I tend to agree with Cliff from our ListServ. He stated (about digital cleanup):
'With sharpness, it seems that you are always going to see more thin lines and small pieces of dirt that seem to show up invariably on film UNLESS great efforts are made to remove them. I suppose some of the digital clean-up must be done "by hand" if it's going to be done right, i.e., a human must get in there and make sure that ropes and gnats and fishing lines which are present in the film image aren't digitally erased... or you can just opt for the blurriness. I prefer sharpness without the overzealous cleaning of dirt and emulsion scratches...'

The screen shots definitely expose a possible excessiveness in digitization and we hope the trend is not overused in future transfers.

In regards to extras, the new package is stacked with a 2nd disc of featurettes and, the most anticipated, recently surfaced, 5-minute, Brando screen test for Rebel Without a Cause. It is actually a long time before Nicholas Ray's film and is from a book adaptation that Warner, at one time, owned. Still, it is very interesting. Other keen supplements include the full-length Kazan bio-documentary, outtakes and more (5 other documentary featurettes!).

Our niggling over the image shouldn't distract anyone from this outstanding package. Warner really delivers on this dynamic and emotionally realistic film - atmospherically set in the seedy French Quarter of New Orleans. Days of cinema like this are long gone and I'm so very happy to have this masterpiece in such a complete digital package. Bravo Warner!   

 - Gary Tooze