I also don't note any differences in the audio - Criterion use a linear PCM mono and it sounds clean and solid. Duplicating the comments below: '...it has some depth notable in the train noises and the score by Charles Bradshaw + Leo Shuken (who worked together on Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan's Creek) plus there is some buoyancy in Let My People Go - as sung in the Church - and Felix Mendelssohn's Spring Song played as part of the score when Sullivan begins his experiment (reprised when he starts a second time.) The uncompressed audio is crisp and clear sounding tight and, occasionally, bouncy. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B' Blu-ray disc."

Okay, supplements. We have the same as the 2001 Criterion DVD plus more. The older audio commentary by Noah Baumbach, Kenneth Bowser, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean is still here and the 1 1/4 hour Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer, documentary made by Kenneth Bowser for PBS’ American Masters series - as also found on the Arrow. The 15-minute interview with Preston Sturges’ widow Sandy Sturges remains - as do the audio pieces (Hedda Hopper interview and the short recordings of Sturges singing his original composition “My Love” and reciting the poem “If I Were King”.) What is new is an excellent new, 17-minute, video essay by film critic David Cairns, featuring filmmaker Bill Forsyth. It is entitled Ants in Your Plants of 1941 and was produced by Criterion in 2014. They also include some liner notes with an essay by critic Stuart Klawans.

Tough call for the best release - both Blu-ray packages are magnificent - a brilliant presentation and extras available for both regions. Our highest recommendation!!  

***

ADDITION: Arrow Academy - Region 'B' Blu-ray - May 2014 - Arrow's 1080P looks really nice. Contrast and grain and the two major attributes of this dual-layered rendering with a max'ed out bitrate. The visuals are gorgeous, a shade darker than the SD and it shows more informatuion on both side edges when compared to the Criterion DVD. The rich textures give a true film-like quality to the Blu-ray  presentation. I can't imagine it ever looking better on digital. Brilliant.

Arrow, sensibly, opt for a linear PCM at 2304 kbps and it has some depth notable in the train noises and the score by Charles Bradshaw + Leo Shuken (who worked together on Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan's Creek) plus there is some buoyancy in Let My People Go - as sung in the Church - and Felix Mendelssohn's Spring Song played as part of the score when Sullivan begins his experiment (reprised when he starts a second time.) The uncompressed audio is crisp and clear sounding tight and, occasionally, bouncy. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B' Blu-ray disc.

Arrow go whole-hog, again, on their supplements starting with an audio commentary by Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director and author Terry Jones - best known as member of the Monty Python comedy team. This was previously on the UK, Universal DVD. Fans will thoroughly enjoy his impressive insights. Arrow include the 1 1/4 hour documentary (also found on the Criterion DVD) Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer by Kenneth Bowser as a wonderful portrait from the American Masters series. There is a very concise 21-minute video appreciation on Sullivan's Travels by writer and broadcaster Kevin Jackson (author of The Language of Cinema). The Preston Sturges Stock Company is a 45-minute celebration of Sturges regular character actors and bit-part players from many of the director's films. Safeguarding Military Information is a 10-minute Sturges-scripted propaganda short released in the same month as Sullivan's Travels. There is also a theatrical trailer and the package contains a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jay Shaw and a liner notes booklet featuring new writing on the film by screwball comedy expert Peter Swaab, plus archive pieces by Geoff Brown and Preston Sturges, illustrated with original stills and poster designs.

I can't imagine this being bested at any point in the future. Sturges' brilliant masterpiece comes in the definitive Blu-ray package. Top-shelf a/v, loaded with valuable extras - Arrow truly are the 'Criterion of the UK'. Our highest recommendation!

***

ON the DVD: Slightly superior picture quality to the corresponding Sturges Criterion The Lady Eve, - another stacked disc with good contrast, film grain and extensive extra features. The black-levels on this DVD are exceptional, as is the original mono audio.  The 76-minute Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer is such a wonderful feature, I consider it easily worth the bump to the next price-point tier.

Gary W. Tooze