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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Leo McCarey 
U.S. 1957

In this poignant and humorous love story nominated for four Academy Awards, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Though each is engaged to someone else, they agree to meet six months later at the Empire State Building if they still feel the same way about each other. But a tragic accident prevents their rendezvous and the lover's future takes an emotional and uncertain turn.

***

Handsome playboy Nicky Ferrante and beautiful night club singer Terry McKay have a romance while on a cruise from Europe to New York. Despite being engaged to other people, both agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. However, an unfortunate accident keeps Terry from the reunion, and Nicky fears that she has married or does not love him anymore. Will he discover the truth behind her absence and reunite with his one true love, or has fate and destiny passed them by?

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: July 11, 1957

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. RESTORED 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox (50th Anniversary) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL LEFT

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox

Region 1  - NTSC

Twentieth Century Fox 
Region 1 - NTSC
Twentieth Century Fox 
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:54:36 1:54:36 1:54:36 1:54:48.756
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.49 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.6
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.6
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 44,045,238,011 bytes

Feature Size: 37,733,554,176 bytes

Average Bitrate: 37.49 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

20th Century Fox - old

 

Bitrate:

20th Century Fox - RESTORED

Bitrate:

20th Century Fox - 50th Anniversary

Bitrate:

20th Century Fox - Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French DUB (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), DUBS: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), DUBS: French (Dolby Digital mono), Spanish (Dolby Digital Mono)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3137 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3137 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Subtitles English, Spanish and none English, Spanish and none English, Spanish and none English, French, Spanish and none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• An Affair to Remember non-anamorphic widescreen 2:52
• Love is a Many-Splendored Thing - non-anamorphic widescreen 2:35
• How Green Was My Valley - black and white (very scratched) 4:3 - 1:44 
• Gentleman's Agreement - 4:3 - black and white  - 2:57
• All About Eve - 4:3 - b+w - 2:56

•Photo Gallery with 4 static screens
• Widescreen letterbox format

DVD Release Date: March 7, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Singer Marni Nixon and Film Historian Joseph McBride 
• AMC Backstory Episode: "An Affair to Remember" ( 24:00 )
• Movietone Newsreel (Shipboard Premiere) ( :56 )
• Stills Gallery ( 22 Black and White static stills )
• An Affair to Remember non-anamorphic widescreen 2:52

 

DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Singer Marni Nixon and Film Historian Joseph McBride 

Disc 2
• Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Deborah Kerr (5:32)

• Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Cary Grant (9:47)

• Featurette: Directed by Leo McCarey (22:32)

• Featurette: A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald (15:59)

• Featurette: The Look of Affair to Remember (8:53)

AMC Backstory Episode: "An Affair to Remember" ( 24:00 )
• Movietone Newsreel (Shipboard Premiere) ( :56 )

• Poster Gallery ( 2 static stills )
• Stills Gallery ( 22 Black and White static stills )
• An Affair to Remember non-anamorphic widescreen 2:52

 

DVD Release Date: January 15th, 2008
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
 

Disc Size: 44,045,238,011 bytes

Feature Size: 37,733,554,176 bytes

Average Bitrate: 37.49 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Singer Marni Nixon and Film Historian Joseph McBride 
• Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Deborah Kerr (5:32 480i)

• Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Cary Grant (9:47 480i)

• Featurette: Directed by Leo McCarey (22:33 480i)

• Featurette: A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald (15:59 480i)

• Featurette: The Look of Affair to Remember (8:53 480i)

• AMC Backstory Episode: "An Affair to Remember" ( 24:27 480i )
• Movietone Newsreel (Shipboard Premiere) ( :56 480i )

Trailer (2:53 480i)

26-page Digibook with photos and essays

 

Blu-ray Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Digi-book
Blu-ray Case

Chapters 20

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Fox Region FREE Blu-ray: January 2011: Like Fox's Blu-ray All About Eve  - An Affair to Remember is another handsome Digi-book package. The dual-layered transfer has 37 Gig for the feature film of less than 2-hours. Hence it offers a very high bitrate. I've always had questions about the colors of this film and not having seen it theatrically - I can't really comment on there validity in this 1080P rendering or the DVDs. They have noticeably shifted to a more softer, more blue, palette and appear to be lacking in density. The image is somewhat darker and although not a jaw-dropper it is a solid upgrade from the DVDs (the original had artefacts and the 2 after were over-digitized - even boosted, IMO.) There is a bit of noise, but I'll wait to hear more from experts on the color issues.

