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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(Mouse Over the Title to see the rendered edition in the Hitchcock Masterpiece Boxset and Legacy Series Editions)
NOTE: Vertigo is individually reviewed on 4K UHD HERE
Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. Excerpt of Jim Emerson's review HERE
*** "Hitchcock's most memorable and haunting film of obsession wrapped in a surrealist plot of desperation and genuine edge-of-seat thrills. This is a film benefits greatly from the most pristine viewing available to help reveal its true grandeur. It is too easy to be swallowed whole by Hitchcock's eerie feel and majestic vision, pounding with Bernard Herrmann's unforgettable score. A tale that mocks our own perceptions of superficiality and inconclusive aspects of love... and why we cannot recreate it."
Film students in online schools and online universities study Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo because in a recent poll it was voted the greatest film of all time, replacing Citizen Kane. Great films like Vertigo are always studied at online universities and schools so students can explain why they are great from technical point of view. |
International Posters + Lobby Card (Click most to enlarge)
Theatrical Release: May 8th, 1958 - San Francisco
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region 1 (Masterpiece Collection) - NTSC vs. Universal - Region 1 (2-disc Legacy Series) - NTSC vs. Universal (Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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Box Covers |
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Individual Blu-ray Release out in June 2014: | |
Distribution |
Universal Studios
Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios (Hitchcock Masterpiece) Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios (Legacy
Series) Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 2:09:28 | 2:09:28 | 2:09:28 | 2:08:27.533 |
Video |
Widescreen letterbox - 1.83:1 Average Bitrate: 5.41 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Widescreen 16:9 enhanced - 1.86:1
Average Bitrate: 6.91 mb/s |
Widescreen 16:9 enhanced - 1.85:1
Average Bitrate: 7.26 mb/s |
1080P
Dual-layered
Blu-ray Disc Size: 43,234,934,157 bytesFeature: 35,733,712,896 bytes Codec: VC-1 Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.90 Mbps |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Initial release
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HMC release |
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Legacy Selease |
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Blu-ray |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 5.1) , English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 1.0 | English (Dolby Digital 5.1) , English Dolby Digital 2.0 , English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 1.0 | English (Dolby Digital 5.1) , English Dolby Digital 2.0 , English Audio Commentaries Dolby Digital 2.0 |
DTS-HD Master Audio English
3323 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3323 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz /
1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS Audio English 448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / 24-bit DTS Audio French 448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / 24-bit DTS Audio Spanish 448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | Spanish, French, English (captions), None | Spanish, French, English (captions), None | Spanish, French, English (captions), None | English (SDH), Spanish, French, None |
Features |
Release Information:
Aspect Ratio: • 8 page liner notes pamphlet with articles and photos DVD Release Date:
Chapters 35 |
Release Information:
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: DVD Release Date:
October 4th, 2005 Chapters 35 |
Release Information:
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
• Commentary by associate producer Herbert Coleman, restoration team
Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz, and Steven Smith (III), author of "A
Heart at Fire's Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann" and
Vertigo participants
Disc 2: Extra Features • Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators (54:52) - Saul Bass: Title Champ -Edith Head: Dressing the Master's Movies - Bernard Herrmann - Hitchcock's Maestro
- Alma - The Masters Muse DVD Release Date:
October 7, 2008
Bookstyle case
Chapters 35 |
Release Information:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
1080P
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: Feature: 35,733,712,896 bytes Codec: VC-1 Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.90 Mbps
Edition Details: • Commentary by William Friedkin • "Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Alfred Hitchcock's Masterpiece", an original American Movie Classic documentary, narrated by Roddy McDowall and featuring new interviews with Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes, Alfred Hitchcock's daughter Patricia Hitchcock, producer Herbert Coleman, restoration team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz, and others involved in the movie's production (29:19) • Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators (54:49)
• Hitchcock /
Truffaut Interview Excerpts (14:17)
• 100 Years of Universal Lew Wasserman Era
My Scenes
Blu-ray Release Date:
October 22nd, 2012
Custom
Bookstyle case Chapters 34 |
Comments |
NOTE: Vertigo is individually reviewed on 4K UHD HERE NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 12': I am going through the set right now and wish to reserve judgment until I can investigate more closely. Surface impressions are: Colors looks good, less texture than I would appreciate, some extras removed from the Legacy (Harris/ Katz commentary), packaging is wonderful. Overall gave me a great presentation - audio was premium. Stay tuned for more. Here are comments from one of our esteemed ListServ members:
BM says: "... I'm really thrilled the
color correction has been made to the opening face in the credits (it
hadn't been for the recent DCP release in theaters). If I'm reading your
audio specs correctly it seems that the commentary track with Harris,
Katz and Herbert Coleman has been dropped, but the Friedkin commentary
is included... I assume the two remaining English tracks are the new
stereo 5.1 and the original mono. I will say that the new stereo
soundtrack heard over the DCP print was a vast improvement over the 1996
version, so as much as I want the original mono, if it has been left off
it would not be quite the horror it was for the original and Legacy
releases. *** ADDITION: 2-disc Legacy Series: I believe this transfer to be more subtly superior than the Rear Window Legacy was to the Past Masterpiece Collection edition. It is slight, but detail may appear a small notch improved. This may be a sign of marginal black boosting but I toggled back and forth between the two (simultaneously running) on my system and the Legacy was certainly a notch sharper and smoother (but maybe even glossier as well). Overall, I will give it the nod for the best image for the improved compression - it also shows a higher bitrate. Color differences are the same as Masterpiece collection transfer (eyes in credits etc. - see below.) Audio and subtitle options appear the same but subtitle positioning is better and the font much cleaner (no jaggies) on the Legacy.
Biff tells us in email (thanks Biff!) "I just
wanted to alert you to the fact that the new Legacy Vertigo does not
include the original mono mix. There are four audio options: English
5.1, English, plus the two commentaries. The second English option is
not the original mix. I assume it's a 2.0 version of the 1996 "restored"
sound track. Whatever it is, it's not the original. I've just gone
through every audio option, and the original is not there. I don't hear
a significant difference between the first two English options (but I
only have a two speaker set up), but they both have the "repeating" gun
shots in the opening scene, and the missing "foley" of the squeaking
springs in Midge's day bed when Scottie sits down during their first
scene together (and the score is clearly in stereo on both options). For
Vertigo aficionados this is a major gaffe on Universal's part. The
Masterpiece Collection, of course does have the original mix as an
option, but as your screen caps (and my eyes) reveal, the Legacy has the
superior picture: very frustrating (as is the fact that they didn't fix
the color gaffe over the opening credits). The real enticement that fans may wish to indulge
in this new Legacy edition are the supplements. We have both the Coleman
et all commentary and the
30 minute documentary
"Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Alfred Hitchcock's Masterpiece".
But there are some wonderful new additions. I don't buy everything he
was saying but it was very interesting to hear the commentary with
director William Friedkin. He tended to try a bit hard to relate the
idea of Hitch's personal life mimicking much of the themes of Vertigo.
Now, we've heard much of this before but he tends to relate it in a
fearlessly direct manner. It may be somewhat controversial to some but
no doubt it is very interesting. Many will be keen to see the 2 minute
Foreign Censorship Ending with the more extended finale - forced
Hitch to create to satisfy the needs of the Foreign Censorship
Committee. On disc one there are also galleries (The Vertigo Archives),
production notes and trailers. You forget how truly great this film is until you simply watch it again. I loved indulging in the new extras and along with the image quality be the definitive at present (till Blu-ray), it kind of makes this a must-own purchase. I love the case and it is a great package of a masterpiece film. If you don't already own the Masterpiece edition and/or wish to indulge in these bountiful new extras - then this is an easy purchase (see Biff's comments about the audio). ***
ON THE MASTERPIECE VS. ORIGINAL: NOTE: To more fully distinguish the differences we have, as usual, let our software upsize the anamorphic release to its chosen 960 pixel width. We have always found that this does a more consistent and less manipulative job that generic programs. We have left the non-anamorphic edition at 720 wide. Both are jpeg manipulated to a negligible 10% of original (90%) for purposes of posting on the Internet. So, bottom line, if we are being technically fair, the anamorphic images have had more manipulation for posting than the non-anamorphic, but this never results in improvement - only a slight softening that is virtually unnoticeable on standard computer monitors upwards of 1600pixel wide resolution. *** This is pretty fun to compare - there are some strong differences and some minor ones as well. It is quite obvious that the new 16X9 issue has a sharper, more detailed image. It is also minimally cropped on all 4 edges. In the new issue, available only in the Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection Boxset, everything looks brighter than the old Vertigo DVD. There are a few technical imperfections that we will note.
Colors look a bit different at times
(semi-tone shades vary) and we really have no way of stating that after
digital processing one is positively more accurate than the other. Even
compared to the Harris/Katz film restoration, the original DVD has some
variance. Has the new release been brightened? - my guess would be yes,
but it is not so significant as to unduly alter the integrity of the
original presentation.
In The old DVD contained 7.26 Gig (film
- 3.357) of data where the new has 7.24 (film - 3.535). This can be
explained. The new release technically might have less data for the
anamorphicity - where the old included the data of the 'black bars', but
the new issue makes up for that with the mono track (although that is
only 179 meg).
The old issue had a very
slim black border around the edge but all the new issue is tight to the
frame maximizing horizontal resolution. This is an improvement, albeit
slight.
Subtitles are better in the new issue, with Universal
usually positioning them under the speaker, but the font is also less
intrusive and more visually appealing.
Vertigo's
much awaited mono track has a few minor crackles and pops - but it does,
however, sound very good and better than the old 5.1 remix in my opinion
- also more accurate.
This alone would be reason enough to buy the
Hitchcock Masterpiece
Collection Boxset.
The new issue does not include the 8-page liner notes
booklet included in the initial release. The cost
per disc of the
Hitchcock Masterpiece set is between
$5.73 to $5.06 per disc. Universal is virtually giving this away, and at
DVDBeaver we rate this as the greatest deal in DVD history to date.
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Screen Captures
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Universal (2-disc Legacy series) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Universal (The Masterpiece Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Legacy |
Box Covers |
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Individual Blu-ray Release out in June 2014: |
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Distribution |
Universal Studios
Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios (Hitchcock Masterpiece) Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios (Legacy
Series) Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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