What Blu-Ray did you watch last night?

[Ken Finch]

I tend to agree with you Ed. I recently screened the dvd of Operation Mincemeat on my home cinema but felt there was too much talk. Ken Finch.

[Ed Gordon]

A very good film Graham. It was remade in 2021 as "Operation Mincemeat" The original, "The Man Who Never Was" remains the best.

Another interesting bit of trivia from IMDB:

Ian Fleming has been said to be the author of this operation which was detailed, and Fleming was given credit for, in the television mini-series Fleming (2014).

[Graham Ritchie]

This film caught my attention around twenty odd years ago, when we were invited to a 16mm Scope screening of the 1955 film "The Man Who Never Was", the print itself that I remember was in very good condition with no fade at all, watching it in Scope really added to the viewing experience that night.

Jump forward many years to tonight, and watching the blu-ray, not as good as the 16mm print that I remember, but it will have to do. The story itself is based on a true story, very well acted out and well worth watching.

[Ed Gordon]

Last evening I re-visited the iconic 1953 film Shane. The Technicolor production was filmed in 1951 in the standard 1.37 : 1 aspect ratio and monophonic sound. Paramount wasn't sure what to do with the film, and planed to release it as a "B" western. They tried to sell it to Howard Hughes, but he turned it down. When George Stevens completed a rough cut Howard Hughes changed his mind and offered to buy it from Paramount. Paramount declined and proceeded to premiere it at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Although the film was shot using the standard 1.37:1 Academy ratio, Paramount picked Shane to debut their new wide-screen system because it was composed largely of long and medium shots that would not be compromised by cropping the image. Using a newly cut aperture plate in the movie projector, and a wider-angle lens, the film was exhibited in first-run venues at an aspect ratio of 1.66:1. For its premier, the studio replaced the 34-by-25-foot screen in Radio City Music Hall with one measuring 50 feet wide by 30 feet high.[20][21] Paramount produced all of its subsequent films at that ratio until 1954, when they switched to 1.85:1.[11] Shane was originally released in April 1953 with a conventional optical soundtrack, but as its popularity grew, a new three-track, stereophonic soundtrack was recorded and played on an interlocking 35 mm magnetic reel in the projection booth.

Source: Wikipedia

The Bluray version sadly is presented in the original flat aspect ratio, but the 3 track stereo is preserved in the 5.1 audio track. The last time I watched Shane was on a 19" color TV screen, so seeing it on a big screen brought out details I had missed in previous viewings. As the films ends and Shane rides off, I noticed that he is suffering from the gunshot he took in the saloon fight. Apparently this has been a subject of debate since the film's premiere, and most believe he is riding off to avoid dying in little Joe's presence.

The IMDB article on the movies is full of interesting trivia such as:

In the funeral scene, the dog consistently refused to look into the grave. Finally, director George Stevens had the dog's trainer lie down in the bottom of the grave, and the dog played his part ably. The coffin (loaded with rocks for appropriate effect) was then lowered into the grave, but when the harmonica player began to play "Dixie" spontaneously, the crew was so moved by the scene that they began shoveling dirt into the grave before remembering the dog's trainer was still there.

Jack Palance had problems with his horse during filming. When Shane and Jack first look each other over at the Starrett Ranch, Palance was supposed to dismount for a minute, then remount his horse. He could not remount, so the director had Jack dismount his horse slowly, then ran the film in reverse for the remount.

Having witnessed during his WW2 service the profound effects a bullet could have on a man, realism was important to George Stevens during the making of the film. This therefore is one of the first movies to use stunt wires to pull the actors or stuntmen backwards to simulate when they've been shot.

The Bluray is available online now. Derann released a 6x400'Color, Magnetic Mono version of the film.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

The 3*120m version:
http://www.super8rezensionen.de/rezent190.htm

It was also sold by „Quelle“ under their „Revue“ label:
http://www.super8rezensionen.de/revzent78.htm

The trailer:
http://www.super8rezensionen.de/trailer93.htm

[Brian Fretwell]

I remember it having a German Super 8 release 3x400ft (?) and some did get dubbed into English.

[Graham Ritchie]

Saturday tonight at the movies with this one, I have to be in the right frame of mind to sit through 3hrs and 25min, tonight was one of them. Its been a while since I last watched the blu-ray, both picture and DTS 5:1 are excellent. In particular the sound, which is pretty amazing. I explosions through the speakers especially the sub-woofer is very very effective. Regarded as one of the best submarine films to come out, its highly recommend. I don't ever remember if it ever was released on Super 8 as either feature or digest, anyway that's tonight screening using the Epson VP.

[Graham Ritchie]

Tonight needs no introduction, screen shots taken tonight, hard to imagine its just over 40 years since we watched it at the cinema.

I mentioned a while ago about "Imprint" of Australia releasing a lot of blu-ray titles, well this link should give you an idea of some of the titles so far. I myself have about five Imprint titles, and the quality of the transfers so far have been very good.

[Graham Ritchie]

I usually only watch this one on New Years Eve, but tonight I thought I would make an exception of all the 1970s disaster films that came out, this one still sits at the top of my list, second is Airport 75. I never tire of watching it, its one of those films that have not aged at all. The cast, the story, all perfect in my book which makes a great nights viewing, tonight being one of them

Anyway here are a couple of previous screen shots, no need to take any new ones.

[Graham Ritchie]

This one must go into the "Wow" category, picked it up on my weekly visit to town and my favorite record story. for a second hand $15 dollar blu-ray ray included the picture quality transfer is simply stunning, Its right up there with one of the best transfers I have come across, the special effects look great plus an excellent DTS 5:1 sound track. I haven't seen Ghostbusters since the 80s possibly the 90s, its certainly been a long time. Projected using the Epson VP I am still waiting for the warmer weather to come around to run the 35mm print of Sleepless In Seattle as our home cinema runs on a 15 amp fuse, so running the 35mm and heating is pushing it fuse wise but will get back to "film" with Ernie and the platter soon

Coming soon on film

[Brian Fretwell]

Last night "Blood Simple" by the Coen Brothers. I had the early DVD but it was too grainy and possibly badly encoded to watch projected. This "restored" Blu Ray was another matter, good colour and proper grain when expected. A complex murder plot. well told, with some moments of painful injury.

[Graham Ritchie]

Two nights ago it was once again Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle, I have it also on 3D and it looks great. Karen Gillan looks stunning, she was a hit with the stunt people due to her enthusiasm doing her own stunts, and doing it really well, even Dwayne Johnson commented on her stunt work in the making of. Its a fun movie.

Last night it was the turn of the new Top Gun movie, this one really surprised me as to how good the movie is. Its certainly well made with heaps of action, highly recommend this one.

Both have excellent picture and sound

[Mike Newell]

Greedy Great underated comedy with Kirk Douglas and Michael J Fox.

[Graham Ritchie]

Your welcome Doug.

[Douglas Meltzer]

Graham,

Beneath Hill 60 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. I found it an extremely well made movie, engaging and effective, especially during the tunneling scenes. Thanks for the recommendation.