MGM: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection

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zone_resident · #26 Post by **zone_resident** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:46 pm

Well, I know that some people treasure first and/or OOP editions even when they are not high-quality transfers/packages. If you are not one of these, I suggest to sell it. At Amazon Marketplace, the Criterion OOP box set now sells around $300. Go figure.

justeleblanc · #27 Post by **justeleblanc** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:58 pm

Considering the MGMs wont be sold individually, they could still be worth something even after the box set comes out.

Still, I have a hard time parting with Criterions, even if they are outmoded by future releases.

#28 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:09 pm

Joe Buck wrote:Am I foolish to part with them?

It depends on what you get out of them. Spellbound and Notorious have excellent academic close-reading commentaries by Keane, and a major studio would never release this type of extra because of the rampant anti-intellectualism of average consumers. But if you're like a certain member of this board who openly mocks high brow Criterion efforts, like say the Pandora's Box commentary, it's probably a safe bet to ditch the Criterions for cash. Otherwise, I can't imagine parting with them.

Svevan · #29 Post by **Svevan** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:03 pm

Also there's no guarantee that these transfers are going to be any better than the Criterions: MGM could royally screw them up, or just duplicate previous efforts.

Jameson281 · #30 Post by **Jameson281** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:39 pm

Svevan wrote:Also there's no guarantee that these transfers are going to be any better than the Criterions: MGM could royally screw them up, or just duplicate previous efforts.

The four Selznick titles were transferred by Buena Vista/Disney. The British titles were transferred HD in England to MGM's specs, then MGM just did the digital cleanup of dirt, damage, etc. and made the downconversions. Fox was VERY picky about the transfers, which is one of the reasons the set kept getting delayed. Hopefully thier attention to detail will prove to be worth it.

Gigi M. · #31 Post by **Gigi M.** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:01 pm

Jameson281 wrote:
Svevan wrote:Also there's no guarantee that these transfers are going to be any better than the Criterions: MGM could royally screw them up, or just duplicate previous efforts.
The four Selznick titles were transferred by Buena Vista/Disney. The British titles were transferred HD in England to MGM's specs, then MGM just did the digital cleanup of dirt, damage, etc. and made the downconversions. Fox was VERY picky about the transfers, which is one of the reasons the set kept getting delayed. Hopefully thier attention to detail will prove to be worth it.

How do you know so much about this? Do you work for them?

#32 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:52 pm

DVDTalk revealed that only the former Criterions will be available individually at $19.99 SRP.

unclehulot · #33 Post by **unclehulot** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:21 am

Young and Innocent

Special features:
• Commentary with film historians Stephen Rebello & Bill Krohn
• Isolated Music and Effects Track

So, let me see....we've still got a dvd of Psycho from Universal that leaves off the isolated musical track included on the 1998 LD deluxe box that nobody bought (and is STILL the only official release of the original music tracks!!), and now, drum roll.....we get the music track from Young and Innocent!!

Sorry, I know I'm laying it on thick, but who would have pegged THIS film for an isolated track??

Jameson281 · #34 Post by **Jameson281** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:28 am

Gigi M. wrote:How do you know so much about this? Do you work for them?

I wasn't directly involved, but I know some people who were.

Svevan · #35 Post by **Svevan** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:30 am

domino harvey wrote:DVDTalk revealed that only the former Criterions will be available individually at $19.99 SRP.

Which means I'm going to be paying an extra $40 just for Young and Innocent. Sweet.

#36 Post by **Jeff** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:22 pm

Svevan wrote:
domino harvey wrote:DVDTalk revealed that only the former Criterions will be available individually at $19.99 SRP.
Which means I'm going to be paying an extra $40 just for Young and Innocent. Sweet.

DVD Empire now has the individual releases of Notorious, Spellbound, and Rebecca up for pre-order. I only need Young and Innocent and The Lodger. Grrrr.

Svevan · #37 Post by **Svevan** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:29 pm

Anyone else think the SRP on this is a tad high for 8 films, especially compared to the Masterpiece collection (14 films, same SRP) and the Signature collection (9 films, $99.95 SRP)?

