MERGED: Ultra-Resolution on Singin' in the Rain...

[thaggas]

This is pasted from IMDb's news page for Tuesday. I can't wait to see this and DVDfile's review. Who's the lucky reviewer that gets this one? And why didn't someone think of restoring a film this way before?!?


What a Glorious Feeling! 'Singin' In The Rain' Is Restored

Warner Home Video has demonstrated a new digital process, called Ultra-Resolution, that it has used to remaster the classic Technicolor musical Singin' in the Rain for DVD, due to be released on Sept. 24. As Video Store magazine describes the process in its online edition today (Tuesday), the process involved scanning the 443,424 separate frames of the three "master positives" of the Technicolor film. (The original Technicolor process involved using a camera that exposed three rolls of film simultaneously, producing yellow, cyan and magenta images. These were then used to print the individual frames onto celluloid stock with ink, producing the full-color film.) The digital images were then combined electronically, adjusting for aging and film shrinkage. The result, according to Richard May, Warner's chief of film preservation, are images that exceed the clarity of the original. "I don't remember ever seeing so much detail," he told the trade magazine.

[jonathan_little]

I hope Warner doesn't throw this in one in a snapper.

[downhuman]

Sounds extremely cool but I'm sure some film purists out there are really going to scream bloody murder.

[John D. Moore]

If any film deserves it, it's this one.
This is me who can't wait till this September 24th.
A 2-disc set in a snapper is an abomination. I hope that's not true. (The cover art doesn't look like it was designed for snapper to me but I could be wrong) (I could)

[SolidSnakeASS]

I'm crossing my fingers for Kane-style packaging on all the new Warner 2-disc SEs.

[Welles and Ford Fan]

Sounds really cool. My wife is gonna love this, and I can trade in the old DVD we have.

The restoration process sounds like it would benefit all the great three-strip technicolor films, if they ever decide to release them on DVD. Besides musicals, the colorful epics like Ivanhoe could look stunning.

[BubbleGumUK]

I also heard that Warners were cleaning up "An American In Paris", or at least doing an SE of it.

Anyone know if this is what will be included in the "Gene Kelly Collection" box set?

It should have the new "SITR", "On The Town" and "AAIP", but I don't want to buy the collection and then have the new "AAIP" come out.

Will this be in the set??

[BubbleGumUK]

Anyone have any ideas on this?

[redshifter]

*sigh* looks like i'm going to have to buy this one again.

a bit of trivia for you all: did you know that technicolor master positives are not traditional film stock? they are actually lithographs, the same process artists used to create prints. real technicolor is still considered one of the best ways to shoot films, but is very expensive.

[Kris7]

Yes it will be a Citezen Cain style packing, HTF has reviews and pictures up....looks great!!! http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=94523

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=94524

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=94526

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=94525

[3DMan]

FUCKIN A

[Morticia]

I am soooo stoked to get this film! I was really really looking hard at the previous edition earlier in the year, when I heard that the SE was coming out.

Technicolor is scrumpdillyishous! Thanks redshifter for that bit of trivia. That totally explains why the phrase "they don't make em like they used to" really applies to the glorious Technicolor days!

[John D. Moore]

Wow. Am I ever glad I didn't pick up the original release. This is one of my top 5 and... geez, that's frickin' beautiful.
And dammit, now I have to buy Amadeus blind. Ungh. (I've seen clips before, but nothing more than 10 minutes) Good thing I don't have a life outside movies or I'd REALLY be broke...

[Prancer]

Wow, the links to the specs were AWESOME! Thanks Kris7!

I've never seen 'Singin' in the Rain' and can't wait to see it. I asked my friend if it was good and he said yes. I said not better than 'The Sound of Music' and he said just as good but different.

MmmMMMM!! Can't wait!!!

Singing in the Rain and Amadeus!

Buffy and Smallville season premiers!

What great day to be alive!!!

[Naminator]

What A Glorious Feeling indeed...

I want this one... badly. I want it like Hannibal wants flesh and blood. I watched this movie to death when i was 8 years old, but i forgot about it entirely... until i saw it again on PBS last year.

It renewed my faith in movies.

