Network DVD

[manicsounds]

Huh, bad PQ and non-anamorphic for the last entry? I guess the R1 is the way to go, but I guess I'll just wait until 56 Up is out....

[tojoed]

Carol Reed's Odd Man Out on Blu in May.

[RossyG]

Also coming on Blu...

A Queen Is Crowned (1953 coronation documentary narrated by Laurence Olivier)
This Happy Breed
The Ghoul (Karloff version from 1933)
Things To Come

[antnield]

Ken Russell's films for The South Bank Show, including self-portrait, to be released July 2nd.

[eerik]

These three Blu-rays are now scheduled for 18th June.

Odd Man Out
Home James - a documentary from 1972 which follows James Mason as he revisits his Huddersfield roots and reminisces on his childhood
1972 interview with James Mason
Extensive image gallery
PDF Material
Commemorative booklet

Things to Come
HD restoration of the longest existing version
Virtual Extended Edition a viewing option allowing for the inclusion of text and images from long-missing and unfilmed scenes to present a tantalising what if?
Audio commentary with Things to Come expert Nick Cooper
On Reflection: Brian Aldiss on H.G. Wells 25 minute documentary from 1971
Ralph Richardson interview by Russell Harty in 1975
Extensive booklet (expanded from the DVD set) written by Nick Cooper
The Wandering Sickness an original 78rpm recording
Comprehensive HD image gallery, including many rare stills
HD Merchandise image gallery
US re-release trailer
Script PDF

This Happy Breed
two South Bank Shows, including an extensive feature on David Lean's life and work
original theatrical trailer
re-release trailer
restoration comparison featurette
commemorative booklet by noted British film historian Neil Sinyard
extensive stills gallery, including behind the scenes images
original pressbook and material in PDF format

[tojoed]

Eerik, do you know if they have SDH?

[eerik]

Eerik, do you know if they have SDH?

Sorry, don't know that, but I guess they probably won't have any subtitles.

[antnield]

Network's website lists English subs for all three.

[RossyG]

I've just had a quick flick through the A Queen Is Crowned Blu-ray and it looks sensational, even better than I'd hoped. Old-school Technicolor - even shot on the hoof as here - really does look amazing in HD.

I'd highly recommend it as a piece of social and filmic history.

[manicsounds]

This Happy Breed BD review

[Lifeforce]

I received Odd Man Out and Things To Come, they both look great in 1080p.
The James Mason extras alone are worth twice the price IMO.

TTC has some lovely grain structure present and is a revelation projected on a 120" screen, and the extensive booklet is a meaty read. Hope to watch OMO this evening.

[RossyG]

Ye, I've got those. They look terrific. And This Happy Breed has a fabulous pic quality and some amazing extras: two South Bank Show, one of them 2.5 hours long.

[eerik]

The Lodger is finally up for pre-order at Amazon

One of the film-making industry's greatest auteurs, Alfred Hitchcock undoubtedly earned his title as "The Master of Suspense", with his thrilling films loved by the viewing public over a career spanning many decades. Widely regarded as the first true "Hitchcock film", The Lodger is a masterclass in tension, displaying all the trademarks of what was to become known as the typical Hitchcock thriller. Newly restored in High Definition, this release features a brand new orchestral soundtrack by acclaimed musician and composer Nitin Sawhney, performed by the world famous London Symphony Orchestra.

On hearing reports of the seventh murder by "The Avenger", Daisy decides to stay with her parents. She is being courted by Joe, a detective, who gets suspicious when her mother rents a room out to a lodger - to whom Daisy is attracted. While the lodger is out Joe takes the opportunity to search his room - there he finds a gun, press clippings of the killings and a map of the murders...

SPECIAL FEATURES
[] 2 Disc Soundtrack CD by Nitin Sawhney and the LSO
[] Image Gallery (HD)
[] Commemorative Booklet by Hitchcock scholar Professor Neil Sinyard

[TMDaines]

Crap extras.

[domino harvey]

I'm glad the booklet will be commemorative, because I never want to forget the time this Blu-ray came out

[McCrutchy]

Blu-ray.com is reporting that the promised series releases of The Sweeney on Blu-ray are beginning.

The Complete First Series is set for 10 September.

Amazon Pre-order

Special features:

• Brand new High Definition transfer and restoration
  Brand-new commemorative booklet by Archive TV historian Andrew Pixley
  Dolby 5.1 track along with original as-broadcast Mono and music-only tracks
  Interview with Ian Kennedy-Martin
  "Queen's Pawn" introduction by Tony Selby
  Reconstructed titles with original stills
  Reconstructed titles with original stills and shots
  "The Placer" introduction by John Forgeham
  "Cover Story" introduction by Prunella Gee
  "Golden Boy" introduction by Dudley Sutton
  "Stoppo Driver" introduction by Dudley Sutton
  "Big Spender" introduction by Warren Mitchell
  "Abduction" introduction by Wanda Ventham

[RossyG]

They've also put a taster onto YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMlAyZsY7GA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[frankiecrisp]

Can anyone comment on the reviews of This Happy Breed blu- ray on Amazon. They almost all say the picture and sound are out of sync.

[RossyG]

Those reviews date from 2009 and refer to an older DVD version. For some reason, Amazon UK append reviews from previous editions to current ones. It's bloody annoying and quite misleading. They've done something similar to MoC's Pigsty DVD, which must harm sales.

I have the This Happy Breed Blu-ray. I've not watched it, but I had a flick through and the sound seems to be in perfect synch.

[MichaelB]

Those reviews date from 2009 and refer to an older DVD version. For some reason, Amazon UK append reviews from previous editions to current ones. It's bloody annoying and quite misleading. They've done something similar to MoC's Pigsty DVD, which must harm sales.

They did it to Second Run's Mother Joan of the Angels too - I had to append a comment to one of the reviews that was complaining about the crap transfer. A completely legitimate point in 2008, when the review was written, but certainly not valid any more.

(UPDATE: The original reviewer then appended a comment to my comment, and agreed with me.)

Similarly, if you look at the reviews of Valerie and her Week of Wonders, quite a few are clearly of the now-OOP (and terrible) Redemption and Facets versions.

[frankiecrisp]

Thanks for the replys. I do wish amazon would not put old reviews on new versions of albums and films. its very misleading.

[peerpee]

Amazon are a complete disgrace for convolving all reviews for any edition of a film that might ever have been issued.

Entirely useless, not fit for purpose, a gigantic failure of vision and management, and an insult to everyone who uses their site. The problem is, they don't listen or give a shit because no-one can touch them. Biggest website out there.

Vote with your wallet.

[MichaelB]

Interestingly, though, they did get rid of the old reviews of various bootleg editions of The Devils, even though they initially accompanied their listing for the BFI edition.

Mind you, the biggest problem with that one was the number of "reviews" by people who'd read the BFI specs but who couldn't possibly have watched the actual DVD - at least a dozen were published before the producer had even signed off on the checkdiscs!

[domino harvey]

They used to at least say what edition it was a review of, with a link to that listing. Now it's all just blended together

[criterion10]

On Amazon, the release date of the Ken Russell South Bank Show has been changed to December 31, 2013. Does this mean that something went wrong, and the boxset is no longer coming out?