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

ADDITION: The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray (August 2022): The Masters of Cinema have transferred Herbert Blaché and Winchell Smith's The Saphead to Blu-ray. In 2012 Kino release The Saphead on Blu-ray HERE, but that doesn't utilize the 2020 restoration which this Masters of Cinema transfer is based. The presentation starts with this text screen:

"The Keaton Project was launched in 2015 by Cineteca di Bologna and the Cohen Film Collection to restore all the films made by Buster Keaton between 1920 and 1928.
For the restoration of The Saphead, three different elements from the Cohen Film Collection were inspected, digitised and compared. No differences in the editing were detected during comparison. A first generation nitrate print was used for the restoration. The nitrate print contained all the original opening cards with the exception of the first two, which were reconstructed.
Restoration was carried out at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory and completed in 2020."

The film is OVER 100 years old but the 1080P image is fantastic. There are still a few vertical scratches but they are less prominent and the black levels are decidedly deep and rich. The contrast is superb, with fine consistent textures. There are plenty of instances of, surprising, depth. This HD presentation is one of the best for a silent film that I have seen in years. Brilliant job by The Masters of Cinema group for bringing this to Blu-ray. Wow. 

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, The Masters of Cinema use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) with a chamber ensemble score by Andrew Earle Simpson. He is an acclaimed composer of opera, silent film, orchestral, chamber, choral, dance, and vocal music based in Washington, DC. The Saphead score sounds wonderfully supportive in the lossless transfer. The Masters of Cinema include original, also restored, English intertitles (see 7 samples below) on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray offers an excellent new commentary by David Kalat (author of Too Funny for Words: A Contrarian History of American Screen Comedy from Silent Slapstick to Screwball) who keeps it light and provides a veritable primer on Keaton discussing, and recommending, specific other works while sharing his very positive opinions on The Saphead and it's importance to Keaton's career. It's wonderfully informative and entertaining. There is also a new 21-minute video essay by David Cairns entitled Bubbling Gravity. He discusses Winchell Smith and a lot on Keaton's career including work with Roscoe Arbuckle and much more. MoC include the complete 1 1/4 hour alternate version of The Saphead in 1080P and uncompressed audio - comprised entirely of variant takes and camera angles. There is also the seven-minute A Pair of Sapheads featurette comparing the two versions of the film ('Rohauer' or 'standard' and the 'alternate' version) by Brett Wood who supervised the hi-def masters of The Saphead. While you watch the film you can indulge in Buster Keaton in conversation with Kevin Brownlow running over 2-hours as an audio interview with Keaton and film historian Brownlow from 1964. It is divided in two parts and you can follow with looping to the film again for the completion. Also while you view The Saphead you can choose a 1958 Buster Keaton interview which I found immensely informative. There is also a rarely heard 8-minute radio interview with Keaton. Masters of Cinema include the 1966 1/2 hour film The Scribe directed by John Sebert. It represents Keaton's last film role produced to promote construction site safety. Keaton plays a janitor who in his attempt to educate workers on safe practices, causes more accidents than he prevents. It gives the option of a previously unheard audio commentary with director Sebert (recorded before his death in 2015) and writer / silent cinema aficionado Chris Seguin. As well as the limited edition O-Card slipcase the Blu-ray package contains a collector’s booklet featuring new essays by journalist Philip Kemp and film writer Imogen Sara Smith, as well as an appreciation of The Saphead by film writer Eileen Whitfield.  

Buster Keaton's first feature role - in The Saphead essentially launched his career as a leading man. Douglas Fairbanks had played the role of Bertie in the original stage production, but had other commitments and recommended Keaton for the film role. Keaton's deadpan stillness helped establish his distinctive on-screen presence. It's great fun. The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray is totally stacked from the magnificent restoration, the alternate version in HD, commentary, video essay, hours of interviews, with "The Great Stone Face", limited edition slipcase and booklet. It's an absolute must-own for Keaton fans and those who appreciate the Silent Era. It has our very highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze