The 46' Siodmak The Killers - Arrow and Carlotta Blu-rays are compared separately HERE. This comparisons indicates that these two European transfer produce the same sterling results (As Michael Brooke confirmed: "The clean-up of Universal's HD master was a joint Arrow-Carlotta effort, so Arrow's disc will look pretty much identical (minor and probably invisible encoding issues aside). The new Criterion 1080P shares the disc with the Tarkovsky 56' student film and Siegel's 1964 version, so it has a less space/bitrate and, therefore, lesser image quality. But it still looks very solid to me - and impressive in-motion, although the Euro editions win on image. You can see the difference by expanding the screen captures below. This is less so with Siegel's' 1964 version where Arrow used both 1.85:1 and 1.33:1 aspect ratios (you can see that Blu-ray review HERE.) Criterion stay with the 1.33:1 AR and it has the same bitrate as the 46' version that it shares the dual-layered disc with. Again Arrow may nudge ahead with the image but US transfer still looks great with true, bright colors and warmth in the skin tones. Criterion are the only one to offer the 56' Tarkovsky student film and it also gets the upgrade to 1080P although with a very low bitrate and only lossy Dolby sound (as I suspect it is all they have - source-wise.) It is in the original Russian mono.

Both 1946 + 1964 version get a linear PCM mono transfers on the Criterion. For the Siodmak the iconic Miklós Rózsa score (The Lost Weekend, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Double Indemnity) adds so much to the film experience - demonstratively in uncompressed. I can identify no difference from the other Blu-rays and this is also true of the 64' - there is some aggression that gets bass response, but the clarity is more notable in some of the music; Henry Mancini's Too Little Time sung by Nancy Wilson and the score composed by the iconic John Williams and an un-credited Fred Steiner (Twilight Zone) who did quite a bit of television work. No weakness here at all - it is predictably flat and audible. Criterion also offers optional English subtitles on all three films and their Blu-ray disc is coded for region 'A'.

Extras duplicate much of their excellent 2003 DVD with a few omissions (see bottom of paragraph). We keep the 18-minute, 2002 interview with writer Stuart M. Kaminsky about both films, Stacy Keach reading Hemingway’s short story, the audio Screen Director’s Playhouse radio adaptation from 1949 of the 1946 film, starring Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters ( I LOVE these!), an interview from 2002 with actor Clu Gulager, a trailer for the 64's version and an audio excerpt from director Don Siegel’s autobiography, A Siegel Film, read by actor and director Hampton Fancher. Plus there is a liner notes booklet with essays by novelist Jonathan Lethem and critic Geoffrey O’Brien. What we lose that is on the old DVD - are the isolated music and effects tracks for each feature, galleries (publicity stills etc.), Paul Schrader’s “Notes on Film Noir” essay, and - most glaringly - the 6 letter production correspondence with script notes by Don Siegel, NBC’s Broadcast Standards warnings etc.. I don't know why they were left off. Seems odd although perhaps the rights for those supplements have disappeared after a dozen years.

Criterion certainly stack this package with content - all three films in 1080P and substantial extras. Upgrading from the DVD should be a no-brainer and we can absolutely endorse this unique and value-packed Blu-ray.

ON THE DVD: It's hard not to be overwhelmed by this DVD. On the first disc the image quality reminds me of the latest Hitchcock Criterions (Spellbound, Rebecca, Notorious) Pitch perfect blacks - absolute superlative contrast (especially in shadows)- sharpness where it was thought impossible for films this old. Unbelievable is about all I can say. The Tarkovsky student film had a line running through most of it, but everything else about these two discs is perfect. The extras are enough to go through for weeks. The Siodmak version is the gem here, but the Siegel version is no slouch either with beautiful visible film grain. My goodness, just look at the captures below. I am almost willing to say Criterion have raised the bar again for DVD production (check out the bitrates!). Imagine if all older films could look this good on DVD! I better stop rambling... enjoy... this is another essential disc for DVD-o-philes. (cause I don't have a 6!)  out of      

Gary W. Tooze