Today, MGM-HD showed Alexander the Great (1956), Taras Bulba (1962) and Legend of the Lost (1957) today, and all three movies looked terrific in HD. It is great that MGM, as well as HDNET is showing some older movies in HD and letting everyone see how good these movies can still look. Keep em coming!

I've found quite a few decent movies on both of those channels recently.

Today, MGM-HD showed Alexander the Great (1956), Taras Bulba (1962) and Legend of the Lost (1957) today, and all three movies looked terrific in HD. It is great that MGM, as well as HDNET is showing some older movies in HD and letting everyone see how good these movies can still look. Keep em coming!

dschuman,

Are the films generally shown OAR? For instance, the original aspect ratios of the films you mentioned are:

Alexander the Great (1956): 2.55:1
Taras Bulba (1962): 2.35:1
Legend of the Lost (1957): 2.35:1

Today, MGM-HD showed Alexander the Great (1956), Taras Bulba (1962) and Legend of the Lost (1957) today, and all three movies looked terrific in HD. It is great that MGM, as well as HDNET is showing some older movies in HD and letting everyone see how good these movies can still look. Keep em coming!

There's no excuse for TCM not having an HD channel now. They NEED to get on the ball.

dschuman,

Are the films generally shown OAR? For instance, the original aspect ratios of the films you mentioned are:

Alexander the Great (1956): 2.55:1
Taras Bulba (1962): 2.35:1
Legend of the Lost (1957): 2.35:1

As far as I can tell, each time I've checked the channel they have been OAR.

Great 1960s British film the other day: Never Let Go, with Peter Sellars playing the heavy!

Speaking of this I watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance last night on HDNet Movies and it looked like an upconvert. In fact, I have films much older in black and white on SD DVD that looked better.:( It had absolutely no detail and had quite a bit of edge enhancement. It looked like how the DNRed to death Citizen Kane.:(

I watched Bullitt on Mojo HD last night and it looked jaw dropping.

Art

I recently watched the three That's Entertainment films on Blu-Ray (also available on HD-DVD). Some of the excerpts of older films were spectacular, and the remastered sound was surprisingly good.

So I agree with others here that older films can look and sound great in HD. Yes, bring them on !!

Speaking of this I watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance last night on HDNet Movies and it looked like an upconvert. In fact, I have films much older in black and white on SD DVD that looked better.:( It had absolutely no detail and had quite a bit of edge enhancement. It looked like how the DNRed to death Citizen Kane.:(

I watched Bullitt on Mojo HD last night and it looked jaw dropping.

Art
It wasn't an upconvert, but if you were watching on D*, remember that HDNET is still being bitstarved and downrezzed and is still MPEG2.

Speaking of this I watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance last night on HDNet Movies and it looked like an upconvert. In fact, I have films much older in black and white on SD DVD that looked better.:( It had absolutely no detail and had quite a bit of edge enhancement. It looked like how the DNRed to death Citizen Kane.:(

I watched Bullitt on Mojo HD last night and it looked jaw dropping.

Art

It looked pretty bad on E* also, if that makes you feel any better. Great movie though.

Last tuesday on Cinemax HD via dishnetwork they showed Once Upon A Time in The West. I'm glad I caught that for my 622's hard drive.

Speaking of this I watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance last night on HDNet Movies and it looked like an upconvert.
Art

Man, I thought it looked pretty good on D*. It was interesting that it was OAR and 16:9. Didn't know any of those older films were 16:9.

Man, I thought it looked pretty good on D*. It was interesting that it was OAR and 16:9. Didn't know any of those older films were 16:9.

Most films made from the mid-fifties on were shot widescreen. They started filming that way to compete with TV. The studios wanted to make going to the movies an "experience" again. Most people were staying home and watching this new fangled thing called television.

Most films made from the mid-fifties on were shot widescreen. They started filming that way to compete with TV. The studios wanted to make going to the movies an "experience" again. Most people were staying home and watching this new fangled thing called television.

The reason I thought it was interesting is that it was 16:9 (aka 1.78:1) not one of the cinemascope ratios i.e. 2.35:1 or greater.

Last tuesday on Cinemax HD via dishnetwork they showed Once Upon A Time in The West. I'm glad I caught that for my 622's hard drive.

Wish I had caught this...