DVD from Warner Archives 9/21/10

Warner Archives has just added Stranger on the Third Floor to its collection as of this date. Unlike most Archives titles, it's been digitally remastered, so the picture and sound should be excellent. Unfortunately this bumps the price up from the Archives' usual $19.95 to $24.95, but it should be worth it. You're best off ordering directly from WBshop.com. The films cost $8 or $9 less than they do from other sources and they're available immediately, not after a delay of weeks or months.

This creepy, well-made little film is a lost gem and anyone who hasn't seen it is in for a treat. Peter Lorre is, as always, remarkable.

Incidentally, the film has also been available from Sinister Cinema (sinistercinema.com) for the past two years or so. Sinister's basic price is $16.95, but they often have sales that bring the cost down significantly, sometimes by as much as half or more. I haven't seen their disc, but in truth it's almost certainly of an inferior print to the Warners DVD, especially as this new one's been remastered. Still, if you don't want to pay the higher price, you might look in on Sinister. Their products are generally very good, although it may well be that, with an "official" DVD from Warner now on the market, Sinister will pull their own version. (Both versions are DVD-Rs.)

UPDATE: I just checked the Sinister website and they have indeed withdrawn the title from their catalogue, presumably because Warner has reclaimed it. So the Archives edition is your only option.