Columbia Tri-Star (first release)

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia Tri-Star

Region 1 - NTSC

1.66:1 and 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.30 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 and 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.91 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.66:1 and 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: ? mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.42 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Columbia Tri-Star (first release)

Columbia Tri-Star (Special Edition)

Columbia Tri-Star (Collector's Edition)

Columbia Tri-Star (40th Anniversary Special Edition)

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish Mono 2.0

English (newly created from Mono Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1 and 1.33:1

Edition Details:
•  1 page liner notes

DVD Release Date: June 29th, 1999
Keepcase

Chapters 29

Note: Stated on the box - This transfer (with its changing aspect ratio) was approved by director 'Stanley Kubrick' himself!
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1 and 1.33:1

Edition Details:
•  Featurette:
•  Documentary:
•  Original Split-Screen Interview with Peter Sellers and George C. Scott
•  Original advertising Gallery
•  Talent Files
•  Theatrical trailers (Dr Strangelove, Fail-Safe, Anatomy of a Murder)

DVD Release Date: February 27, 2001
Keepcase

Chapters 28
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1 and 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Multilingual menus
• Theatrical Trailers
• Featurette: The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove
• Documentary: Inside the Making of Dr. Strangelove
• Original Split-Screen Interview with Peter Sellers and George C. Scott
• Original Advertising Gallery

DVD Release Date: February 18, 2002
Keepcase

Chapters 28

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1 and 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• None
 

Chapters 28

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
•  Documentary
•  Documentary
•  Interview with Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense under President Johnson
•  Featurette:
•  Documentary:
•  Original Split-Screen Interview with Peter Sellers and George C. Scott
•  Original advertising Gallery
•  Talent Files
•  Collectible scrapbook with original production photos and an essay written by Roger Ebert
 

Chapters 28

ADDITION: Japanese SUPERBIT - Dec - 04 - Wow, the Japanese SUPERBIT release is gorgeous -tight, sharp, bright , filled with grain. As Kubrick appeared to vacillate on his preferred ratio, many may still want the 1.33-1.66 edition - and if so, then the Japanese Superbit is the one to choose. It has original audio as well as DTS and both English or Japanese subtitles. As with other SB titles - no extras.

*****

The first three releases shown in this comparison have all had contrast boosting (or came from a print of like). It becomes most noticeable when looking at the new 40th anniversary release that the others are much brighter. According to Robert Harris this new 40th anniversary issue is a new "restoration" as it's the first time it's been transferred from a master element rather than a print. Columbia's DVD mastering policy indicates that this is a high-def transfer from those elements and then down-converted to DVD resolution. Print damage, though apparent, is less in the new edition in comparison to the other 3 (see large capture  # 3). This 'darkness' is far more in tune with the original presentation and the contrast and black levels are near perfect.

The new edition has the anamorphic molding that we see occasionally when doing screen captures and reducing the image. They tend to look soft, even in their native resolution, but the big question is has it been cropped to 1.66 from its original multi-aspect ratios and 1.8t theatrical? Criterion's stellar laserdisc from 12 years ago bounced between 1:37 and 1:66 depending on what scene was up. This is how all three initial releases are. Dr. Strangelove was projected in 1:85 in the United States and 1:66 in Europe. Kubrick preferred flat transfers and has stated so on many occasions, but I thought this was after 2001: A Space Odyssey was cropped for BBC television, not before. I was sure he did not prefer the 1.85 theatrical in his later years, but suspect this was an afterthought after it was already released. Perhaps someone can correct me. 

The Region 1 (Special Edition) shows some good grain and is minutely sharper than the PAL Collector's edition.

I am reserving judgment on image until I can be satisfied about the ratio.

By the way, Columbia's menus in the first release are a hoot. They are as bad as any I have ever seen from a major studio, bordering on basement conversions from 'Joe the VHS dubber'. I know it was 1999.

 - Gary Tooze

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worry and Love the Bomb

Lolita

Spartacus

Paths of Glory

The Killing

Killer's Kiss