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Even though I'm not the biggest fan of the lady, she is certainly one of Fox's biggest money-makers. They're giving her the Cinema Classics Collection special treatment and are repackaging some of her titles in new, improved and much more fitting artwork:



http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=60431

Apparently, even the individual DVDs cover art was changed accordingly though I can't find them anywhere. If anyone does, please post them here -- I'd like to see how they look.

It's been a long time since I've seen any of her films but to this day I can perfectly remember some scenes of Niagara (it's been many, many years since the last time) and that's saying something about the lasting power of that film, right? Maybe I should give it another go sometime.

I picked up the individually sold title "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and was stunned by the new high definition transfer...it's awesome.

I'm going to take the gamble and pick up the box set too...it was THAT impressive for a semi-triple dip for the box set!

So are you saying that Fox did a clean-up for these new re-releases? If that is the case, I might consider getting this set.

Meanwhile, I was able to dig up those new Cinema Classics covers:





But I still can't find the ones for River of No Return and Let's Make Love.

filmfan wrote:I picked up the individually sold title "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and was stunned by the new high definition transfer...it's awesome.
I'm going to take the gamble and pick up the box set too...it was THAT impressive for a semi-triple dip for the box set!

Where did you find an individual Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with a new transfer? As far as I can determine, the only releases of it in R1 are the DVD from 5 years ago and the one in the new box set. The latter isn't being sold on its own, is it?

Yes, it is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FG65RQ/

Not trying to call you a liar, filmfan, but I'm not convinced that Fox has done new transfers for any of these films. This is the first I've heard about it, and their existing transfers are awfully good. I've ordered the new Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and will compare it with the old DVD when it arrrives. Screen caps to come!

I heard the previous DVD of River of No Return was cropped from 2.55 to 2.35. Anyone have any info on the new one?

Gregory wrote:

filmfan wrote:I picked up the individually sold title "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and was stunned by the new high definition transfer...it's awesome.
I'm going to take the gamble and pick up the box set too...it was THAT impressive for a semi-triple dip for the box set!

Where did you find an individual Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with a new transfer? As far as I can determine, the only releases of it in R1 are the DVD from 5 years ago and the one in the new box set. The latter isn't being sold on its own, is it?

A Tower brick and mortar retail store...it comes in a paperslipcase, as opposed to the plain slipcases used for the box set dvds. All of the releases are available in this configuration.

Sorry I missed something obvious. I was running out of time before leaving for work and only did a couple of quick searches. I should have searched more before asking.

filmfan wrote:...it comes in a paperslipcase, as opposed to the plain slipcases used for the box set dvds. All of the releases are available in this configuration.

In the newly packaged versions, only Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, and Niagra are available individually. The other titles are exclusive to the box set. As far as I can tell, the transfers and supplements are identical to the previous releases. The three individual titles do come in the nice sleeves found on most of the "Cinema Classics" series. Costco recently had all three for $8.99 each, and you may still be able to find them there.

Okay, here are some screencaps (n.b.: not Beaver quality). The Diamond Collection version (2001) is on the top, the Marquee Musicals version (2006) is on the bottom. The transfer seems maybe just a touch crisper to me (check Marilyn's hair in the 3rd cap and Jane's feathers in the 5th), but that could just be an illusion created by contrast boosting.

The package is nice and at around $10, it's certainly cheap. But probably not a mandatory upgrade if you already have the original disc.

EDIT: Screencaps removed. Screencaps in native resolution posted below.

No offense Matt, but the screencaps are not even close, or do they accurately represent the new transfer of this film.

filmfan wrote:No offense Matt, but the screencaps are not even close, or do they accurately represent the new transfer of this film.

I'm curious to know if you have watched this new re-release on a different TV set from the one you used to watch the old release on. Or have you compared the two releases on the same set and still notice an improvement?

From matt's caps, I don't see much of a difference between the old and new releases and I've looked at them from 2 different monitors. Who's telling the truth now?

