Can anyone tell me if any of the "generic" DVDs floating around out there are as good transfer-wise as the MGM release?
From what I can tell, the MGM release is touted as "the best," but I have to wonder if any of the cheapo DVD publishers come close in terms of the quality of the transfer.
Anyone?
My budget release (really more a budget-budget release) is on the "23rd century” label, which is generally considered to be a hothouse of pirate editions. (Scant information on the net, none at all on the DVD itself.) On the cover there’s a picture of Boris which looks more like artwork for The mummy, which may actually be the case since the back states that "The image on the sleeve may not necessarily correspond with the film.”
The disc itself is fairly simple: when you insert it into your machine you get a screen with one option - PLAY. (No, there is no scene selection, although on the disc itself the movie is divided into 18 chapters, most of them exactly 5 minutes long; you can access them by means of the Next button on your remote, but not by means of any menu.)
Of course there is always a second option, which is simply not to play the disc, but that would be a shame since the transfer is actually pretty good. It seems that most (if not all) 23rd Century-releases are basically your old VHS tapes transferred to DVD, but you really wouldn’t think that to look at this. The picture is crisp and quite sharp, there are hardly any disturbing cuts or obviously missing frames, the running time is 80 minutes (whereas the cover says 68 minutes and even IMDb gives a mere 77 minutes!) and the sound is pretty clear.
The only drawback is that in a few instances the compression appears to fail, so that in some frames the big black (dark) areas seem to have been sketched in by a grey pencil. But this happens so infrequently that it is hardly worth the mention. (And of course it is a pity that there is no background information on the disc: we are now very well acquainted with the stories on all the Universal horror classics, but this one must have been a rarity.)
Still, considering that this is a very cheap edition of a very old movie, I was very agreeably surprised. It sits quite nicely on the shelf next to the great Universals. (By the way, I bought this edition of The ghoul in Holland in a well-respected shop for about two dollars.)
You would have to be insane not to buy the MGM disc, it's perfect.
shareThanks for the info!
Bought this edition today, for a mere 2 pounds...
I've bought various other 23th C movies (mostly for a pound a piece), and it's indeed always a gamble what the quality will be.
"You would have to be insane not to buy the MGM disc, it's perfect."
Jeffallee is right, and takes the words out of my mouth.
The IMDB reviewer is also right on the money saying:
"jaw-droppingly pristine copy"
I just saw the MGM transfer, and was amazed. The VHS copy I used to have was a mess! It was in the worst condition of any film I ever saw on video.
In contrast, the MGM DVD literally looks like it was filmed yesterday, and is in better condition than films made in 50s or 60s. The music track is also noticeably sharp.
[deleted]
how is the quality on the dvd, i got vhs version of this film and its terrible and really hurts my eyes.
share