ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (May 2012): The Criterion Blu-ray transfer of Hitchcock's The 39 Steps is, technically, almost double the file size and bitrate of the earlier UK 1080P disc. This manifests itself primarily in the grain and contrast. Where the ITV was earthy-brown-to-almost-sepia at times the Criterion is grayish blue. The grain textures are more intact and while it may not blow-away its counterpart - it is the easy winner in terms of more film-like visuals. Just like the ITV - utilizing the same print - there are scratches and occasional fluctuating contrast. We trust this is the best The Masters 1935 classic can look for Home Theater presentation at the present time - and probably forever.

Audio is also a significant technical step forward with Criterion offering a lossless linear PCM track (the ITV was simple Dolby) in original mono. This remains a weaker part of the presentation but the uncompressed gives it a good go with clarity and consistency. I suspect it is very authentic. Criterion also offer optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is, predictably, region 'A'-locked.

Criterion add-to and overlap some of the ITV extras with the audio commentary by Alfred Hitchcock scholar Marian Keane found on their 1999 DVD and the complete, hour-long, broadcast of the 1937 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation, starring Ida Lupino and Robert Montgomery. Criterion tack-on a cool new visual essay by Hitchcock scholar Leonard Leff running about 25-minutes, the 2000 UK produced Hitchcock: The Early Years documentary covering the director’s pre-war career - also at about 25-minutes and 40-minutes of original footage from British broadcaster Mike Scott’s 1966 television interview with Hitchcock. There are also 22-minutes of audio excerpts from François Truffaut’s 1962 interviews with The Master, some original production design drawings and a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Cairns.  

 I feel we would be piggish to ask for any more - the Criterion bests the ITV on all fronts, a/v and supplements. It's a wonderful vintage mystery-adventure with one of the more memorable endings. We strongly endorse the Criterion Blu-ray.

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ADDITION: ITV - Region 'B' Blu-ray - October09: We've already seen reports of disgruntled purchasers who were expecting much more from this 1080P transfer. The trouble with this Blu-ray presentation is that there has been no restoration - digital or film-based. This IS 1080P but the imited transfer used was ineffectual in greatly benefiting from the improved resolution. We see more grain - and this is a good thing - but in, say, Criterion's hands the contrast could have been greatly improved by selectively, and gently, boosting the bitrate. The larger this ITV Blu-ray is projected the greater the superiority will be evident over the SD-DVDs. Even 40" systems, though, will see it - but it will be less dramatic than for those who project onto a 120" screen. Detail probably can't get much better - BUT the perception of improved detail with those increased black levels would definitely help the final 'look'. Technically this is only single-layered with the 1.5 hour feature taking up a scant 14 Gig. However, I have no proof that increasing this would dramatically improve the visuals. I'd like to think so - but other black + white HD transfers (see the original Blu-ray of Casablanca, a longer film, at only 15.5 Gig) remains modest on that front. So the title  requires a more robust rendering - and placed in the hands of a competent telcine operator/restoration expert (yes, you know who you are!). I'm certainly not dead-against digital manipulation if it is done with a deft enough hand to help reproduce a closer theatrical viewing. This is our final goal. Were we get upset is the blanketed use of heavy-handed digital techniques that destroy the integrity of the image. I'm not so bothered by the damage that this Blu-ray still reports. Some scratches appear both on top and under the surface as well as there being plenty of speckles and what appears to be dust/dirt. Depending on what you are looking for - this ITV rendering has far less noise and far more grain than either of the DVDs - but I still think it can look significantly better - if someone is willing to spend the money to do so. Let's hope.

The audio has nothing new to offer. It is not HD/lossless and a linear PCM track would have been the ticket. It remains a bit scattered and dodgy but nothing worse (or better ) than we have heard from the DVD transfers. There are optional English subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being, expectantly, region 'B'-locked.

Extras don't greatly advance upon the Criterion with the same adept Marian Keene commentary, 30-minute Art of Film Video featurette via Janus films in SD and the audio-only Lux Radio Theater Adaptation broadcast with Robert Montgomery and Ida Lupino running close to an hour. We also get a short 'On location' piece and photo galleries ('On Set' and 'Posters').

It has the appeal of being the first Hitchcock film to Blu-ray nudging out North By Northwest. But, frankly, disappointing that more has not been done with technical proficiency but if you were showing this for a special 'film night' - this would be the edition to choose (until Criterion releases in 1080P) - especially if you were projecting it on a large screen. This brings the potential audience to a small number - and while I enjoyed my viewing it only reminds me of how much I want to see this looking - and sounding - better. Still one the great older thrillers from 'The Master'.          

Gary W. Tooze