Beatles "A Hard Day's Night"...what to own???

[rpd]

I have seen most of the threads on this topic...but I am not sure...Considering everything, what is the best "home version" to own of this movie, regardless of format? Do any home versions include the correct original mono soundtrack? What is the "one to have"?

[Michael]

I have seen most of the threads on this topic...but I am not sure...Considering everything, what is the best "home version" to own of this movie, regardless of format? Do any home versions include the correct original mono soundtrack? What is the "one to have"?


Yes, there was a VHS clamshell case copy of AHDN with the original MONO soundtrack...It was replaced with a Hi-Fi Stereo which was quite enjoyable at the time...then again with another VHS Hi-Fi...Get the MPI DVD!

[rpd]

Yes, there was a VHS clamshell case copy of AHDN with the original MONO soundtrack...It was replaced with a Hi-Fi Stereo which was quite enjoyable at the time...then again with another VHS Hi-Fi...Get the MPI DVD!

I have the MPI DVD...so should I just stick with that and move on?

[Steve Hoffman]

That's the one I have, s'ok with me. Crap, "A Hard Day's Night" is almost a lost film.

[Michael]

I have the MPI DVD...so should I just stick with that and move on?

YES, the MPI is the best one out there, hopefully it'll be replaced someday by a Special Edition DVD box set done right by Criterion!...the recent one is just so dam chopped up! I have it...Why? I don't know...It's the Beatles!:love::laugh:

[Ed Bishop]

Not perfect, but I can live with the Criterion LD....

:ed:

[Michael]

Not perfect, but I can live with the Criterion LD....

:ed:

The MPI is better... :p

[Michael]

That's the one I have, s'ok with me. Crap, "A Hard Day's Night" is almost a lost film.

It's in B&W.:D...2 strikes, Old & Colorless!:laugh:

[Ed Bishop]

The MPI is better... :p
Not for sound quality...LD's offer a richer, more natural sound, many times...very obvious if you compare the LD stereo AHDN sonics to the DVD...

My Criterion LD of BLADE RUNNER blows away the DVD sound....the DVD picture is slightly better, but not enough to compensate for the sound.

:ed:

[Michael]

Not for sound quality...LD's offer a richer, more natural sound, many times...very obvious if you compare the LD stereo AHDN sonics to the DVD...

My Criterion LD of BLADE RUNNER blows away the DVD sound....the DVD picture is slightly better, but not enough to compensate for the sound.

:ed:

...all well and good...considerin I have every available incarnation of AHDN other than the LD, I'm happy...I never had an interest in LD.

[Ed Bishop]

...all well and good...considerin I have every available incarnation of AHDN other than the LD, I'm happy...I never had an interest in LD.
You don't seem like a lad who got into Betamax much, either.....

:ed:

[Mister Kite]

Not for sound quality...LD's offer a richer, more natural sound, many times...very obvious if you compare the LD stereo AHDN sonics to the DVD...

My Criterion LD of BLADE RUNNER blows away the DVD sound....the DVD picture is slightly better, but not enough to compensate for the sound.

:ed: Agree... and agree! That 2-disc Criterion Blade Runner really set the standard for years to come. :righton:

[Michael]

You don't seem like a lad who got into Betamax much, either.....

:ed:

Yes, ED we all know Beta was better...nice try;)

[Drifter]

the recent one is just so dam chopped up!
It has that glorious 5.1 "stereo" mix that we all love though. ;)

[Pinknik]

I think you've got it wrong when it comes to picture on the Mirimax disc. I think it's correct, and I don't think it has ever looked better. Yes, I've seen your screen shots, but they acount for a small fragment of the entire scene from which they are lifted, and the majority of the film looks fine, in what was, most likely, its original projection aspect ratio. Now the sound . . .

[rpd]

I ahve not tried this, but how does the new DVD sound if you hit the mono switch on your system...or use y cords to get it to mono???

[Michael]

I think you've got it wrong when it comes to picture on the Mirimax disc. I think it's correct, and I don't think it has ever looked better. Yes, I've seen your screen shots, but they acount for a small fragment of the entire scene from which they are lifted, and the majority of the film looks fine, in what was, most likely, its original projection aspect ratio. Now the sound . . .

Ummm, we're talking chopped head shots? It's incorrect...

[Michael]

I ahve not tried this, but how does the new DVD sound if you hit the mono switch on your system...or use y cords to get it to mono???

...like crap!:) nothing can save it...wouldn't be true mono anyway.

[Sckott]

Was glad to get the MPI DVD when I got my 1st DVD player. I didn't bother with the 2nd one that came out 17 months ago. Great sound.

[Pinknik]

Ummm, we're talking chopped head shots? It's incorrect...
So you've never seen chopped heads in movies? Happens all the time. It's correct. :)

[Michael]

So you've never seen chopped heads in movies? Happens all the time. It's correct. :)

Not in AHDN.:)...it's incorrect. Did you see AHDN at the movies in 1964? No chopped head shots...Who told you it is correct? :wave:
Trust your eyes, not your ears...

[Drifter]

So you've never seen chopped heads in movies? Happens all the time. It's correct. :)
In slasher flicks, yes. :D

[Ken_McAlinden]

The Miramax DVD is a fine way to go and has the benefit of being readily available. Yes, the fake 5.1 is annoying, but I agree with those who say that the widescreen framing is not really a problem. It certainly is less of an issue on this release than it was on the restored "Hey Bulldog" sequence of the Yellow Submarine DVD.

Regards,

[Drifter]

FWIW, here's Colin Jacobson's opinion on the aspect ratio: The film’s aspect ratio has caused confusion. I wish I could clear up the issues, but I’m a little muddled about it myself. Virtually all prior video incarnations of Night showed it at 1.33:1, and some seemed to claim this was the theatrical ratio. Even Criterion - sticklers for OAR - used 1.33:1. However, I’ve also heard that the film was commonly projected 1.66:1 back in 1964. Does this mean that technically both ratios are correct? It sure looks that way. Colin Jacobson's full review of AHDN DVD (http://dvdmg.com/harddaysnight.shtml)

I still don't believe the matting is correct, it removes too much from the frame composition. Is there an accurate way to measure the picture to figure out if it's actually 1.66:1? When I measure it, even allowing for some error I find it appears to be at least 1.75:1, which would confirm that it IS incorrectly framed.

[Drifter]

I think you've got it wrong when it comes to picture on the Mirimax disc. I think it's correct, and I don't think it has ever looked better. Yes, I've seen your screen shots, but they acount for a small fragment of the entire scene from which they are lifted, and the majority of the film looks fine, in what was, most likely, its original projection aspect ratio. Now the sound . . .
Watch any of the scenes with tight shots (pay attention to the concert sequence, for example) and people's eyes are frequently popping out of the frame. I highly doubt that's what Richard Lester intended, he's a better director than that. It is claimed that the film was shown in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio in most theatres 40 years ago but I find the DVD seems to be closer to 1.75:1-1.80:1, which would explain why to many of us it seems to be cropped.