While this series is rightly celebrated for its enlightening take on the [social] science of evolution (some may disagree about the latter), the picture quality might well benefit from a restoration project, IMHO. I wonder if there is a good quality print.
This is still a big seller.
I agree the DVDs are extremely noisy, though I couldn't say to what extent it's the film or the processing. I suspect the latter.
shareAppreciate the 'noise' info. At least there'd be a chance then, apart from the cost...
shareWell that's the thing; I wouldn't expect any film restoration, if it's indeed necessary, for few years yet, whether DVD sales are good or not (I wouldn't know). I can't recall anything like film damage, but the digital processing clearly struggled to keep up with the 16mm grain.
It'd be nice to have on Blu Ray, and I'm sure there's more J. Bronowski archival material than the BBC know what to do with.
I think the DVDs were made from a bad print. A few years back the Science Channel presented the series. The picture quality was much better. Unfortunately, in order to put the usual amount of commercials in, they badly cut up the content. For example, they cut off the last part of Dr. Bronowski's emotional plea for tolerance in the Auschwitz pond!!!
shareThe series was shot on on 16mm, and the image you get from 1970s 16mm stock on this particular DVD set, is about as clear as it's going to get.
The set I have is from Ambrose video, and it is miles ahead from the original presentation, which was from a quickly made print distributed to various TV stations.
The Ambrose set is spectacular, and is as a clear as the source material will allow.
This series definitely could benefit from a high definition restoration. The noise on the DVD makes it look like LP VHS quality.
shareThat's a shame. I remember watching this and really liking it ... when I was a kid. Then in college there was a adult course on it where we watched the series and discussed it. I miss this kind of programming.
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