A few words about…™ – The Spoilers (1942) & Pittsburgh – in Blu-ray

4 Stars The films, as released by Kino Lorber, will be an asset, especially for completists of those involved.

A strange confluence of events.

John Wayne appeared in seven films in 1942, Marlene Dietrich in three, and Randolph Scott, also three.

I find it interesting that all three appeared together in two films together. The Spoilers, based upon the earlier films, and Rex Beach’s novel, released in May, and Pittsburgh, released in December.

And as things seem to be arriving in threes from Kino Lorber, it’s three Wayne film, inclusive of Reap the Wild Wind.

Fortunately, both are quality additions to one’s library, but not without some small caveats.

Both appear to be derived from quality fine grains, have superb black levels, gray scales, and grain structure. Nary a problem in sight.

However, both also appear to be derived from older transfers. Pittsburgh has a window-boxed main title. Not a deal breaker, but not a positive attribute for a home theater screening. The Spoilers has an oddity. It appears that there may have been cuts or splices in the logo, which would be easily replaceable, a the music doesn’t work properly.

But these are tiny problems, and the films, as released by Kino Lorber, will be an asset, especially for completists of those involved.

Pittsburgh

Image – 4.25

Audio – 4.5

Upgrade from DVD – Yes

Pass / Fail – Pass

The Spoilers

Image – 4.5

Audio – 4.5

Upgrade from DVD – Yes

Pass / Fail – Pass

Both are Recommended

RAH

Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.

His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.

Post Disclaimer

Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.

Share this post:

View thread (15 replies)

Robert Crawford

Crawdaddy
Moderator
Patron
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 9, 1998
Messages
67,612
Location
Michigan
Real Name
Robert
I never expected new transfers for these new releases as I wasn't optimistic about any of them being released on Blu-ray. Of course, I wish Universal did more in that regard, but it is, what it is with that company.

I do have a question, which studio has the original film elements, Paramount or Universal?
 

Robert Harris

Archivist
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 8, 1999
Messages
18,316
Real Name
Robert Harris
I never expected new transfers for these new releases as I wasn't optimistic about any of them being released on Blu-ray. Of course, I wish Universal did more in that regard, but it is, what it is with that company.

I do have a question, which studio has the original film elements, Paramount or Universal?

Universal
 

Nick*Z

Screenwriter
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
1,802
Location
Canada
Real Name
NICK
I too sincerely wish Uni would get off its lump and 'do more' with existing nitrate elements under their custodianship. Glad to see both of these survive in adequate - if not exemplary - image quality. I don't get Uni. After a 100th anniversary kick off, with an investment of capital to remaster 'some' of their back catalog, they basically went back to the tired old model of just slapping out whatever. And we don't even have to go back to 'vintage' catalog to see the dearth in their preservation philosophy. I mean, are there any uglier looking Blu's of more recent product than Death Becomes Her, The Paper, or House Sitter?

All product from the late 80's/early 90's and all derived from 'likely' LaserDisc masters. Ugh! No kidding. It's all about time and money. It's also, I presume, about proper 'asset management' and Uni really hasn't been paying attention to this of late. For every Sweet Charity there are a couple dozen clunkers ported to hi-def without even the basics being applied to spruce up the quality for future generations. From a collector's standpoint - it's maddening. Because movies like The Spoilers and Pittsburgh are not going to be released multiple times like a Gone With the Wind or Wizard of Oz. So, the overall likelihood of improvement in a few years from this release is about as possible as finding a unicorn grazing in one's backyard. Sad. Especially when the star in question is as titanic an influence on the cinematic landscape as John Wayne (of course, with honorable mention to Dietrich and Scott - both, whom I adore, but likely have 'less' of a following than Wayne).
 

Paul Penna

Screenwriter
Joined
Aug 22, 2002
Messages
1,224
Real Name
Paul
I too sincerely wish Uni would get off its lump and 'do more' with existing nitrate elements under their custodianship. Glad to see both of these survive in adequate - if not exemplary - image quality.

Here's my admittedly uniformed, armchair speculation on this. Universal probably has on their shelves many (hundreds?) of high-def transfers that are older but of reasonable quality. Robert Harris's review of this and Pittsburgh ("Nary a problem in sight") indicates these are like that. However, Universal doesn't want to release Blu-Rays of such transfers themselves. What should they do with them? Lock them away, keeping them inaccessible and making no money off them with the speculation that at some point they may decide to expend probably considerable funds on upgraded transfers or full restorations, or rather put them up for licensing to third parties for them to market in some fashion, streaming, disc or whatever? Make some money on them or not make any money?

It rather reminds me of the early criticisms of the Warner Archive, which initially only released even older, off-the-shelf standard definition transfers. Many people griped that this somehow "dishonored" whatever their favorite films happened to be. My reaction was that the way to honor films is to let them be seen. Can you imagine the cost if from the start WA had spent the kind of money they have now on restoring The Thin Man or Jezebel, or even of just doing new high-def transfers of everything they released? Would the hundreds of films they've released since the program's start ever have seen the light of day? The success of the program is one reason we're seeing the restorations and remasters now.
 
