ADDITION: IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray (February 2016): Firstly, we have reviewed two IVC Blu-rays before (Le Trou and Tarkovsky's Mirror - neither being English-friendly with English subtitles) are all very excited about the announcement of the forthcoming RKO Collection Blu-rays from Japan by IVC - Cat People . The Thing from Another World, I Walked with a Zombie, They Live by Night, Suspicion, The Fugitive, Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Wagon Master and Bringing Up Baby. We are well aware of Warner's statement:

"Distribution rights to RKO films in Japan were sold off years before we ended up owning that library. We have no knowledge of what is being released there. We can only state that it does not involve the use of our original elements"

We are wondering this The Magnificent Ambersons Blu-ray will be a good barometer for those desirable forthcoming titles as transferred by IVC. Let's take a look...

Actually, we should note that the film will never look pristine, glossy  or have significant depth - even if Warner does a UHD 4K transfer - of which, we can dream. So saying that I still don't know whether the IVC passes the smell-test. It starts with the Lobster Films logo. It has some definite positives - more grain texture, more information in the frame (purists will appreciate) and it looks pleasing in-motion. It does have some more speckles and very light scratches and while the contrast may be more layered it doesn't have the rich black levels of the Warner SD. This may be showing in the density (of lack of) of the Japanese source. The IVC shows some minor rounded corners (a positive to some - a negative to others.) The vertical stretching of the Warner SD may be a bit more prominent beside the 1080P. Personally, on the visual front - I'm a big fan of grain and so I got something out of my 1080P viewing.

On the audio, the Bernard Herrmann score sounds quite decent in the uncompressed linear PCM (16-bit). This is an advancement and I did not notice any fatal dropouts or undue hiss. For some this, alone, may be a reason to pick this edition up. It only offers optional Japanese subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE.

No extras at all.

Here is my problem. I'm not getting any younger and, to me, Warner are releasing to 1080P the essential titles in their catalogue at a snail's pace. It's maddening that IVC have taken the lead with the RKO Collection - but we will reviews/compare them. Or that I have to buy, from France, a classic to get it on Blu-ray and pay for a giant book (only in French!) I have no doubt a Warner Blu-ray edition will be superior to all the IVC ones IF/WHEN they get around to it. Depending on your system, perception and requirements - The Magnificent Ambersons is available on Blu-ray. Perhaps this release will encourage a response from Warner - and adding some new extras wouldn't break-the-bank. Let's hope.  

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ADDITION: Warner single-disc DVD now available separately (January 31st, 2012)

ADDITION: - Warner (Included supplement in the Citizen Kane 70th Anniversary Blu-ray) - September 15th 2011 - Although this still appears at the mercy of the available elements - thankfully Warner have finally given us The Magnificent Ambersons in a watchable SD-DVD transfer. The European editions were both severely flawed. the French was green with so much edge-enhancement boosting that the resulting image was super-thin and resolutely poor - the UK Universal was interlaced and both were taken from unconverted standards sources.

Now Presently this Warner DVD edition is ONLY available in an Amazon Exclusive with the exact same impressive Citizen Kane Blu-ray package reviewed HERE. It stands as being about $15 more now with this The Magnificent Ambersons DVD included.

This DVD is single-layered, but progressive and may not be the 1080P that fans would have most appreciated but it is easily the best Home Theater digital presentation currently available. Contrast is strong, detail is notably ahead of the comparable DVDs and there is some grain visible. It may be marginally vertically stretched. The audio sounds as though it may have been 'cleaned up' and there are optional English, French or Spanish subtitles. It is coded for regions 1 and 4 in the NTSC standard.

The disc is bare-bones with no supplements at all.

I expect this will become available as a lone edition one day. I like to view the glass as half full and there is some definite positives to be found in this DVD although important supplements and an HD image would have been preferable. 

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ADDITION: - Universal Picture (UK) - June 1st 2006 - Another interlaced analog transfer with combing evident. It does show the huge amount that is cropped from the Montparnasse transfer. The Universal does not appear as sharp because the French DVD is laced with edge enhancement. The Universal has some extras - a totally un-restored trailer and the 18 minute interview with Bill Krohn which is very good. So, I would advise to wait although there is no definite date for the Region 1, which will undoubtedly be the best. If you are keen on purchasing and seeing this masterpiece now - then go for the Universal (UK). Better in all areas (less manipulation and cropping), extras and it even has optional English subtitles. 

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ON THE MONTPARNASSE DVD: The transfer is quite weak - barley tube acceptable and with an appallingly low bitrate. The source is definitely analog and there is extensive 'combing' in all horizontal pans. There appears to be some contrast boosting as well and edge enhancements. The mono track is again weak but audible and fairly consistent. The good news is that the French subtitles ARE removable (on my system - we will wait to hear if anyone else is incapable). It is great to have this masterpiece on digital especially with no definite date for coming to Region 1 - NTSC anytime soon. I'd say this is worth the price for any serious collection.

NOTE: Warner reps have stated in a chat -

[Warner] We're still looking for better materials on AMBERSONS. We waited for KONG and KANE and it was worth it. It will be worth it for the AMBERSONS, and yes, we will release JOURNEY INTO FEAR when we do AMBERSONS. (Thanks Jeremy)

Gary W. Tooze