|
|
 
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Lawrence of Arabia (bluray) November 13, 2012
|
Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008
|
posted 07-21-2012 12:05 PM
Blu-ray release street November 13th (the UK edition supposedly comes out Sept 10th), a theatrical run before happens on October 4th
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just issued a press release announcing that the 1962 David Lean directed film “Lawrence of Arabia” is coming to Blu-ray Disc in a 3-disc collectible box set on November 13th. The film starred Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif, Jose Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains and Arthur Kennedy. The film has received a 4K restoration and will be presented in the Director’s Cut. It also appears that a single-disc version will be released as it’s listed on Sony’s press site. Tech specs for the release include full 1080p Hi-Def video in the 2.20:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound. Both versions will come with an UltraViolet digital copy of the film. The main difference between the 3-disc box set and the single-disc version is that only one of the bonus materials will be included on the single-disc version; a picture-in-graphics track. It seems the second disc (not specified if it will be a DVD or Blu-ray) will contain a majority of the bonus material on that 3-disc set and the third will possibly be a DVD of the film in standard definition. A detailed list of the bonus materials set to be included on the 3-disc box set are listed below.
Extras:
Secrets of Arabia: A Picture-in-Graphics Track [ Blu-ray EXCLUSIVE]
Peter O’Toole Revisits “Lawrence of Arabia” [ Blu-ray EXCLUSIVE]
Making of Lawrence of Arabia
A Conversation with Steven Speilberg
Maan, Jordan: The Camels Are Cast (1 of 4 Original Featurettes)
Advertising Campaigns
Original Newsreel Footage of the New York Premiere
Vintage Featurettes In Search of Lawrence
Vintage Featurettes Romance of Arabia (Newly Restored)
Bill Hunt from digitalbits.com:
"Now back to Lawrence of Arabia. Last night I had the good fortune (along with Matt Rowe) to take in the official U.S. premiere of the new 4K restoration of the film at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, which is arguably the best screening venue in all of Southern California. Now I've seen this film many times, but never have I enjoyed it this much, not just because of the impressive technical quality of the presentation but because the sell-out audience was just so into the film. Obviously, this was a largely industry crowd mixed with serious Lawrence fans, all of whom knew the film's various ins and outs well. They reacted to every little moment of humor, every shift of mood and tone. As a result I think I got more out of this viewing than I ever have before.
As I mentioned, the quality of the presentation was first rate. Sony's EVP of Asset Management, Film Restoration and Digital Management, Grover Crisp, introduced the screening and discussed the restoration effort itself. Work began in 2009 with an 8K scan of the original 65mm camera negative - itself the subject of the excellent 1988 physical restoration by Robert Harris in collaboration with director David Lean. The goal this time around was to build on that work. But the fact was, when Sony went back and looked at the negative, they noticed serious deterioration. Strange vertical bands had appeared throughout the film that looked like faded sections of the emulsion. These turned out not to be actual fading or a photochemical issue, but rather bands of literally hundreds of tiny cracks in the negative. So for those of you who've wondered why it took so long to bring this film to Blu-ray, now you know. Grover actually showed a short restoration demo reel before the start of the film, and the before and after contrast was so striking that the audience burst into applause. The result of this new restoration effort is truly impressive. There are still minor issues in a few places - notably a couple instances of missing frames that have been there on all the previous DVD releases. But I'll tell you... Robert actually offered me the chance to screen the film in 70mm a few years back, and the new 4K digital presentation compares wonderfully to that experience. The color and detail is just extraordinary. Subtle textures in the rocky terrain, the fine detail of blowing sand - all the detail in the original negative is visible in the new digital master. The film is actually going to start screening around the country in 4K on October 4th, and I strongly encourage you all to try and experience it that way. In any case, you're very much in for a treat when the film finally arrives on Blu-ray on November 13th. It can truly be said that most of you have never seen the film like this before - in this level of A/V quality. Trust me... it's going to be an absolute revelation for you."
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank Angel
Film God
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 07-28-2012 12:57 PM
Ran the 1988 restoration on 35mm film -- it looked great EXCEPT for reel 7 (I think it was reel 7) which was timed so badly that it look like you were wearing sun glasses -- it was WAY dark. In fact, the audience was so unnerved by it that at one point where he reaches for the pull cord on the light switch, one guy yelled out, "No, no, don't turn off the light!" Of coures the light goes out and for the rest of the reel it was like you had gone blind.
I frantically called Columbia and told them we needed a replacement reel IMMEDIATELY -- we were only running it for a weekend and expected a big crowd on Saturday. They were were good about it and sent a complete second print by messenger. Great.
The very same day, we get a call that the Queen was visiting the US and was staying in Versailles KY on a horse farm or something and she wanted to see the film (I kid you not). The local theatre was to run it for her and her party. They were going to send a messenger to pick one of our prints up to ship to the Kentucky theatre. The Columbia booker didn't say which print to give the messenger.
Which one do you think I sent to the Queen? Let me put it this way -- I PAID for the engagement; I had a CONTRACT before the Queen even got on her plane. My audience was PAYING for their ticekts. The Queen, well, unfortunately she flew in AFTER my booking, and hey, she was getting a freebee. It sure was clear in my mind who should get the dark reel 7...and she did...heh heh.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
![[sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic