ADDITION: (August 2010) BFI Region FREE - Blu-ray: Firstly, I absolutely adore this film - it has been a favorite for years. I always think of, another masterpiece, Powell + Pressburger's I Know Where I'm Going. Something indescribable is captured in The Edge of the World - I doubt I could ever adequately relate my appreciation. I'd love to travel to Foula one day. Seeing and hearing this look and sound even better than my initial viewing was pure pleasure.

I was totally thrilled when I heard this was coming to Blu-ray courtesy of BFI. The transfer may not be as technically robust as I was hoping - single-layered with the feature taking up just over 11 Gig of space on the disc and a modest bitrate - but I can't argue with the appearance. Compared to the DVDs - detail rises notably and the 1080P transfer has lost some of the brightness flaring I saw. Contrast is a shade darker. This remains clean(er) from the BFI restoration and textured grain is evident - and sometimes abundant in the long distance landscape shots. Peter states, via email, that he is surprised at the amount of compression artifacts.

Audio was a bit of an issue on the DVDs - more associated with production/source and the film's age (over 70-years old) . It is still imperfect here but with a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 1500 Kbps it has more depth and I feel it is probably the best it will sound without extensive and costly restoration. Optional English subtitles are included and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.  

Extras are duplicated from the 2004 BFI DVD with Daniel Day-Lewis reading extracts from 200,000 Feet on Foula, the book that was inspired by the film in the commentary with Thelma Schoonmaker (Michael Powell's widow, Martin Scorsese's editor) and film critic Ian Christie. The video supplements here are in HD including Michael Powell's home movies, and the documentary: Return to the Edge of the World (1978) and the Travelogue: St Kilda - Britain's Loneliest Isle from 1928 - with optional commentary.

Included are an optional alternate opening title and credit sequences and the 26-page liner notes, fully illustrated, booklet with newly commissioned essay by Professor Ian Christie, reviews and notes on the film. I can't help assume dual-layering with a higher bitrate might have done even more for the visuals but as it stands it is such an impressive piece of cinema I'll take whatever I can get - and this may very well be in my top 10 of the year. If you haven't seen The Edge of the World - I envy your first exposure - and seeing on Blu-ray in your home theater should be an incredibly rewarding experience. Enjoy!

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ON THE DVDs: The Edge of the World used stems from a restoration begun by the National Film and Television Archive in 1990. At that time a previous reel of footage was re-inserted, correcting the damage present in a later reissue. Just this year, the BFI digitally restored the picture and sound. It is marvelous.

It may not be as noticeable on these individual frame captures, but the image (and sound) on the Region 2 BFI DVD are far superior to the Image Entertainment disc. What I am most surprised at is that I seem to notice different damage spots on the two discs when I assumed they were from the same print. What I expect is one has had more digital manipulation than the other. As the Image disc is also slightly cropped and hazier. The Region 2 shows more film grain. I would expect that the transfer from NTSC is not as well done as the PAL used by the BFI. I am fairly certain I have duplicated the exact frames as I used the 1st frame technique (1st frame after a sequence). The BFI disc's sound is most impressive as are their animated DVD Menus. The Region 1 has some wonderful Extras, but the Region 2 is superior again with commentary, shorts and the "Return to the Edge of the World". Magnificent - if I was to buy one - no doubt - it would be the Region 2 PAL BFI DVD. Bravo BFI !   

 Gary W. Tooze