New A Hard Day's Night DVD

[lbangs]

Just saw this over at www.digitalbits.com :

"The 2-disc A Hard Day's Night: Collector's Series arrives on DVD from Miramax on 9/2 (SRP $29.99). Expect "enhanced picture", "new footage" and the "digitally restored soundtrack"."

I'm seeing lots of enhancement, restoration, and digital there...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[Todd Fredericks]

Yikes, I hope they just do a good transfer of the well-done restored film I saw the other year...

Todd

P.S. Enhanced? What are they going to do, colorize it? Ouch@!

[lbangs]

Shhh..... Don't give em any ideas...

Since Miramax was behind that restored print, I'm willing to bet the print will be the same. Miramax is trying to get into the collector's edition DVD market in a big way (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and another is also appearing in a 2-disc version before year's end), so I bet they'll take some care with the transfer. Now, as to the sound, I've no idea... I'll be bearing some guarded optimism.

Does anybody know who controls this film? Does Abbey Road get much say in the sound department? I wouldn't think so, but I honestly don't know. Is there a chance we'll hear a remastered soundtrack minus Peter Mew's involvement?

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[Todd Fredericks]

Someone posted these details on DVDtalk.com


Anyway, here are the details listed, verbatim, in the marketing
binder from Buena Vista:

-Street Date: Sept 24
-2 disc set
-"More than 8 hours (yes 8) of Bonus Material" which include:
An original "Making Of"
Still Gallery
More that 20 exclusive interviews
Production Commentary
Cast Commentary
Post-production commentary
French-language track
Miramax trailer
Behind the Scenes "featurette"
"Running Jumping Standing Still" film (Richard Lester's classic
short that the Beatles really liked--featuring Peter Sellers)

-Enhanced sound incl. "original MONO track" and "New 5.1 track for
DVD"

DVD ROM:
-Screenplay Viewer!!!!!
-Trivia-enhanced playback
-Filmographies
-Website links
-Beatles timeline

They suggest a full-scale media blitz "comparable to Scary Movie 2 or
Pulp Fiction", radio giveaways, e-mail blitz, TV campaign

Max retail price, they say, will be $29.99 for DVD, $14.99 for VHS!

[lbangs]

Hmmm. Thanks, Todd. I wonder if the cast commentary will include any of the fab four. I doubt it, but if so, what a coup!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[Matt]

A lot of that bonus material sounds familiar. I think I've seen most, if not all, of it, thanks to PBS broadcasts of the movie (usually with a "Making of" documentary featuring Walter Shenson and Richard Lester) and the CD-ROM of the movie that came out five years ago.

[Jeff H.]

Originally posted by lbangs
Shhh..... Don't give em any ideas...

Since Miramax was behind that restored print, I'm willing to bet the print will be the same. Miramax is trying to get into the collector's edition DVD market in a big way (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and another is also appearing in a 2-disc version before year's end), so I bet they'll take some care with the transfer. Now, as to the sound, I've no idea... I'll be bearing some guarded optimism.

Does anybody know who controls this film? Does Abbey Road get much say in the sound department? I wouldn't think so, but I honestly don't know. Is there a chance we'll hear a remastered soundtrack minus Peter Mew's involvement?

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs


I believe that after Walter Shenson's death that the rights to this film reverted to or were purchased by Apple. As far as the sound goes, I watched the end credits to the theatrical re-release and it said the soundtrack was remastered by Kevin Reeves at Polygram Studios. I think he actually remastered the original mono optical soundtrack which was what I heard in the theater I saw it. I'm wondering if they're going to use the Dolby Stereo soundtrack that was done by Bruce Botnick for the 1982 re-release and Criterion laserdisc? Or will it be an all new stereo mix?

[Dugan]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks
Someone posted these details on DVDtalk.com


Anyway, here are the details listed, verbatim, in the marketing
binder from Buena Vista...


-Enhanced sound incl. "original MONO track" and "New 5.1 track for
DVD"



It doesn't say anything about a stereo mix.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Jeff H.
I'm wondering if they're going to use the Dolby Stereo soundtrack that was done by Bruce Botnick for the 1982 re-release and Criterion laserdisc? Or will it be an all new stereo mix?

Keep in mind that making a stereo mix that's true to the original is impossible. The original audio parts (that had dialog, effects, and music separated) are long gone. All that exists today is the mono composite soundtrack. As such, if you put the songs in stereo, you will lose any effects that happen during them. I believe an example in one song is when a bottle gets knocked off of an amp. The noise is on the original mono soundtrack, but is missing on the stereo versions.

[Michael]

Originally posted by Michael


I feel sorry for all those who bought this off of EBAY! Can't wait for this one.

[Jeff H.]

Originally posted by lukpac


Keep in mind that making a stereo mix that's true to the original is impossible. The original audio parts (that had dialog, effects, and music separated) are long gone. All that exists today is the mono composite soundtrack. As such, if you put the songs in stereo, you will lose any effects that happen during them. I believe an example in one song is when a bottle gets knocked off of an amp. The noise is on the original mono soundtrack, but is missing on the stereo versions.


Luke,

I know exactly what you are referring to. During the sequence with "If I Fell", George leans on his amp and you can hear it fall slightly backward which is only on the mono optical soundtrack. For this 5.1 mix they are speaking of, I'm sure the only elements that will be stereo is the music. On the '82 Dolby Stereo mix of the film the sound effects that occur during certain songs isn't there, Botnick just synced up the music tracks to the picture.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Jeff H.
I know exactly what you are referring to. During the sequence with "If I Fell", George leans on his amp and you can hear it fall slightly backward which is only on the mono optical soundtrack. For this 5.1 mix they are speaking of, I'm sure the only elements that will be stereo is the music. On the '82 Dolby Stereo mix of the film the sound effects that occur during certain songs isn't there, Botnick just synced up the music tracks to the picture.

Well, I wonder what, if any, type of multichannel mix will be on the DVD, as the theatrical restoration last (?) year used the original mono mix due to the aforementioned issues. I figured the DVD would use the same stuff, but I could be wrong.

[Todd Fredericks]

I'm guessing for the 5.1 mix they may add new foley effects ala 'Vertigo'. If they do, I just hope they get it to match the other sound elements with out being too obvious. I'm just happt their including the original mono mix of the soundtrack...

Todd