I'll admit that my screen caps aren't of "professional quality," but I didn't do any manipulation to them at all (didn't even resize them - hence the hugeness). We've all seen enough DVD Beaver comparisons to know that screen caps don't tell the whole story. If you feel the image is significantly better on the new release, you may be right. I always thought it looked pretty damn good on the original release myself, but I'm keeping the new release for the (to my eyes slight) improvement in image, package design, and extras (well, a poster gallery).

I don't see what's the big deal. They both look great to me. The only reason to get the new release is if you don't own it already.

gigimonagas wrote:I don't see what's the big deal. They both look great to me. The only reason to get the new release is if you don't own it already.

or if you really don't like the original cover art. Be warned that the new releases (at least in the box) come in white cases though.

gigimonagas wrote:I don't see what's the big deal. They both look great to me. The only reason to get the new release is if you don't own it already.

It is a big deal if you think about it. If indeed this new re-release proves to be sporting a new transfer (matt said that there is a new photo gallery in the extras which one might infer that there are also new menus, thus a different DVD altogether), it boggles the mind to think that Fox hasn't even bothered to say that they re-did these Monroe titles they're packaging in this new collection.

I really hope Gary gets around to doing a comparison. Or someone else at the Beaver.

Myra Breckinridge wrote:

gigimonagas wrote:I don't see what's the big deal. They both look great to me. The only reason to get the new release is if you don't own it already.

It is a big deal if you think about it. If indeed this new re-release proves to be sporting a new transfer (matt said that there is a new photo gallery in the extras which one might infer that there are also new menus, thus a different DVD altogether), it boggles the mind to think that Fox hasn't even bothered to say that they re-did these Monroe titles they're packaging in this new collection.

I really hope Gary gets around to doing a comparison. Or someone else at the Beaver.

I understand what you're trying to say, however, judging from Matt's comparison, there's no much difference even if it's indeed a new transfer. That's why I'm not crazy about this release. I'm very pleased with my both Monroe Diamond Collections.

Myra Breckinridge wrote:matt said that there is a new photo gallery in the extras which one might infer that there are also new menus, thus a different DVD altogether

There are new menus, which are anamorphic. FWIW, I looked at the restoration demos on both discs. They are identical, meaning both discs have high-def transfers. I'm sure they're the same transfer, with just a little cleanup done for the new release.



That is taken from the 2001 Diamond Collection version.

matt wrote:

Myra Breckinridge wrote:matt said that there is a new photo gallery in the extras which one might infer that there are also new menus, thus a different DVD altogether

There are new menus, which are anamorphic.

So it's indeed a whole new edition or just anamorphic menus?

gigimonagas wrote:

matt wrote:

Myra Breckinridge wrote:matt said that there is a new photo gallery in the extras which one might infer that there are also new menus, thus a different DVD altogether

There are new menus, which are anamorphic.

So it's indeed a whole new edition or just anamorphic menus?

Well, it's a whole new edition if by "new edition" you mean same transfer (slightly cleaned up) but one new extra, new menus, and new cover art.

It's more of a 1.1 than a 2.0.

EDIT: The poster gallery contains an amazing two poster images.

Here are some new screencaps in native resolution. Again, the Diamond Collection (2001) edition is on top, the Marquee Musicals (2006) edition is on bottom. Perhaps the difference in the image of the two editions is clearer in these.

Make sure to refresh your browser or clear your cache if you're still seeing the huge old screencaps.





















And here is a special hilarious bonus screencap from the MM edition:

Beaver reviews the new edition of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Let me just reiterate, though:

Matt wrote:I looked at the restoration demos on both discs. They are identical, meaning both discs have high-def transfers. I'm sure they're the same transfer, with just a little cleanup done for the new release.



That is taken from the 2001 Diamond Collection version.

There's little reason to get this particular release unless you don't own the previous edition or are a "packaging tart."