Gigi M. · #38 Post by **Gigi M.** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:32 pm

Svevan wrote:Anyone else think the SRP on this is a tad high for 8 films, especially compared to the Masterpiece collection (14 films, same SRP) and the Signature collection (9 films, $99.95 SRP)?

Yeah, but after the Hitchcock’s Criterion selling over $100 a piece, they probably though this was peanuts.

#39 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:41 pm

The supplements for these films far outweighs those other two sets though, I'd say the price is more than fair.

Svevan · #40 Post by **Svevan** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:31 am

cover art rant:

I didn't notice that the box for this set is square, not rectangular. How are the DVDs going to fit inside, I wonder? Maybe an open-up book or some other stupid shit?

I also didn't notice that DVD Empire had the cover art for the three former Criterions:

First question: fire this man. Second question: how many Hitch films feature broken glass? I can think of the telephone booth in The Birds and the mirror in The Wrong Man. Maybe there was something in the dream sequence in Spellbound, but I haven't seen it in close to a decade.

I love the crazed look on Judith Anderson's face on the Rebecca cover - looks like a Kurosawa female pre-rant. I also love how Claude Rains and Ingrid are accidentally making eye contact, and Claude doesn't look like he's 85 fucking years old. If not for the weirdo Ingrid Bergman dream sequence shot on the Spellbound cover, the cover makes the film look like an immigrant drama. Glad we need to have Hitch's imposing face on every fucking case too.

edit: Looking at these covers makes me feel like I'm being told about new body damage on a car that I've already bought.

edit again: I just keep looking at these images and getting more and more pissed off. I bet the guy who did the photoshop thought he was hot shit for making the broken glass different on each case. Are the other films going to be color coded? What color are they going to give The goddamn Paradine Case? This is like the exact same concept as the Anchor Bay Herzog sets. Fuck.

#41 Post by **domino harvey** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:43 am

"Goddammit"

otis · #42 Post by **otis** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:50 am

Has the "designer" of these covers actually seen the films? If so, why has he included a still from part of the Spellbound dream sequence that was cut from the finished film?

Svevan · #43 Post by **Svevan** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:51 am

Cause it's better than what they left in that sequence.

otis · #44 Post by **otis** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:33 am

By this logic, I look forward to seeing the new covers for The Big Chill (featuring a still of Kevin Costner), Platoon (ditto for Johnny Depp), The Ring (Chris Cooper), E.T. (Harrison Ford), Hammett (Ronee Blakely), The Trial (Katina Paxinou), Dr Strangelove (the custard pie fight), and most of all The Thin Red Line - "STARRING Adrien Brody!"

exte · #45 Post by **exte** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:08 pm

Quite honestly, if you feel so strongly you should reach out to them and express yourself constructively.

otis · #46 Post by **otis** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:30 pm

You mean whingeing about cover art on an internet forum isn't constructive?!? #-o

#47 Post by **swo17** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:20 pm

Was the upper left corner of that Spellbound cover done with CGI? Or are Bergman and Peck really that perfect looking?

adeeze · #48 Post by **adeeze** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:28 pm

Does anybody know what box-set for Hitchcock's british films (39 steps, Lady Vanishes) might be out and possibly as good as the primere or masterpiece collection box set. I know there are plenty of these box-sets out there, but I know not all of them are good. Are there any that could be considered definitive, I guess you could say?

justeleblanc · #49 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:40 pm

adeeze wrote:Does anybody know what box-set for Hitchcock's british films (39 steps, Lady Vanishes) might be out and possibly as good as the primere or masterpiece collection box set. I know there are plenty of these box-sets out there, but I know not all of them are good. Are there any that could be considered definitive, I guess you could say?

Criterion's Lady Vanishes and 39 Steps are pretty definitive. They aren't in a box but don't worry, they still look great on the shelf.

rohmerin · #50 Post by **rohmerin** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:30 pm

please, any news about foreign subtitles?

This MGM guys now work for Fox, and Foxes are not "zorrones" so, I expect they'll put Spanish subtitles in the box, box that I desire.

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MGM: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection