ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray January 15': It's nice to see the improvement of Warner Archive's new 1080P transfer of Performance over the, marginally controversial, 2007 SD. NOTE: Great news that, with the public/fan communication the dialogue ("Here's to old England") absent from the 2007 Warner DVD (see below), has resurfaced in the "Memo from Turner" scene, however we have been informed to notice that Johnny Shannon's dialogue has less of an accent than found on the SD. Now, there are 'different' versions of Performance but I can verify that the vocals are notably less-Cockney (thanks to David for encouraging me to investigate this). It's kind of humorous that the prominence was altered (or re-DUB'ed?) and certainly not at all fatal to the enjoyment of the film. Just another odd curiosity.

In regards to the image quality - the Blu-ray shows warmer, and more accurate, skin tones, richer colors (reds and greens) and is generally tighter, shows more grain and has less artifacts. It's a pretty significant improvement, IMO. The audio still doesn't get the surround-bump treatment but it is lossless via a DTS-HD Master in 2.0 channel mono. Playing side-by-side (as I did for the Johnny Shannon accent) and the clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is very evident. This Blu-ray also has optional English subtitles and the same three extras as the 2007 DVD (still in 480i).

A worthy upgrade - for the a/v, and purists can feel more satisfied with the "Memo from Turner". This is such a unique film - absolutely recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: NOTE (Thanks Steven - originally posted on Home Theater Forum by Anthony Thorne HERE) - "Warner's long awaited DVD of Nicolas Roeg's PERFORMANCE has been briefly reviewed by Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas over at his blog HERE - and there's good news, and bad news...

The good news is that the disc is as uncut as it's ever been (rumours to a longer Donald Cammell print being in the possession of his widow notwithstanding), and the transfer is reportedly outstanding. The soundtrack has also been remastered (though it's not 5.1, so don't get your hopes up there) and the all-important music score is crisp and punchy. There's also a nice doco included.

The bad news is that the audio of a line of dialogue spoken by Mick Jagger during his central MEMO FROM TURNER performance is completely missing, even though the shot remains, and you see his lips move, and other dialogue by him from the same scene is there, and that same line of dialogue has been present and correct and easily heard in every other theatrical or home video version of the film that's ever been released. Not here. It's a very visible goof. Maybe someone at Warner bumped the 'mute' button for a few seconds when cleaning up the mix, or something. Oops..

It's a shame, and since the disc is out within a fortnight I'd have to wonder if Warner will correct it, but fans of PERFORMANCE might like to be pre-warned of this defect before they decide to shell out for the disc. I suppose PERFORMANCE can go in the pile with some of the Bonds, the MPI TEXAS CHAINSAW remaster (which had similar audio screw-ups), and other releases which are almost there, except for unnecessary technical mishaps. So close, and yet so far..."

The Lucas blog with his comments on PERFORMANCE is HERE. (thanks Anthony!)

NOTE: (Thanks Willard!): "Indeed, this is the longest version of the film yet available and Tim Lucas' comments on the link are exactly correct re: the opening sequence.
It's also, significantly, the first time for a US release that has the original production sound of the actors playing Harry Flowers and the young girl/housekeeper who works for Turner. In the US prints, these two actors were dubbed - and very, very obviously - because Warners believed their accents made their dialogue unintelligible. This was always particularly jarring in a movie that is otherwise, exclusively production sound when it comes to dialogue. Previous UK videos have had the correct voices but I've seen revival prints in the UK with the dubbed voices. Warners laser disc contained the dubbed tracks.
This may not make up for the missing piece of dialogue in "Memo From Turner" but it's probably very meaningful to potential buyers."

***

For the most part the image is impressive. Sharp, muted colors on a dual-layered, progressive, anamorphically transferred disc. Some scenes look a shade more saturated to me, but I'm sure this is how it appeared theatrically as well. Only English subtitles are offered and the disc is coded for regions 1 through 4 in the NTSC standard.

Supplements feature a 5 minute vintage featurette (basically a long advert) entitled 'Memo From Turner' and a new one entitled 'Influence and Controversy', clocking in at about 25 minutes. It has Colin McCabe (Prof at Pittsburgh University), Sandford Lieberson (the film's Producer), David Cammel (the Associate Producer) and Anita Pallenberg (the character of Pherber) discussing the very casual drug culture of the 60's including the 'Swinging London' films produced at that time and Mick Jagger's initial big screen debut. It is quite good as an overview of the era but could have been much longer. There is also a theatrical trailer.

The film is certainly unique and groundbreaking and many fans have been waiting a long while for it to hit DVD. It certainly has some memorable scenes that are quite thought-provoking in retrospect. The DVD is reasonably priced by Warner.

Gary W. Tooze