[Art Sonneborn]

I watched the Criterion BD of Charade last night and all I can say is wow !. This film has some of the most gorgeous colors and detail in the image that is often through the roof. The blacks are just superp as well, evidenced by several times where the silhouette is all you see of a particular character strongly back lit then abruptly front lit (very cool).There are a couple of places where it appears that the original elements looked a little flat but overall this title is just a great great presentation including moderate film grain. When I compare this to North by Northwest I still feel that NBNW had some DNR.


Anyway, this is a very very entertaining film throughout and gorgeous to look at. I highly recommend it to film fans.


Art

 

[Jacksmyname]

Thanks Art.

While this is a favorite of mine, I ordered it for my wife for Christmas.

The hard part will be waiting til after Christmas to watch it.

 

[RUR]

Charade, Art. Great movie, terrific cast. Purchased on release day and, yes, it's pretty fabulous. Strictly for entertainment, listen to the director's commentary in which Donen and screenwriter Peter Stone bicker like old ladies about various filming details.

 

[Kroenen]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Sonneborn /forum/post/19592550


I watched the Criterion BD of Cherade last night and all I can say is wow !. This film has some of the most gorgeous colors and detail in the image that is often through the roof. The blacks are just superp as well, evidenced by several times where the silhouette is all you see of a particular character strongly back lit then abruptly front lit (very cool).There are a couple of places where it appears that the original elements looked a little flat but overall this title is just a great great presentation including moderate film grain. When I compare this to North by Northwest I still feel that NBNW had some DNR.


Anyway, this is a very very entertaining film throughout and gorgeous to look at. I highly recommend it to film fans.


Art

Thanks for the info Art. This has been on my "To buy list", but since I hadn't seen this title discussed much, and since it's not available to rent from BBO or NF, I wasn't sure it'd be a "safe" purchase (re: PQ).


I was hoping that they'd have released "The Bishop's Wife" on Blu-ray this year. It's one of my favorite Cary Grant movies that also happens to be a great Christmas movie.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RUR /forum/post/19592768


...Strictly for entertainment, listen to the director's commentary in which Donen and screenwriter Peter Stone bicker like old ladies about various filming details.

LOL. I'll have to make a mental note to listen to that commentary. Thanks for the info.

 

[ack_bk]

I watched this last week with my extended family on BD and it is a very quality transfer. I also forgot how amazing the chemistry and dialogue are in this movie between Grant and Hepburn. This movie definitely shines on Blu-Ray.

 

[giantchicken]

Bought the Criterion DVD. Bought the Criterion anamorphic DVD re-release. Bought the Criterion Blu-ray. I really like this movie.

 

[d3193]

Because this film fell into PD, there have been far too many inferior versions out there. It is a beautiful movie visually (and a treat creatively for performances and direction), so it's wonderful to see it is now available as Donen intended it to be seen.

 

[Art Sonneborn]

All I know is this film looks like film,and Technicolor in particular ! What gorgeous detail and rich rich color. One can look at a frame and see half a dozen different flesh tones or another and see four or five different rich reds.


Love the look of this one and a lot of fun as a title .


I can say that excuses for poor transfers from films of similar vintage get little sympathy from me after seeing this .




Art

 

[Bruce Patterson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by giantchicken /forum/post/19593444


...the Criterion anamorphic DVD re-release.

the what?

Or, do you mean what Criterion may have released when they actually released the anamorphic Blu-ray, but on regular DVD?


For years, I hung on to my copy of the terrible "The Truth about Charlie" with Thandie Newton specifically for the Charade anamorphic release that was included as simply a bonus. Sold it just prior to the Charade blu-ray release.

 

[agp3_16]

Criterion re-released Charade as an anamorphic DVD in 2004. The original, non-anamorphic DVD was released in 1999, I believe.


edit

Here is a comparison of the 2 Criterion DVD's.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/charade.htm

 

[movienutt]

Ordered and watched Criterion's BluRay of Charade recently. Not only a great film, but looks fantastic on this disc. Love the opening credits music!


Mike

 

[Milt99]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Sonneborn /forum/post/19595918


All I know is this film looks like film,and Technicolor in particular ! What gorgeous detail and rich rich color. One can look at a frame and see half a dozen different flesh tones or another and see four or five different rich reds.

Love the look of this one and a lot of fun as a title .


I can say that excuses for poor transfers from films of similar vintage get little sympathy from me after seeing this .

Art

Thanks for the heads up Art.

I haven't seen this in years and for some reason I thought Gregory Peck was the male lead.

Cary is one of my main men.

Stanley Donen directed I think.

 

[thegage]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Milt99 /forum/post/19599944


Thanks for the heads up Art.

I haven't seen this in years and for some reason I thought Gregory Peck was the male lead.

Cary is one of my main men.

Stanley Donen directed I think.

You're thinking of "Arabesque," with Peck and Sophia Loren. A similar type of movie that often gets confused--though the shower scene is memorable.


John K.

 

[Paulidan]

I watched this for the first time a couple years ago on the 16:9 Criterion DVD, and then sold it off. Didn't impress me too much, as all the twist could be seen coming a mile off.


But I did buy it again in the last B&N sale to give it a second shot, and specifically to enjoy Grants presence in it. I scanned it briefly and it looks great.

 

[Rach]

The movie is fantastic and the chemistry between Hepburn and Grant is great. However, I found the transfer good to great but not excellent...especially for Criterion. Quite possibly the source material. The scene after the opening credits when he is thrown from the train is a great example. I was very scared after watching that scene but the transfer picked up immediately following.

 

[Bruce Patterson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by agp3_16 /forum/post/19598207


Criterion re-released Charade as an anamorphic DVD in 2004. The original, non-anamorphic DVD was released in 1999, I believe.


edit

Here is a comparison of the 2 Criterion DVD's.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/charade.htm

Thanks!

 

[Milt99]



Quote:
Originally Posted by thegage /forum/post/19600360


You're thinking of "Arabesque," with Peck and Sophia Loren. A similar type of movie that often gets confused--though the shower scene is memorable.


John K.

Thanks for the tip, but I think I was confusing Charade with Roman Holiday.