ADDITION: (August 2010) Studio Canal Collection - Region 'B' - Blu-ray: Firstly, this is the European region 'B'-locked Blu-ray edition of Carol Reed's film. It will be the exact same disc (transfer, menus, extras) used in the UK (Optimum), Germany (Kinowelt) and in France (Studio Canal) under the umbrella of The Studio Canal Collection. Packaging will differ due to the country language it is sold in September 2010 but all digital features will be the same. Surprisingly, the Lionsgate (USA version - also out in September) must have some differently licensed supplements but the feature transfer should be exactly the same.

NOTE: We've been informed that the LionsGate will be missing the 1.5 hour documentary "Shadowing the Third Man".

The disc asks you immediately to choose; Deutschland, España, France, Netherland or United Kingdom. Then the menus, and feature subtitles, are in the appropriate language. But there are no English subtitles available.

I don't know if this will be an issue for most systems - but anyway, I prefer the Criterion Blu-ray (now out-of-print) - it has better contrast and shows more film grain. Period. There are some slightly different scratch and speckles marks but I don't know that the source was different - Criterion look to have performed some of their renowned digital restoration magic - probably heightening black levels, removing small blemishes etc. I don't know that I can say much more - The Studio Canal is a bit flatter, and has the perception of being less sharp. I still think those locked to region 'B' will still appreciate the SC Collection image quality and most systems will surely benefit from the 1080P upgrade.

I don't think my ears are capable of distinguishing too many differences between the lossless track - the Criterion has a linear PCM 1.0 mono track that some minor hiss and low-level frequency noise that also exists on the re-issue and the European BD has a 2.0 channel DTS-HD Master that sounded a bit more robust. The Criterion offers optional English subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being region 'B'-locked.

Criterion wins with the extras with 2 commentaries and more, but the Studio Canal Collection includes some valuable supplements as well - with, what I would describe as, a very 'gracious' commentary from the participants - Guy Hamilton (Assistant Director), Simon Callow and Angela Allen (2nd Unit Continuity). It's easy to hear that this grouping are getting on in years - but they have some wonderful anecdotes about production and seem very pleased to be recording the commentary with each other. Included is the same 1.5 hour long documentary Shadowing the Third Man found on the Criterion - as is Joseph Cotton's Alternate Opening Voiceover Narration. There are audio-only interviews from the Guardian NFT with both Joseph Cotton (47:15) and Graham Greene (8:05), HD trailers, a stills gallery an interactive tour of Vienna (this is kind of educational - having never traveled there myself) and a short interview and zither performance by Cornelia Mayer. I expect there will be a booklet in the package but I only have the disc screener at present.    

There you have it! I appreciate the black and white visuals more than the film itself that is now imbedded in my memory banks. I seem to know every scene and all the dialogue - despite not being a that big fan of The Third Man. I don't think there is any need to make issues with the Studio Canal Blu-ray - it's still a strong package - if arriving a reasonable second behind the Criterion.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray - December 08': Utilizing the same high definition master as the standard DVD (re-issue) released in 2007, we have essentially the same image with better resolution. Technically over 3 times the bitrate. This is a dual-layered Blu-ray with the feature taking up approximately 27Gig of space transferred with the AVC encode. On my 42" system the improvment is certainly noticeable but the larger your system display - the superior the Criterion Blu-ray will appear beyond the DVD(s) image. This transfer has the same infrequent marks and speckles, much less noise/more grain than the re-issue DVD and looks pretty sweet with rich contrast that appears a shade more pure. In short everything is better visually. The Blu-ray may be marginally brighter. Watch out though - it will be hard to go back once you see it in 1080!

Important news for some - this Blu-ray is NOT pictureboxed like the re-issue (see our description of picture-boxing in THIS review.)

We have a PCM mono track that is imperfect with some minor hiss and low-level frequency noise that also exists on the re-issue. This Blu-ray offers only English subtitles as an option.

