ADDITION: (September 2014) Criterion Region 'A' - Blu-ray: Wow, the Criterion looks dramatically better. First and foremost it does not have the horizontal stretching (Cinemascope mumps?) that is noticeable on the BFI 1080P. You can really see it if you toggle between the large (linked) captures which are crisper and notably superior and the US transfer shows more information in the frame - notably on the right edge. It is a more robust technical transfer with a max'ed out bitrate. It is darker but far more film-like, IMO.

The audio is a mono linear PCM track. It sounds authentically flat but the lossless transfer exports some depth that is notable in the score by Georges Auric (It Always Rains on Sunday, Dead of Night, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, Lola Montes, Rififi, Wages of Fear). There is a slight difference between the Criterion and BFI's LPCM audio transfers - it may be a tinnier high end in the US disc. It offers optional English subtitles and the Criterion Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked.

Duplicated from the BFI Blu-ray release are the introduction and full-length commentary by cultural historian Christopher Frayling. Criterion add a new, 20-minute, interview with cinematographer John Bailey about director of photography Freddie Francis and the look of the film and another new piece - about 14-minutes - on the making of the film, featuring interviews from 2006 with Francis, editor Jim Clark, and script supervisor Pamela Mann Francis. There is a trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Maitland McDonagh.

Just on the image alone the Criterion Blu-ray is the release to own.

***

ADDITION: (August 2010) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray: Firstly, both DVDs were very strong - but this dual-layered 1080P transfer from the BFI does indeed improve especially in the visibility of grain - which is far easier to see providing some earthy texture to the visuals. Detail also improves to a lesser degree and contrast remains strong. It seems slightly horizontally stretched - possibly Cinemascope 'mumps'.

This may be exclusive to screeners but a friend with a modified Oppo - saw pixilation at times but my own screener copy played smoothly on my Momitsu 899. I fast forwarded and created some artifacts but couldn't repeat the experiment. There may be modest instability but we will have another viewing on a 799 machine and report back here if there is any validity to it. For the most part this Blu-ray looks wonderful and held up well on my system. There was no chroma or digital manipulation that I could determine.

NOTE: Sent from Eric: "...some haze is intentional in the cinematography of the film. Francis shot some of the scenes with hand-painted red filters "mainly to enclose the Cinemascope format" - he later used these filters in some of the color horror films he directed for a completely different type of effect like the monster POV shots in some of his Hammer and Tyburn films (from an interview by Barry King HERE). - thanks Eric!

We get a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 1500 Kbps it has some suspenseful depth in the score and definitely appears to improve over the DVD audio rendering. There are some nice subtle effects that come through well - even in the stereo. Optional English subtitles are included and my Momitsu has identified it as being region 'B'-locked.  

Extras appear duplicated from the 2006 BFI DVD including the excellent commentary by Christopher Frayling and inclusion of the shorts Naples is a Battle Field (Jack Clayton, 1944, 13mins) and rare RAF film The Bespoke Overcoat. There is a stills gallery including original costume designs, publicity posters, press books and production pictures and an extensive 30-page illustrated booklet including film notes by Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen).

This is a beautiful and haunting film that I never tire of revisiting every couple of years. Kerr is her usual fantastic-self and the Blu-ray gave me the spookiest viewing that I've yet seen of The Innocents. This is a film that can be a bit of an enigma and I always tend to recall Picnic at Hanging Rock - perhaps for all the unspoken and eerie moments viewing the austere surroundings. I consider the film an essential on many fronts.

Gary W. Tooze

****

ADDITION: BFI DVD - December 06' : Although it may not be as obviously noticeable from the screen captures - the BFI is easily the superior transfer. It is smoother, sharper and has less artifacts. It is pristine.  

Professor Christopher Frayling gives a stupendous commentary (with optional subtitles) where he discusses everything from the films flower imagery to Capote's strong input on the screenplay. He is fully prepared and I can't imagine anyone knowing more about the film than this man. Excellent listening. There is also an introduction by the man, plus a 30 minute short by Jack Clayton entitled The Bespoke Overcoat, a stills gallery and a beautifully bound booklet. The packaging is also magnificent - this is a wonderful DVD set and I will be considering it in the DVD of the Year voting.

***

The FOX: A beautifully shot film only enhances this DVD image - which is still strong in its own right. Good grays and shadow detail, plus we love the scope. It has some haziness at times but nothing untoward. No worthy extras, but a decent price and a great film for the money. We recommend!

Gary W. Tooze