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Universal / TCM

Region 1 - NTSC

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Robert Osborne Introduction for each film (2:30 average)
• Publicity Stills Gallery (1,2,3,4)
• Scene Stills Gallery (1,2,3,4)
• Lobby Cards Gallery (1,3,4)
• Movie Posters Gallery (1,2,3,4)
• Behind the Scenes Photos (2, 3, 4)
• Publicity Illustrations (2)
• Pressbook Gallery (2)
• Douglas Sirk Biography (3)
• TCMDb Articles for each film

DVD Release Date: September 30th, 2010
4 discs in a digipack

Chapters 13

Douglas Sirk's Universal films has seen many releases in US, but for those interested to collect those discs have to pick up different single and multi-DVD sets to complete his filmography. All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind and Magnificent Obsession received Criterion treatment; Battle Hymn and Imitation of Life got separate releases from Universal itself; Has Anybody Seen My Gal? is part of Rock Hudson Screen Legend Collection and All I Desire and There's Always Tomorrow are part of The Barbara Stanwyck Collection. Interlude, Never Say Goodbye, No Room for the Groom, Sign of the Pagan, Take Me to Town and A Time to Love and a Time to Die are still missing in region 1, although some of them are released in other regions. There are 4 titles presented in the Douglas Sirk Filmmaker Collection, a set being sold exclusively through Movies Unlimited and TCM shop - Thunder on the Hill, Taza - Son of Cochise, Captain Lightfoot, and The Tarnished Angels. These are not the best known titles directed by Sirk and Thunder on the Hill gets its first DVD release. Each film is presented on single-layered disc. Progressive transfers are very good. Thunder on the Hill is in original full screen ratio; there is some grain, but the restored image is good. Taza, Son of Cochise is anamorphic in 1.85 aspect ratio; the colors are vibrant in some scenes, but most of the scenes outside, and there are lots of these in this western, are very grainy with muted colors. Captain Lightfoot and The Tarnished Angels are both is 2.35 aspect ratio and we were able to compare them to French and UK releases. Captain Lightfoot (French edition available HERE) has better colors compared to region 2 discs and more information on the sides, but it appears slightly redder. The Tarnished Angels (French edition available HERE) also has more information on the sides, but image appears softer compared to French or UK DVD. Each movie has an English mono track with no optional subtitles provided. There are some extras on each disc - a Robert Osborne Introduction, extensive galleries and an article about the film that can also be accessed at TCMdb. Captain Lightfoot disc also has a few text screens of Douglas Sirk biography. 4 discs are housed in a flimsy digipack that comes without a slipcase to hold it together. Overall, this is a welcome release of lesser films by this important director and should be recommended. Hopefully, Universal will follow this set with the rest of Sirk's films mentioned above unavailable on DVD.

Received from Movies Unlimited (We presume that all packages sent AFTER this review will contain the replacement disc)

NOTE: Dear Movie Lover,
Recently you purchased either “The Douglas Sirk Collection” or the title “The Tarnished Angels” which was a part of the collection. Subsequent to shipping, a manufacturing defect was found in “The Tarnished Angels” that will require replacement of the disc. The last five minutes of the movie are missing.

Within two weeks we will be sending you a replacement “Tarnished Angels” at no expense to you. There is no need to return the defective disc. Kindly allow up to three weeks to receive the shipment.

Please accept our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience you have been caused in relation to this matter. We value your patronage and appreciate your indulgence.

NOTE: We can confirm that the replacement disc was sent and received.

  - Gregory Meshman

Universal / TCM

Region 1 - NTSC

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.84 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.