The Searchers what a picture!

[Ewan154]

Watched the The Searchers on blu-ray last night all I can say is If only all blu-rays looked like that

[the_pauley]

Agreed. Have this on HD DVD and it really impresses people. I think what makes it all the more impressive is that it is over 50 years old and no one expects a movie that old to look that good. You should check out Warner's Hi Def releases of Casablanca and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Equally impressive.

[HummerUK]

Good old VistaVision

One of it's plus points was the depth of field it made avaialble thus making everything so crisp and sharp.

Not like these modern movies where they don't even use a tripod.

North By Northwest, White Christmas, The Ten Commandments, Gunfight At The OK Corral and The Court Jester were also shot in VistaVision so these also should look pretty good when released on Blu-Ray.

BTW, White Christmas with Bing Crosby was the first full length movie shot in VistaVision which is 35mm film running horizontal.

See http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/wide...avisionref.htm for info on VistaVision.

HummerUK

[Dutch]

Yep, more VistaVision please!

Steve

[IAN P]

Yep,this film looked superb(considering the year it was shot),and also The Dirty Dozen looked splendid compared to the sd dvd.

[blaster9999]

This does look good add forbidden Planet to the classic warner list. I was dumb enough to buy Robin Hood in sd did it look poor (more NTSC than pal even!)

[HummerUK]

Forbidden Planet in HD is okay, just...

HummerUK

[Nic Rhodes]

I wish they would get around to issuing more of these oldies.

[AES256]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

I wish they would get around to issuing more of these oldies.

Of all the oldies released in HD so far (let's say that "oldies" is prior to 1975?), most are from Warner, with a few from Universal, Studio Canal and Paramount (The Sting, Spartacus, Grande Vadrouille, Shadow Army, Star Trek season 1):

The Adventures of Robin Hood - 1938
Casablanca - 1942
The Searchers - 1956
Forbidden Planet - 1956
Rio Bravo - 1959
Spartacus - 1960
Mutiny on the Bounty - 1962
Viva Las Vegas - 1964
Battle of the Bulge - 1965
Grand Prix - 1966
La Grande Vadrouille - 1966
Star Trek season one - 1966
Bullitt - 1968
2001 A Space Odyssey - 1968
The Wild Bunch - 1969
L'Armee des Ombres - 1969
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - 1971
The Getaway - 1972
The Cowboys - 1972
Enter the Dragon - 1973
The Sting - 1973
Blazing Saddles - 1974
That's Entertainment - 1976

And Warner seems to be our best bet for the future as well, with, amongst others, the announcement of The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind.

[BrianPK]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

I wish they would get around to issuing more of these oldies.

Yeh! I've nearly exhausted my HD DVD requirements now.I've Battle of the Bulge,Searchers and Spartacus on the way and will possibly call a halt.I've bought about 30 since Christmas but not particularly interested in the majority of modern films.
I'd swallow my pride and join the Blu R. boys immediately if such greats as the Vikings.True Grit,Ben Hur,Last of the Mohicans,Age of Innocence,Dr.Zhivago,Back to the Future,El Cid etc,etc.........if only Why are these studios so bloody slow with releases? They probably realise that most HD purchasers are young males under 25 and so have no incentive to release the old films.

[nikonkid]

Hhhmmm,I wonder how long it takes to make a BR film,that is convert from SD to BR. Something like Beh Hur.

Any ideas.

[the_pauley]

Originally Posted by nikonkid

Hhhmmm,I wonder how long it takes to make a BR film,that is convert from SD to BR. Something like Beh Hur.

Any ideas.

Well the one thing that doesn't happen is SD being converted to Blu ray / HD.

[HummerUK]

Ben Hur was shot using MGM Camera 65. Only two movies were ever shot in this format.

The last DVD release of Ben-Hur was taken from an original print and I assume this will be used for the Blu-Ray release due next year.

See
http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/special/camera65.htm
and
http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/Widescreen/c65story.htm
for more info.

HummerUK

[BrianPK]

Originally Posted by HummerUK

The last DVD release of Ben-Hur was taken from an original print and I assume this will be used for the Blu-Ray release due next year.

HummerUK

I'll be geting my ist Blu -Ray player next year then

[brian s]

Originally Posted by HummerUK

Forbidden Planet in HD is okay, just...

HummerUK

I've only seen this on SD 4/3 TV but I read something years ago that said it looked brilliant on the big screen. TV couldn't reproduce the almost 3d style of the film. From your comments I'd say you think the Hd version isn't much better than the TV presentation.

All the best
Bri