Vertigo in 4K is Not Perfect, but Good

"... not an easy film to bring to Blu-ray.

Scanning the original VistaVision negative gives you proper grain and resolution. And that's about it.

Fully exposed shots, are far less problematic than the thinner shots, which are horribly faded.

When we did our restoration back in 1996 or so, all that we had to work with were a faded original negative, heavily shrunken separation masters, and magnetic dupes from the original tracks. All of the stems had been junked (not by Universal) long before. While we had discovered the original music floor recordings in Paramount's vaults, everything else had to come come optical positives.

The general desire was to use the stereo music and re-mix it, but with what? New effects and Foley had to be created from scratch, and to be honest, studio politics took front position when it came to the use of newly created elements. We were not happy with the final results.

The majority of those problems, have been far better dealt with here.

We were able to create 65mm dupe from a newly struck VVLA IP, in varying densities, and processed in differing ways, in order to bring back acceptable color to most of the film.

Now, with digital technology, and via a process that we proved could work, and perfected over a five year period, anything can be done, with the requisite elements, to bring a film back to the way that it appeared on day one.

Those early tests, which came after Vertigo, helped to solve problems in Rear Window. Used today, they could have made Vertigo perfect.

But what most of you want to know is if there are major problems. Is the Blu-ray a pleasurable experience to watch?

Toward full transparency, I will offer than I've been pleased to have been consulted on the project, and I firmly believe that within financial parameters, Universal has taken the project as far as it can go. The technical execs at Universal very much want this, and the rest of the Hitchcock Blu-ray collection to be as perfect as possible. But in the corporate world, things aren't always as easy as just doing it. Budgets, and financial realities must come to the fore.

Is the Blu-ray of Vertigo perfect? No.

Is it horribly problematic?

Absolutely not.

My bet would be, that those getting caught up in the film, which would be my expectation, wouldn't be noticing the problems, and if they did, they may not register as such.

Here's a breakdown.

Generally, any sequences that are fully exposed have been dealt with via digital color, and the final results are superb. That accounts for probably 90% of the film.

The problems are in dupes -- the shot in the museum, going from Ms. Novak's hair to the portrait -- the color of which is incorrect, and without further technical support, uncorrectable.

And in faded shots. Several shots of Mr. Stewart and the police officer on the rooftop in the opening don't answer back color-wise, and could have.

A thin sequence in Barbara Bel Geddes car needs help.

A single problematic shot of Mr. Stewart at Carlotta's grave after his release from the hospital, exhibits extreme fade at the top of the frame. For our version, without digital tools, we were forced to go to separations, which ran out of register.

The ride to the mission at the end of the film, has problems with black levels and skin tones, and as handled, there is no way it could not.

Probably the most problematic, are the final interior shots in the mission tower, again with poor black levels and improper flesh tones. Apparent fade across the center of the negative, also yields an unpleasant transparency to the sequence.

But let's go to facts.

I notice this, as I'm attuned to the film.

I'm certain that Mr. Kimmel will take note, as he's also used to viewing original prints.

Jeffrey Wells (Hollywood Elsewhere ) will be pleased, as Mr. Stewart's suit is properly brown, and not aubergine.

But very few people will be distressed by any of this, and while I would truly like to see this film restored accurately, it's not about to happen at this time. Unfortunately, the elements will continue to evolve, and not in a positive way.

The bottom line here is that almost all of the film looks, and sounds, terrific.

I was considering posting frames to show what the Blu-ray should look like as opposed to what it does, but I see neither the need, nor anything positive coming out of it.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that Universal tried very hard to make this right. They agreed to take suggestions until after the end, and I have nothing but respect for the final result.

I believe I have a reasonably good handle on the mindset of the Blu-ray collecting public, and my feeling is that very few will be displeased with this release.

Is it perfect?

No.

But it's generally beautiful and a major attempt has been made toward accuracy.

That's fair. Surely.

Recommended.

Image - 4

Audio - 4.5"

Robert Harris, Archivist

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