Audio offers a DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 3137 kbps and while there are no strong separations - it sounds very good especially notable if the, often, subtle original score of Hugo Friedhofer. There is a French and Spanish DUB options and some subtitle choices and the disc appears to be Region FREE.

Extras duplicate the 2008 50th Anniversary DVD with the McBride and Marni Nixon commentary and featurettes (Deborah Kerr - 5:32, Affairs to Remember - Cary Grant - 9:47, Directed by Leo McCarey - 22:32, A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald - 15:59 and The Look of Affair to Remember - 8:53) all in 480i. We lose the poster galleries but gain the Digi-book.

I think anyone familiar with the film will notice the video improvement in the Blu-ray - even notable in the score. This is a memorable remake of Leo McCarey's Love Affair (1939) and remains emotionally impacting. Cary Grant is himself and the camera loves him - Kerr is magnificent and the beauty of the film experience hinges on their underplayed characters. McCarey is brilliant in putting the pieces together and many consider it his masterpiece - although he made many wonderful films. The Blu-ray is directly proportional to your appreciation of An Affair to Remember . This is easily the best presentation you are going to get for your home theater in both audio and video and in comes in a very nice package. Probably the perfect gift for the females in your life (Mother, sister, girlfriend, wife) - just make sure they have a Blu-ray player!   

***

ON THE DVDs: Checking the Feature disc's VOB files - it indicates that they are from Oct 15th, 2007 - so they are new compared to the five year old Studio Classics edition. The bitrate is also significantly improved but I honestly don't notice any intense differences or improvements. There are less artifacts and it is a bit smoother but I'll wager the updating will be unnoticeable on most systems. The higher bitrate may be indicative that the feature does not share the dual-layered disc with any of the extras as they have been relegated to disc 2. It does seem marginally tighter. Aspects of audio and subtitles remain the same.

I always felt the restored (and now the 50th Anniversary edition) was a bit over-digitized but it's a vast improvement over the non-anamorphic original especially in the way of artifacts (digital noise) and colors. It is easily apparent. Perhaps this is the best An Affair to Remember can look on SD DVD.

Supplements include the excellent 2003 commentary with Joseph McBride and Marni Nixon. Also duplicated (but on disc 2) are the 25 minute 'AMC Backstory Episode: "An Affair to Remember" which is quite good, and a stills gallery with 22 black and white images and the 'MovieTone newsreel' - which is less than a minute.

New in the way of extras, additional from the Studio Classics version, are five new featurettes: Affairs to Remember - Deborah Kerr (5:32), Affairs to Remember - Cary Grant (9:47), Directed by Leo McCarey (22:32), A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald (15:59) and The Look of Affair to Remember (8:53) plus there is a new poster gallery (with but two images). The first two featurettes have fond remembrances from still-living spouses - I think I enjoyed the third on McCarey the best of them all as it had a lot of pertinent information about the director - and I feel I learned a little something.

Overall the only reason for an endorsement would be the fabulous price. It's certainly a must-have if you don't own the Studio Classics edition already... but if you do - it would depend on your adoration of the film. Let me tell you - as the classic tear-jerker this makes a great gift for any female friend or relative (co-worker, sister, mother etc.). This film - looking and sounding as good as it probably ever will on standard DVD is worth a lot more than $15. An essential part of any DVD collection.

Gary W. Tooze



Menus

 

Fox 50th Anniversary

 

 

Disc 2 - Fox 50th Anniversary

 



(20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC  Left vs. 20th Century Fox R1- RESTORED - Right)


 

20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures Subtitle Sample

20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL TOP

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL TOP

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL TOP

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL TOP

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC ORIGINAL TOP

2) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC RESTORED STUDIO CLASSICS SECOND

3) 20th Century Fox R1 - NTSC 2-disc 50th ANNIVERSARY THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures


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Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: 20th Century Fox 5oth Anniversary / Blu-ray

 

DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox

Region 1  - NTSC

Twentieth Century Fox 
Region 1 - NTSC
Twentieth Century Fox 
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

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