Update 7/31/15 - 1/6/18: So, last summer, two years after I wrote my comparison of the two competing, US and UK editions of this famous documentary, Arrow reissued this film in a new HD edition. Guess which version is the best now? Yeah, no big surprises here. But let's see just how superior this blu of an old, 16mm film from unspecific sources really is. Is it worth double-dipping?
MGM's 2000 DVD of Annie Hall |
That US disc was a co-release by Milestone Film and Video, who also released Ophüls's The Troubles We've Seen, and the ever-stalwart Image Entertainment. And I guess you could call it acceptable for its time. It was non-anamorphic widescreen, supposedly in 1.66:1 more really more like 1.51:1. The film was naturally divided over two discs showing a very soft and damaged print. Then, in 2004, Arrow released it in the UK, and I was excited to import an improved edition with a fresh, anamorphic transfer. And now in 2017, they've released it again, this time on blu with another all new transfer, and some other stuff.
Milestone's 2001 US DVD top; Arrow's 2004 UK DVD middle; Arrow's 2017 UK blu bottom. |
Arrow's pillar-boxed 1.67:1 restores the vertical information from Milestone's release, and reveals never before seen picture on the sides. Now, the framing finally looks right. And the overall image quality was pretty much a tie between the DVDs. Arrow's disc seemed to have a bit more detail compared to Milestone's smoother, softer image. And often, with how worn and damaged the source is, it could be very hard to tell if you were seeing a little extra detail or a little extra compression artifacting. In my 2015 draft I wrote, "I have no idea what kind of film elements still exist for this documentary, but I'd put this one at the top of the list of movies in need of an HD restoration." Well, I still have no idea what kind of film elements still exist... the booklet only describes the transfer in a single, vague sentence as, "digitally restored by Gaumont from original film elements." Does that mean original camera negatives, an interpositive, a print? Well, looking at it, I think we can safely rule out OCNs; and it's a safe rule of thumb that whenever a company doesn't get specific, it's not top of the line. Like, if they'd done a new 4k scan, they wouldn't forget to include the phrase "new 4k scan."
Milestone's 2001 US DVD left; Arrow's 2004 UK DVD middle; Arrow's 2017 UK blu right. |
Thankfully, all versions of this film have the original mono track in 2.0 with optional English subtitles. The blu's audio is a lossless LPCM track, but obviously this is some pretty low-fi stuff, especially when the film uses older, vintage footage which is often more damaged, so don't expect it to sound like the Tron remake.
Now one big advantage of the Arrow DVD was that it included an excellent interview with Marcus Ophüls, where he's interviewed for almost half an hour after a screening at the National Film Theatre. It's very candid and also shows the same spirit Marcus displays in his films. The Milestone disc's only extra was the original theatrical trailer. Disappointingly, however, Arrow doesn't have that trailer. Not that big a deal, but still, a trailer from a 1960's French documentary is a more unique, interesting viewing experience than your average generic Hollywood trailer of today, and it's just one more example of how everything was a frustrating compromise with the dual DVD editions.
So it's still annoying that Arrow's blu didn't swoop in and put it back. But they did carry over the Ophüls interview, and they added a new, vintage French television programmed that aired after the film was first broadcast in their country. It's a little corny, with an audience of teens asking a panel questions, but Ophüls is on that panel (along with a couple journalists and historians), so it's definitely worth preserving and having on this disc. It runs for just over an hour. They've also created a nice 34-page booklet, collecting vintage writings by Pauline Kael, Jean-Pierre Melville and Frederick Busi. Surprisingly, this release also has reversible artwork.
The Sorrow and the Pity is undeniably a great film that belongs in anyone's collection. And before I kind of begrudgingly recommended the Arrow DVD as the better of the two options. But now their new blus is undoubtedly the clear winner. Could this have been even better? Possibly, if Arrow hadn't just accepted Gaumont's transfer and insisted on doing their own scan, plus scooping up that trailer. But sadly, this film probably doesn't offer Arrow half the ROI that Killer Klowns from Outer Space does, so let's just be thankful for a considerable improvement (aspect ratio, I'm lookin' at you), which yes, I feel is worth the double dip from either of the DVDs.
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