MGM (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (The Magnificent Seven Collection) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

MGM

Region 1 - NTSC

2.27:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.70 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.31:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.68 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.

MGM (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

MGM (Special Edition)

MGM (Blu-ray) Part of the 4-disc Magnificent Seven Collection

2.0 Dolby Digital Mono English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English, 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono French, 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono Spanish

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.27:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Walter Mirisch and Robert Relyea
• Audio Commentary with Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Guns for Hire: The Making of The Magnificent Seven
• Christopher Frayling on The Magnificent Seven
• Elmer Bernstein and The Magnificent Seven
• The Linen Book: Lost Images from The Magnificent Seven
• Liner notes booklet

DVD Release Date: January 10th, 2006
Digipack slipcase inside cardboard box

Chapters 32

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.31:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Walter Mirisch and Robert Relyea
• Guns for Hire: The Making of The Magnificent Seven (46:49 / 16x9)
• Trailer A (3:01 / 16x9)
• Trailer B (2:43 / 16x9)
• Still Gallery (40 pics)
 

Chapters 16

ADDITION - MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray May 2010 - Firstly this is part of the 4 Blu-ray disc Magnificent Seven Collection which includes the four films: The Magnificent Seven, Return of the Magnificent Seven, Guns of the Magnificent Seven and The Magnificent Seven Ride! each on their own Blu-ray disc. None are available individually at this time.

This is a solid audio track as well - a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3651 kbps. The mix isn't demonstrative but there are plenty of examples of separation pushing gunplay and other sound effects to the rear speakers. Of course the iconic Elmer Bernstein score and Magnificent Seven theme are as majestic as ever before. It has become such a huge part of the film and in this area the lossless track is truly appreciated.

In the extras we lose the Christopher Frayling piece and his commentary but keep the James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Walter Mirisch and Robert Relyea one with lots of gushing over John Sturges and some talk of Seven Samurai. The 45-minute Making of..., and Bernstein piece remain as well as trailers and a stills gallery.

What a film to have in the brilliance of hi-def. I had an amazing presentation and look forward to visiting the other 3 films soon. Thumbs up! 

 - Gary Tooze 

****

ON THE DVDs:

Comments on the new SE by Gary Tooze
Firstly, I don't own the original SE edition of this film that came out in May 2001 so I can't compare the images but it wouldn't surprise me if this was only marginally superior although this is advertised as a 'High-Definition' transfer. I don't find this edition particularly remarkable - it has limitations on the horizontal resolution (not tight) with black bars down the two edges and the image tends to look a bit dirty in spots. Colors though are quite good but possibly a shade washed from the original theatrical showing. It has acceptable detail and some minor fluctuating contrast.

The big come-on to this package are certainly the extras with two decent commentary tracks and an entire second disc of featurettes. I appreciate that the original mono track was provided (its all I listened to) and it was adequate although I'm sure many will opt for the 5.1 bump. The package itself is quite handsome with some care that is usually devoid in other MGM releases.

I'm a big fan of westerns but don't rank this quite as high as others do - still it is a great tale with a studded cast - Sturges can direct a solid western and this is better than most. He uses the frame very well and, of course, the theme music is a standard.

Comments by Henrik Sylow

Framing. The new Collector's Edition is cropped 4px@800px left and 3px@800px right, and has 1px@347px more image top and bottom than the Special Edition, which causes the Aspect Ration variation from 2.31:1 to the new 2.27:1.

The final difference is in compression. The new Collector's Edition does not have the same degree of artifacts as the old Special Edition, which most likely is because of having moved the 47 minute making-of documentary to Disc 2, but also a newer transfer.

However, the additional materials make up for the minor issues with the image. An additional audio commentary by Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling and additional featurettes on the film and the score make the new Collector's Edition a must-have DVD.