Extras are duplicated from the re-issue (see description below) and thankfully housed all on one disc. I actually re-listened to Dana Polan's commentary and grew some appreciation of the film, which is nice, as it was never a favorite. We also get the fine booklet but its shorter at only 16 pages of content instead of 32, deleting the essays by Charles Drazin and Philip Kerr.

Once again Criterion's package is fairly basic - a cardboard slipcase but I'd love to see it state 'Blu-ray' somewhere on the package (enough grumbling old man.) Criterion are committed to this 1080P venture and they are being fair in not gouging for a higher price - this is actually cheaper than the SD-DVD re-issue from 2007! It's the best way to see The Third Man digitally in your home. We absolutely endorse.

***

ON THE SD-DVDs: ADDITION: Criterion - RE-ISSUE - Region 1- NTSC: The Criterion appears to have come from the Studio Canal master used for their 2-disc edition HERE. Criterion state -"This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from a restored 35mm fine-grain master positive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System." There are quite a few image differences from the original release:

1) The RE-ISSUE is picture-boxed (see our description of picture-boxing in THIS review)

2) The print used is definitely a different one from the original (not simply further restoration - there is different framing and different damage).

3) The RE-ISSUE shows far less speckles and marks.

4) The original version is smoother with less grain and appears cleaner (in the sense of fine dirt).

5) The original release shows a shade more information in the frame - mostly on the left edge.

6) The original release is slightly brighter - most probably digitally manipulated.

7) The original release shows more digital artifacts.

BOTTOM LINE ON IMAGE: It is a personal preference if you enjoy the grain in the RE-ISSUE vs. the pictureboxing limitations which means it probably depends more on your system and what you prefer in a digital representation. The old edition was never really weak - it just had more marks, speckles and light scratches that you would see from a usual Criterion release.

SUPPLEMENTS: The new 2-disc edition is loaded. It repeats most of the extras from the original release but adds two optional audio commentaries - the first with Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy - it is fairly informative but also sounds off-the-cuff and I've never been enamored with Soderbergh in the arena of commentaries. I much preferred the Dana Polan (professor cinema studies - NY University) commentary which is more at the level of professional discussion that you may be used to with Criterion. He immediately launches into his contention that The Third Man is a 'hybrid' film with a mélange of creative input - old world European vs. modern Hollywood (Selznick). This is reflected in the characters and story as well with cocky American Holly Martins and the cultural tension observed in the evolving plot as he is unsettled in the old world sensibilities of Vienna. I have enjoyed all of Polan's commentaries that I have heard (Emperor of the North, Bullets ands Ballots and Mann's Border Incident come to mind). Fascinating and very much worth listening to.

On the 2nd disc there are some new features -   the extensive "Shadowing "The Third Man" (2005), is 1.5 hours and exposes some of the battle for power in the creation of the film. There is also "Graham Greene: The Hunted Man," an hour-long, 1968 episode of the BBC's Omnibus series, featuring a rare interview with the novelist where he too exposes Selznick's infestation to some degree - as does assistant director Guy Hamilton giving his input on the perceptive myth of the Hollywood mogul. There is also Who Was the Third Man? (2000), a thirty-minute Austrian documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew in German with English subtitles. Another important inclusion is the liner notes booklet featuring essays by Luc Sante, Charles Drazin, and Philip Kerr.

I was never overly disappointed with the original transfer but the Polan commentary swayed me to endorse this 2-disc edition. I got more out of his comments than my early viewings of the film that I was always ambivalent toward. I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of "The Third Man" but my appreciation has risen immensely and I'm proud to have this in my DVD library. For those who are keen on it - this new DVD package is a must-have.     

****

Original Criterion DVD: This was quite a DVD production... perhaps the finest of its time (way back in 1999). Extensive effort went into the film transfer (22,000 scratches and dirt particles removed from the master) and the extras although there are still some visible marks. It is even reasonably priced. With the reputation of the film, Criterion certainly chose the right project to funnel their work ethic. At the time it set a new standard for the digital versatile disc medium - not to be equaled by their competitors for years. As stated, although this is not my favorite film, it would be criminal to be a DVD-o-phile and not own it.

 Gary W. Tooze