- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,271
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Of necessity, we need to file Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat under the "special case" category, for problems.
Decades ago I had a pleasing 16mm print, but the original 35mm elements seem to be gone.
Not only the original negative, but any high quality fine grain masters, derived from same.
Everything that I recall has always had dupey main titles, problems with either nitrate decomp, or lab issues. One could uses Lifeboat as a film restoration study for a master's thesis.
Therefore, we go in with the knowledge that we'll see spotting, occasional scratches and other problems.
Without a very expensive restoration, which would not be wholly successful, this is what Lifeboat looks like.
Kino Lorber has been kind enough to release the film on Blu-ray, and the aforementioned problems understood, this is a quality effort, with some quality (some re-cycled) extras.
For Hitchcock fans, this is an extremely important release. For those who have not yet discovered his lessor known work, it may be a revelation.
My advise is to just pick this one up, and enjoy.
Image - 3.5
Audio - 4
4k Up-rez - 3.5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Highly Recommended
RAH
Decades ago I had a pleasing 16mm print, but the original 35mm elements seem to be gone.
Not only the original negative, but any high quality fine grain masters, derived from same.
Everything that I recall has always had dupey main titles, problems with either nitrate decomp, or lab issues. One could uses Lifeboat as a film restoration study for a master's thesis.
Therefore, we go in with the knowledge that we'll see spotting, occasional scratches and other problems.
Without a very expensive restoration, which would not be wholly successful, this is what Lifeboat looks like.
Kino Lorber has been kind enough to release the film on Blu-ray, and the aforementioned problems understood, this is a quality effort, with some quality (some re-cycled) extras.
For Hitchcock fans, this is an extremely important release. For those who have not yet discovered his lessor known work, it may be a revelation.
My advise is to just pick this one up, and enjoy.
Image - 3.5
Audio - 4
4k Up-rez - 3.5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Highly Recommended
RAH