Universal: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

[Tom Hagen]

If I recall correctly, wasn't part of the delay in a reissued single release of The Birds related to a planned (and possibly now shelved) big budget remake?

[Arkadin]

actually it appears that "Psycho" is coming in April on celebration of the 50th anniversary.
there is a report on blu-ray.com of a listing for a bd coming to Holland through Universal on April 26th.
so a US release would be at the same time, as there is now way only Holland would get this film for its 50th anniversary.

[whaleallright]

so last year Universal released, in North America, something called "Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Collection" which appears to essentially be a repackaging of the "Masterpiece Collection" with some added discs comprising assorted episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

two questions for folks here:
1) Does this set have any other differences, in terms of the actual copies of the films on Blu-Ray, with the earlier set, or am I right that it is mostly a repackaging?
2) Does the UK version of the "Masterpiece Collection" set have the same packaging issues as the US version discussed above? or is this a relatively "safe" buy?

[tenia]

1) Most certainly a repack. They're the same discs worldwide, save for some movies being included or not (depending on the rightholders and the possible deal with them - NxNW is included in the US set, not in the UK one) and some soundtracks (I believe Psycho does not always come with its original mono track everywhere).
2) I have the UK set and it is indeed a big digipack using sleeves to hold the discs. It doesn't have problems but I suppose that it can, since it's pretty much the same packaging than in the US.

[Jonathan S]

The UK set can also be purchased in two separate collections (numbered Vol.1 & 2) which come in standard plastic cases holding 7 discs each. Being chronologically arranged (except for Psycho and Vertigo), this is also handy for those wishing to avoid the controversial transfers of some of the later films included in Vol. 2. At the time I bought these, it was also cheaper than buying the cardboard-packaged full set.