Last edited:

Josh Steinberg

Premium
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2003
Messages
26,274
Real Name
Josh Steinberg
The Blu-ray for Death Becomes Her is not sourced from a laserdisc master. Let’s not spread nonsense.
 

Nick*Z

Screenwriter
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
1,802
Location
Canada
Real Name
NICK
The Blu-ray for Death Becomes Her is not sourced from a laserdisc master. Let’s not spread nonsense.

The quality is not much more than a step higher than that! By the way, the word 'likely' was in parenthesis and was meant to denote lack of attention paid - not a literal, 'yes - this came from a LaserDisc. Of course it did not! But what the hell happened to the sequence where Streep's over the hill star visits Rossellini's witchcraft maven? Blurry, out of focus, faded colors, gate weave? Not exactly a cutting edge effort on a movie that should in NO way look this bad. Not 1890's. 1990's!!! The Paper - edge enhanced and artificially sharpened in the extreme. House Sitter? faded colors, anemic contrast, age-related dirt, soft with no fine detail snapping as it should. There are two crowds here, I suppose. Those who are grateful just to have catalog find its way to hi-def, and those who would prefer less titles getting released, with more time and effort being spent on the ones getting released.

Am I preaching to the crowd that also doesn't mind Technicolor misregistration errors aplenty in virtually all of Uni's vintage color stuff coming down the pike of late, either bare bones from Uni proper or third-party Kino? For Whom The Bell Tolls?!? Thunder Bay?!? Unwatchable in projection without getting eye strain and a headache. Not the way ANYONE should be watching movies.
 
Last edited:

marcco00

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
523
Location
Pasadena, Ca.
Real Name
marc
check out Dietrich's see-thru blouse in her first scenes in this film..... this lady was tooo

much, don't know how it got past the censors!!!
 

Robert Crawford

Crawdaddy
Moderator
Patron
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 9, 1998
Messages
67,612
Location
Michigan
Real Name
Robert
John Wayne appeared in seven films in 1942, Marlene Dietrich in three, and Randolph Scott, also three.

Yeah, The Duke was busy in 1942. When those last three Blu-ray titles arrive, I'm going to watch all seven movies over the next 24-48 hours with only "Reunion in France" being on DVD while the rest are in 1080p. Anyhow, he's more of a supporting player in "Reunion in France" as that was clearly a Joan Crawford film. Also, I like that film, the least of the seven movies.

Flying Tigers
In Old California
Lady for a Night
Pittsburgh
Reap the Wild Wind
Reunion in France
The Spoilers
 
Last edited:

Nick*Z

Screenwriter
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
1,802
Location
Canada
Real Name
NICK
Yeah, The Duke was busy in 1942. When those last three Blu-ray titles arrive, I'm going to watch all seven movies over the next 24-48 hours with only "Reunion in France" being on DVD while the rest are in 1080p. Anyhow, he's more of a supporting player in "Reunion in France" as that was clearly a Joan Crawford film. Also, I like that film, the least of the seven.

Flying Tigers
In Old California
Lady for a Night
Pittsburgh
Reap the Wild Wind
Reunion in France
The Spoilers

Wayne's extraordinary life-time output is staggering. 'Prolific' is a futile word to describe his actor's acumen.
 

Worth

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
5,230
Real Name
Nick Dobbs
...There are two crowds here, I suppose. Those who are grateful just to have catalog find its way to hi-def, and those who would prefer less titles getting released, with more time and effort being spent on the ones getting released...
I'd put myself in another category, or maybe sub-category. I can't stand transfers with obvious electronic/digital manipulation. I'd rather not watch it at all than watch something over-sharpened and slathered with DNR. But I don't mind a less than pristine image that still looks like film. A bit of gate weave, the odd scratch, specks of dust here and there - none of that bothers me.
 

Robert Crawford

Crawdaddy
Moderator
Patron
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 9, 1998
Messages
67,612
Location
Michigan
Real Name
Robert
Yeah, The Duke was busy in 1942. When those last three Blu-ray titles arrive, I'm going to watch all seven movies over the next 24-48 hours with only "Reunion in France" being on DVD while the rest are in 1080p. Anyhow, he's more of a supporting player in "Reunion in France" as that was clearly a Joan Crawford film. Also, I like that film, the least of the seven movies.

Flying Tigers
In Old California
Lady for a Night
Pittsburgh
Reap the Wild Wind
Reunion in France
The Spoilers
Well, my plans have gone kaput as my Kino Blu-rays arrived today, but I have other commitments before I can watch all seven movies. I did watch "Reap the Wild Wind" today and will watch "Pittsburgh" and "The Spoilers" this weekend. I'll try to get to the other four movies sometime next week.
 

Josh Steinberg

Premium
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2003
Messages
26,274
Real Name
Josh Steinberg
Will add it to the list!

I haven’t been home yet today but got a notice that these two, plus Reap the Wild Wind, were delivered today. Should be a fun weekend!
 
Most Popular