wrote: People are being extremely rough on this set
Maybe we all need to upgrade our TV sets and DVD players and I'm not being ironic: my CC copy of The Leopard which should and has every right to look fantastic on my TV, just doesn't. I get better results on PC monitors.

I personally think this is an important point that people are forgetting to consider.

unclehulot
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#58 Post by unclehulot » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:27 pm

Anyone catch this on thedigitalbits.com the other day?

One last note today... we've noticed a strange thing here at The Bits. In going back to a lot of our very early Universal DVD releases (released in 1997 and 1998), we've discovered that many of those discs have simply stopped working in our DVD players. We don't know if the discs' bonding layers have gone bad, or if they're simply not compatible with newer players, or what. Affected so far are our original copies of the special collector's editions of Apollo 13, Psycho, Vertigo and others. We recommend that you check the older Universal titles in your own collections for similar problems. Let us know if you're encountering this as well.

I checked my copies of the 2 Hitchcock titles and ditto.... not a peep out of ANY of my players. Strange, I know I threw these in the player last year at some point. Kind of a scary thought if there are more titles involved.

One more reason I'm keeping the new set, for all of the problems.

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mbalson
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#59 Post by mbalson » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:46 pm

Anyone wanting to know more about the new vs. old transfers should check out this page:
http://www.daveyp.com/hitchcock/dvds/bo ... /index.php

Just select a film, select a screen shot and use their new Javascript screen capture toggler. It works great and really shows how almost all of the new transfers better the old ones.

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Lino
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#60 Post by Lino » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:22 pm

mbalson wrote:...really shows how almost all of the new transfers better the old ones.
Agreed. Vertigo now looks so much better it's unbelievable! And the same goes for almost all the others too. Trouble with Harry looks like a million bucks now!

Of course, this boxset is reserved and aimed to that film lover who wants to have the very best versions of Hitch's Universal movies and in that respect, it delivers in spades. Bravo!

Eclisse
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:29 pm

#61 Post by Eclisse » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:49 am

I changed my mind about this box set because of the "expiration date" on the old discs.

from digital bits:
One last note today... we've noticed a strange thing here at The Bits. In going back to a lot of our very early Universal DVD releases (released in 1997 and 1998), we've discovered that many of those discs have simply stopped working in our DVD players. We don't know if the discs' bonding layers have gone bad, or if they're simply not compatible with newer players, or what. Affected so far are our original copies of the special collector's editions of Apollo 13, Psycho, Vertigo and others. We recommend that you check the older Universal titles in your own collections for similar problems. Let us know if you're encountering this as well.

Back tomorrow. Stay tuned...
=D>

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dx23
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#62 Post by dx23 » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:54 am

The Universal Studios website is reporting that Family Plot, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Marnie, Shadow of a Doubt, and Torn Curtain are going to be released individually on Febraury 7 2006.

http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/c ... F01%2F2006

Anonymous

#63 Post by Anonymous » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:31 pm

Do you think this means they'll release the other titles in the box set individually as well?

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dx23
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#64 Post by dx23 » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:55 pm

Do you think this means they'll release the other titles in the box set individually as well?
Most likely. And it wouldn't surprise me if they re-re-re-released Psycho and Vertigo as part of their deluxe Legacy Series.

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dx23
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#65 Post by dx23 » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:47 am

From thedigitalbits.com:
In other release news, Universal has announced that the Hitchcock classics Frenzy, Rope, Saboteur, Topaz and The Trouble with Harry will each be available in singly on 6/20 (SRP $19.98 each). These are the same remastered versions available currently as part of the studio's Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection box set.

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dx23
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#66 Post by dx23 » Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:32 am

From dvdactive.com:
Title: Alfred Hitchcock Singles
Starring: N/A (Various)
Released: 20th June 2006
SRP: $19.98 Each

Further Details:

Universal Home Video has today announced individual releases of a number of Alfred Hitchcock films. Available from the 20th June will be Frenzy, Rope, Saboteur, Topaz and The Trouble with Harry. Each disc should set you back around $19.98. Rope and Saboteur will be presented in 1.33:1 full frame, along with English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono tracks. The rest will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Disc contents will be identical to those previously available in the recent Alfred Hitchcock boxset, so you can expect production notes, behind the scenes featurettes, trailers and more. We've attached artwork below
Cover art for each release here

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Joe Buck
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#67 Post by Joe Buck » Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:16 pm

I've heard a lot of contradictions regarding the quality of these new DVDs. I did not buy the whole set because I am not really that big of a stickler. Now, as the films begin to be released separately, I dipped my toe and picked up Man Who Knew Too Much as it is one of my favorites and the previous DVD left much to be desired. Based on my A-B comparisons, the new version is much better, although still far from perfect. The edge enhancement is a little distracting as well.

Now, obviously I'll get Vertigo, if only for the mono soundtrack. Of the other titles, the only ones I'm really thinking about are Torn Curtain and Rear Window. I've heard that Torn Curtain is dramatically improved. Can anyone verify this for sure?

What's the deal with Rear Window? Is it enough of an improvement for me to invest?

I suppose I may have to get Pycho as well, just for the anamorphic wide screen.

I don't need new versions of movies like Rope and Trouble With Harry, as I barely watched them anyway.

Give it to me straight. Which DVDs are genuine improvements? I mean really noticeable. Do I really need to buy them all?

I like the old packaging, so I will discard the new cases. They are hideous, and those ridiculous cardboard sleeves have to go!

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Gigi M.
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#68 Post by Gigi M. » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:15 pm

Joe Buck wrote: Give it to me straight. Which DVDs are genuine improvements? I mean really noticeable. Do I really need to buy them all?

I like the old packaging, so I will discard the new cases. They are hideous, and those ridiculous cardboard sleeves have to go!
JOE, if you're a Hitch fan, there's absolutely no reason for you not getting this set. Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds and Marnie are the biggest improvements for me.

Anyway, check out Beaver review for any doubts you might still have.

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manicsounds
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#69 Post by manicsounds » Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:53 am

Watched ROPE and I think the quality is much better than the old release.
If you want an example, just watch the Making Of where the quality of the color
is exactly what the old DVD looked like.

This boxset is one of the best deals you can come across, and is essential

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Joe Buck
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#70 Post by Joe Buck » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:01 pm

All right, you sold me on it. I got it from a dealer on Amazon for $59.99 (?!?!) and used 2 gift certs on it, so it only cost me $12!

I believe this when I see it, though. It's a new seller and it's probably a scam.

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subliminac
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#71 Post by subliminac » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:35 pm

Don't be so sure. I bought the Wong Kar Wai box from an Amazon seller for $.99 plus shipping once.

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Joe Buck
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#72 Post by Joe Buck » Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:25 am

Well, the Amazon seller was honest after all and I got me DVDs last night. I checked a few of them out and they do indeed look better, particularly Torn Curtain and Vertigo. I had already seen the new Man Who Knew Too Much transfer and although there are still flaws, I thought it was far superior to the previous version. I had been a bit scared off because some reviewers said it was actually worse than before. One disc that I am not that enthusiastic about is Rear Window, which still doesn't look right to me. The colors look dull. I enjoyed the extra disc, although I concur that they should have included much more of the AFI tribute.

So I am glad I went ahead and upgraded, although the fact that I only paid $9 was a big plus.

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otis
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#73 Post by otis » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:42 pm

Just occurred to me - does the new disc of Vertigo still have the discarded final scene with Scottie and Mitch hearing of Elster's arrest on the radio? It was on the old disc as an easter egg, I think.

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Joe Buck
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#74 Post by Joe Buck » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:12 pm

Yes, although now it is easy to find.

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Gordon
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:03 am

#75 Post by Gordon » Mon May 08, 2006 6:34 pm

Are Universal going to get their act together and release Psycho, Vertigo and The Birds this year, or what? I'd love to buy the box, but I know I'll get a cutoms charge (I live in the UK). Bad marketing by Universal, I feel.

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