From the Flicker Alley website: "This edition is mastered from a multi-tinted 16mm print struck in 1926 from the original camera negative. (The film apparently does not survive in 35mm). Visible wear in the source material is diminished with a moderate amount of digital restoration. It is pictorially much better than earlier video editions and represents the best condition in which this landmark film survives today. A new symphonic score arranged by Donald Hunsberger was recorded in the Czech Republic by full orchestra conducted by Robert Israel."

It frequently shows rich texture - very evident in-motion. I think the higher resolution has improved the presentation in a number of areas. It still is a film with heavy scratches and damage. It is also running faster than the DVD by, maybe, 5%?

Leonard says in email "Comparing Flicker Alley's new Blu-ray of the Chaney Hunchback, we see right off that this is essentially the same source as the Image Ultimate Edition, with better contrast, higher resolution and faster speed (149 min vs 157 min). It really does play faster, and the result in motion is an improvement, I think. The problem is that the music score plays faster as well, and suffers accordingly. Played A/B, the Image audio blows the Flicker out of the water. It has weight and breadth to say nothing of correct timbres."

Unfortunately, the audio is not lossless and, I believe is the same Donald Hunsberger / Robert Israel score heard on the DVD. I defer to Leonard's comments above regarding the sound quality. The intertitles are original (English) and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE!

We continue to get a lot from Michael F. Blake author of Lon Chaney: The Man Behind the Thousand Faces and A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures. There is the audio commentary and a 12-page liner notes booklet with photos and an essay by Blake. We get less than 2-minutes of "Rare Behind the Scenes Footage with Lon Chaney". Alas and Alack is a 1915, 13-minute, short directed by Joseph De Grasse about a fishwife who tells her young daughter a fairy story about a princess imprisoned by a hunchback in a seashell, a story that parallels her own life. There are also some extensive slideshows - a 14-minute one entitled "Dynamic HD Photo Gallery" and another 15 1/2 minute one on the Digital Reproduction and Souvenir Program.

I suspect the market for this is a relatively tiny. But, I'll tell you - despite the appearance, damage, sound - there is something so incredibly appealing about watching this amazing Silent Era film in 1080P. It gains value with the extras. I also love the Laughton version, but there is something indescribably pleasing about this, the primordial soup of the film version of Hugo's incredible story - even as the ravages of time add more character to the presentation.

***

ON THE DVD: Image Entertainment came out with a DVD of this film in 1999 and there have been other public domain issues (from companies like Alpha Video and Front Row Entertainment). None, of the past editions, ever looked especially good as the surviving elements are in quite poor condition (16mm only were used I believe). Producer David Shepard is credited with the improved appearance that utilizes a new high-definition video transfer from an “original” color-tinted 35mm print in this 'Ultimate Edition' DVD. Extensive scratches and damage marks are still present, but in relation to past releases this is by far the best Chaney's Hunchback has ever looked on digital. As with many Silent film transfers this is interlaced and pictureboxed with a healthy border circumventing the 1.33:1 aspect ratio frame. The disc is dual-layered.

The score, in 2.0 channel stereo, was composed by Donald Hunsberger and conducted by Robert Israel. It sounds quite good but at times almost overpowers the film's relatively technically weak appearance. Still the score was large part of my enjoyment in watching this classic.

Extras include an early Lon Chaney short entitled Alas and Alack from 1915. There is less than 2 minutes of Silent footage of Chaney on the set and some 3-D stills (glasses included) but the Real McCoy here is the audio essay, running as an optional commentary, by the author of many books about Chaney, Michael F. Blake. In the liner notes there is a facsimile reproduction of the original souvenir program and another 4 pages of essay by Blake.

Image Entertainment have a kind of phony 'puffing up' of their work here but fans will surely rejoice at the improved edition. The 3-D stuff isn't required but the video essay (indirect commentary) is a nice touch. The grand history of the film is broached in an informative manner. I hope this becomes a more prominent feature in future Silent offerings.

Overall this is the edition to own for this important and lauded work whose history is almost matched by the film's towering content. Fascinating stuff to be sure. Recommended for fans of the Silent era and those keen on the Hugo classic.

Gary W. Tooze