[disclover]

If anyone has not already read it, DVDFile's review is up and it is very positive. I am glad I held off on buying this until now. Time to put yet another VHS up for sale online and get this SE. A truly great film, the best-photographed, best-choreographed...heck, the best film musical ever made. No other exploits the medium better than SITR.

[tronmaster]

Ooooh! I love this film. Got it on Laserdisc. Was going to get the previous DVD until I heard of the 2 Dvd Set.

I can't wait!!

[Loungeophonic]

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is one of my all-time favorites. I’ve seen it countless times (somewhere in the high 70’s) in I.B. tech, faded Metrocolor, and low fade 35 mm and 16mm prints. I have owned this film on Beta, VHS, 3 different laserdisc editions, a super 8 sound cut down and now 2 DVD releases. The new DVD of SITR is a mixed bag at best.....

As many of you know, Warner Home video has just released a NEW 50th anniversary edition of SITR on DVD. Let’s get the good news out of the way first: SITR has never looked so clean. This crisp, cracker jack digital clean-up is amazing to look out. The detail blows you away. All the dirt and cue marks have been removed (yes, even the red dot on the door in the MAKE ‘EM LAUGH number!) digitally. Warners has done a bang-up job doing this, BUT........

The color just doesn't JUMP out at you like before---and for the most part, the color lacks any warmth I've seen before in other prints and video masters. The opening credits just lay there--the bright, eye popping blue and yellow/gold is not very eye popping. The pink dresses in ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU are not as bright and colorful as before. The emerald green couch in the MAKE ‘EM LAUGH is a dirty green. Donald O’Connor’s jacket in this number is sort of washed out blue than baby blue. Also some of the skin tones look a bit washed out in other scenes. The end of the film at the Chinese theater as Gene and Debbie sing has a very cold feel to it------yet other scenes like the soundstage number has never looked as rich---the same can be said about MOSES SUPPOESE. Some scenes are dazzling, others are cold and flat. Overall, It’s under saturated digital master.....which has removed some of the magic from this classic.

Sure, the old MGM DVD was a bid on the “muddy” side when it came to sharpness (have a hunch it was the old laserdisc master), but the color was always correct. There was a warmth about the picture that this new DVD is lacking. One of the worst versions of this title was the first CAV Criterion laserdisc. Flat. Uncolorful next to the MGM laserdisc. Even today, I know people who still think the Criterion version is “right” and any other version is wrong! !

Anyhow, these findings were discovered as I A/B switched between the new and old DVD releases tonight....and honestly, this film has never been given a great home video release. The new DVD comes close in many areas, but like Warner’s THE MUSIC MAN and THE GREAT RACE, it drops the ball in the color department.

If you enjoy the look of FILM--the dirt---the cue marks--the grain--hold on to the old DVD.....if you like the crisp, clean digital cold look, then the new Warner DVD is your ticket. I know this title has received glowing reviews, and many people love this disc, but this is just my take on it.

Now more than ever I want an I.B. tech print of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.

Jayson

[Morticia]

Merged threads as the subject matter is identical.

[Welles and Ford Fan]

I did an A/B comparison between the original release and the new one as well. I prefer the new one. I thought the color was so bright in the older one that it almost bled. Also, there was a sort of "halo" effect in some images on the older disc, like the hatband on Gene Kelley's white hat during the premier sequence at the beginning.

I'm still gonna trade my old one in at Wherehouse Music.

[jonathan_little]

I thought that the film never looked better. I think the colors look more natural then they ever have before and there is nothing "cold" or digital looking about it. What's so wrong with removing dirt and scratches from an old film?

I picked up this great new release with North By Northwest. These beautiful transfers of old films are really spoiling me.

I still wish Warner had put it in some sort of plastic case.

[BubbleGumUK]

Has anyone bought the Gene Kelly Collection box set?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006JMSZ/ref=cm_wl_ovu-pg.1-pos.6/104-7636637-2925540?coliid=I25TBUHJM9DE0K

It has the new SITR 2-disc SE, plus the remastered On The Town, An American In Paris and the Anatomy Of A dancer documentary.

My main question is how they have packaged the SITR set within another box. Has it lost its outer slip cover? are the other discs in snappers?

Also, I don't wanna buy this only to find that there are SEs in the works for either of OTT or AAIP. I heard a rumor about American In Paris.

If anyone can assist, it's much appreciated - thanks!