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

ADDED: Masters of Cinema - Region FREE Blu-ray - February 2010:

We covered a fair amount of the technical statistics of 2008's Murnau Borzage at Fox release HERE. There are some dubious DVD-R's of City Girl out (ex. Grapevine Video mastered from a 16mm reduction print HERE) so it's not hard to surmise that this Fox restoration - that both editions are based - is the definitive in existence. The Fox DVD has the opening credits picture-boxed and the Blu-ray is obviously matted to 1.78. They are both framed correctly in-and-around the 1.18:1 aspect ratio. Minor speckles, dirt and light scratches are duplicated on both transfers.  But with the higher resolution of the Blu-ray (about 5X the bitrate) - these marks may be marginally more prominent - as is the superior contrast, detail and grain structure. This 1080P disc looks magnificent in every respect - even the amazing menus! There are even some overwhelming instances of depth and for a film celebrating it's 80th year this month - it is nothing short of an astounding visual presentation. Bravo!

NOTE: This is the first Blu-ray only release that we have seen! Masters of Cinema aren't offering a DVD of the title.

The Blu-ray sports a new lossless DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a healthy 2070 kbps for Christopher Caliendo's excellent score recorded in 2008 (also used on both release) - also a 2.0 channel track is available. It sounds even more resonant than one might anticipate equally the improvement of the video. This is really beautiful music in its own right - sounding that much more crisp and tight with some notable bass and high-end response in the lossless HD track. 'Wow' indeed. The intertitles are English but the Fox Murnau/Borzage DVD package have generously included optional subtitles for French or Spanish. My Momitsu has identified The Masters of Cinema disc as being region FREE - playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

The supplements on the Fox disc are somewhat erroneous at this stage as the disc is only available in the Murnau Borzage Boxset along with the 12 other films and their extras. For the sake of accuracy it does have the 40-minute Four Devils Traces of a Lost Film, Four Devils Treatment, Screen play and stills gallery. The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray have added a full-length audio commentary by film scholar David Kalat (incidentally voted as the commentarist of the year for 2009 in our annual poll HERE). Cinephiles, journalists, students and novices alike will revel in his expertise and the information put forth in the optional commentary recorded in October 2009. Kalat details an in-depth look at the then-troubled relationship between Murnau and Fox as well as personal observations of the film itself. It strikes me as the definitive supplement to the film - adding a satisfying second course to those hungry for more after the film presentation.    

While we can't detract from the magnificence of the Murnau Borzage Boxset this breathtaking Blu-ray seems an equally impressive achievement - one that no serious film fan should deny themselves.  It has our highest recommendation. 

Gary W. Tooze