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Jeff wrote: Here is a great piece that Gitt wrote for The Guardian, telling about discovering the footage, and spending 20 years going through it. I'm hoping that Gitt is heavily involved with the transfer and supplements, and that the film is correctly presented at 1.66. The Criterion laserdisc was unfortunately opened up (and occasionally cropped) to 1.33.

....This has the potential to be one of your most well-appointed, Stagecoach-level discs, Criterion. Don't blow it.

The Night of the Hunter is the only classic film of its era for which the original rushes survive,

HistoryProf wrote: From the Guardian piece:

The Night of the Hunter is the only classic film of its era for which the original rushes survive,

They HAVE to be utilized in this, don't they? such a rare opportunity!

The Night of the Hunter is the only classic film of its era for which the original rushes survive,

HistoryProf wrote:Of the two longer books on the film, which would folks recommend as superior? Couchman ("Biography of a Film") or Preston Jones ("Heaven and Hell to Play With")?

Jeff's Fantasy wrote:SPECIAL EDITION 3-DISC DVD, 2-DISC BLU-RAY SET FEATURES:

• High-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound and presented in the original 1.66 aspect ratio (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition)
• Introduction to the film by Martin Scorsese on influences and legacy of The Night of the Hunter
• Audio commentary by Preston Neal Jones, author of Heaven and Hell to Play With: The Filming of The Night of the Hunter, featuring extensive audio interviews with the cast and crew recorded between 1974 and 1977 (including Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, novelist Davis Grubb, producer Paul Gregory, and cinematographer Stanley Cortez)
• Charles Laughton Directs The Night of the Hunter: A three-hour compilation of the film’s original rushes, including outtakes, deleted scenes, and extensive footage of Laughton working with the cast, with scene introductions and optional audio narration by Robert Gitt of The UCLA Film and Television Archive.
• A new featurette on the discovery of eight hours of behind-the-scenes material on the film, and the 20-year journey to restore and archive this material
• Video interview with Simon Callow, author of BFI Monograph: The Night of the Hunter and Charles Laughton: A Difficult Actor, on Laughton’s experience directing the film and its impact on his career
• Video interview with professor Jeffrey Couchman, author of The Night of the Hunter: A Biography of a Film, on screenwriter James Agee, his lengthy adaptation of Davis Grubb’s original novel, and its extensive reworking by Charles Laughton
• New video interviews with Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce, who played the children in the film
• Original theatrical trailers and other promotional materials
• Stills gallery of rare behind-the-scenes production photos, sketches, and correspondence regarding the film
• PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film critics David Ehrenstein and F.X. Feeney
• More!

HistoryProf wrote:Of the two longer books on the film, which would folks recommend as superior? Couchman ("Biography of a Film") or Preston Jones ("Heaven and Hell to Play With")?

Jeff wrote:So here is my fantasy-world take on what your spec list should say, Criterion. At minimum.

Jeff's Fantasy wrote:Ooh and Aah!

zedz wrote:

Jeff wrote:So here is my fantasy-world take on what your spec list should say, Criterion. At minimum.

Jeff's Fantasy wrote:Ooh and Aah!

You forgot the reprint of Grubb's novel and Agee's original screenplay! And the Lillian Gish snowglobe.

Feego wrote:Hopefully each disc will come with a custom-made, hand-knit pot holder.

Jeff wrote:I'm feeling especially prescient, but Criterion has surpassed even my wildest expectations. Easily one of the best supplement packages they've ever assembled. It's perfect.

foofighters7 wrote:I just don't get WHY it's a 2 disc blu when it is also a 2 disc dvd. Unless I missed something, I don't see the need for a 2nd blu disc.