Warner Brothers Archive Collection Blu-rays

[patreig]

Does anyone know why Warner Archive has decided to use capital letters for their english subtiltles? Is there someone to get in touch with and to insult?

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Simplest explanation is that they're converting them from closed captions created for TV airings (or old VHS/laserdisc releases); closed captions have always supported mixed case, but historically all caps was used because older captioning fonts didn't support the descenders for g, j, p, q, and y, and a lot of all-caps captioning is still done out of force of habit or the perception that it's more "readable." Of course, it's entirely possible to use an automatic converter to change all-caps to mixed case, but manual review is needed to make sure it isn't capitalizing in the wrong places or missing words that should be capitalized, and WB presumably considers that too much effort for these releases.

[Gregory]

It's probable they were both equally bad, but I needed something to watch while eating my Cocoa Krispies in the mid-70s.

What did you think when they abruptly switched out who played Captain Marvel in the second season because the producers fired Jackson Bostwick for no good reason?

[Roger Ryan]

It's probable they were both equally bad, but I needed something to watch while eating my Cocoa Krispies in the mid-70s.

What did you think when they abruptly switched out who played Captain Marvel in the second season because the producers fired Jackson Bostwick for no good reason?

I have no recollection of that happening - it was 45 years ago and, given my age, it's likely I abandoned the show (and most of Saturday morning fare) after the first season. Now the Dick York/Dick Sargent trade-out on Bewitched was a big deal!

[Gregory]

Whatever reasons can be summoned for the screaming all-caps subs, they weren't always done in that style on WAC Blu-rays. At some point not too long ago, someone decided to change how they were done, and it's hard to be sure what the reason was.

What drives me nuts about it is not just that they're in call caps but rather that they're in blinding Pikachu yellow, which when I'm watching a black-and-white film take me completely out of the monochrome world. They're far too distracting as they pop up like little neon signs. Yet I don't find them more readable; normal sentence-style capitalization is the most easily readable format for sentences.

My hearing is no longer as sharp as it used to be, and I often miss a couple of words out of many lines of dialogue, so I prefer to watch with subtitles on most films. But with these WAC subtitles, it's better to have them off and just miss some of what's being said. That directly impacts how many WAC releases I will buy, and I know that several reviewers of these discs have repeatedly voiced their dislike of this style of subtitles in their reviews. It would behoove WAC to listen to the response when they make changes to something that's an important component of their product for many of us.

[knives]

This does not diminish the accuracy of your complaints, but on black and white films you can always turn off the colour of your television.

[Gregory]

My projector doesn't have a good feature like that, unfortunately. I could go into the settings and adjust the color saturation somewhat, and then change it back, but that's not a good solution for routine viewing.

[captveg]

Whatever reasons can be summoned for the screaming all-caps subs, they weren't always done in that style on WAC Blu-rays. At some point not too long ago, someone decided to change how they were done, and it's hard to be sure what the reason was.

The reason was clearly spending less money on a cheaper subtitle vender.

[Gregory]

I don't think it's clear at all that spending less money was the reason, because even releases from low-budget labels like Mill Creek will have subtitles that are the usual white with sentence-style capitalization. If those labels can afford the subtitles done that way, then Warner can certainly do likewise.

[jsteffe]

Maybe they view their consumer base as people with AOL email accounts who type in all caps?

[domino harvey]

Season one of Netflix comedy the Kominsky Method coming in November

[Timec]

Operation Crossbow and The World, the Flesh, and the Devil are both forthcoming.

[kcota17]

Also, finally The Bad and the Beautiful as well. (domino will be happy to see this)

[Cremildo]

The Minnelli is a contender for announcement of the year.

[domino harvey]

Excellent news, though I expected Some Came Running first

[ianthemovie]

Agh. I just want Tea and Sympathy...

[senseabove]

Also Jacques Tourneur's Great Day in the Morning

[domino harvey]

Also Jacques Tourneur's Great Day in the Morning

I'm not even remotely a Tourneur booster but this is a strong western with a good central perf by Robert Stack. It is still completely bonkers that someone at Warners closed their eyes and pointed to this for Blu-ray release, but could have been way worse

The Blu will also have these bonus MGM shorts directed by Tourneur:

the Ship That Died
Strange Glory
the Face Behind the Mask
the Magic Alphabet

[Aunt Peg]

Very happy to now retire my DVD snap case edition of The Bad and the Beautiful and to finally be able to add Great Day in the Morning to my collection

[domino harvey]

Drastically different color timing on the new Fearless Vampire Killers Blu-ray versus Warners' own DVD. Not sure which one is right, though the blue tint version of a movie not being on the newly restored Blu-ray is surely a real switcheroo

[Drucker]

Which is an even worse film!

After seeing Yellow Sky a few years ago, I was so blown away I blind-bought some Wellman blu-rays as sales would appear merely because he was director. Big mistake with this heap of garbage! I was able to make it through Wayne's McLintock because the film looks gorgeous and while it's obnoxious, for sure, I found it serviceable. But do not make the mistake of buying Blood Alley. Absolute drivel and completely boring. Nothing redeeming about this film. Stay away, stay away, stay away.

[ford]

Which is an even worse film!

After seeing Yellow Sky a few years ago, I was so blown away I blind-bought some Wellman blu-rays as sales would appear merely because he was director. Big mistake with this heap of garbage! I was able to make it through Wayne's McLintock because the film looks gorgeous and while it's obnoxious, for sure, I found it serviceable. But do not make the mistake of buying Blood Alley. Absolute drivel and completely boring. Nothing redeeming about this film. Stay away, stay away, stay away.

Good to know. I went through a big Wellman kick myself recently -- especially The Story of GI Joe, which desperately needs a blu-ray release.

[alexrinse]

Re: The Set-Up - does anyone know what the playback options are? Blu-Ray.com has The Thin Man as A, B, so perhaps it's the same for this?

[Aunt Peg]

Re: The Set-Up - does anyone know what the playback options are? Blu-Ray.com has The Thin Man as A, B, so perhaps it's the same for this?

Every Warners Archive title I have purchased (and that is a lot of them) have been region free. My understanding is that to date all have been region free as Warners hold the worldwide rights to most of their titles. You would be able to knock me down with a feather if The Set-Up was region locked.

[alexrinse]

Thanks Aunt Peg, splendid to hear! Will place the order.