The supplements generally mimic the 2009 MoC DVD (see below) but we gain the ability to play the film with an isolated effects and music track.

This happens quite frequently - I, again, appreciated the film significantly more seeing it in 1080P. Masters of Cinema offer a super Blu-ray package of an impacting film. Recommended!     

***

ADDITION - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - PAL - March 09': Despite using the exact same master as the Carlotta (same bitrate, even same filesize) there are differences in the image presentation. The French disc has some boosting of the whites, bringing up detail a notch but it tends to look less film-like and more akin to video beside the Masters of Cinema transfer. The slight chroma noted on the Carlotta was not readily present on the MoC probably due to it being induced on the French transfer by artificial sharpening. The apparent haziness of the UK DVD is unnoticeable beyond 5 feet away on my system and in motion - there is hardly any visual difference. While the Masters of Cinema disc may look a bit thicker and perhaps truer - both appear very strong and produce an excellent viewing.

Audio, as well appears to be the same offering original English and a French DUB. The UK package has included optional English subtitles though.

Extras are the same (without the  "A Conversation with Douglas Sirk by Jon Halliday"), with a dual-layered 2nd disc, but the UK offering has made the French extras English-friendly with subtitles for all the French (and German) dialogue, plus they have added the original 1958 dialogue and continuity script (as an on-disc PDF file) and one of their wonderful booklets (36-page) containing the complete text of Jean-Luc Godard’s essay on the film, the writings from critic Tag Gallagher,  excerpts from Sirk’s reflections and a new translation of Goethe’s poem “Blissful Longing”.  It is nice to now fully comprehend (completely translated) Jean-Luc Godard’s visually annotated essay on Sirk’s film and Daniel Schmid's Film Portrait of Douglas Sirk with he and his wife Hilda in conversation, reflecting, from their apartment in Germany, back upon their lives in Hollywood.

While the Carlotta is quite the treasure - the MoC advances beyond it with the supplements giving it even more value for Sirk fans. Strongly recommended!

***

ON THE CARLOTTA: Magnificent film and somehow this DVD slid right under my radar. Picture quality of Carlotta's dual-layered, anamorphic (in original 2.35:1 ratio) and progressive DVD is very strong. Detail is at a strikingly high standard and my only niggling complaints would be some slight chroma discoloration in monochromatic black sequences and in some early scenes colors appear a bit washed. But both negatives are extremely limited. Also it may be vertically compressed a shade. Overall though black levels are very pitch and colors appear accurate and stable. Contrast is pristine. For an SD DVD I'd give the image a 4.5/5. I see no manipulation and hardly any noise.  Audio is very clear and there were no noted pop or dropout instances. There are optional French subtitles.

NOTE: Via the menus you might expect this to have forced French subtitles when the original English audio is chosen. But I can assure you that via my computer and both Malata players that I tested it on - this is not the case. You can see the film in its original format (English audio - no subtitles).  

There is a second disc (dual-layered as well) of supplements with 4 features - but only one English friendly where Wesley Strick talks glowingly about Sirk for about 20 minutes. There is also a trailer on the first disc. I'd love to have understood the 50 minute documentary with the Douglas Sirk interview but my pigeon French has all but left me. The package is certainly worthy only on the basis of the film which must rank as one of Sirk's best - truly a masterpiece.  

Gary W. Tooze