ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - July 16': In short the Arrow marginally improves upon the Kino Lorber. It has a slightly higher (max'ed out) bitrate and the image is a shade darker - which is probably more accurate. I doubt that most would be so picky - but there you have it (we've compared 4 captures below). Mono goes linear PCM mono (24-bit) and also advances a slim notch (24-bit over 16 - and 1.0 channel mono in uncompressed). the arrow also offers optional English subtitles. Extras have the same commentary and 'Biography' video piece but add an Introduction and 1/2 hour's worth of select scene commentary by Peter Stanfield, author of Hollywood, Westerns and the 1930s: The Lost Trail and Horse Opera: The Strange History of the Singing Cowboy and the package sports a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Vladimir Zimakov and has a fully illustrated collector's booklet containing new writing by Nick Pinkerton. Ohhh the Arrow also has a second disc DVD included.

Bottom line is that - while both Kino and Arrow Blu-rays are worth owning - Arrow sneaks ahead - as most might have anticipated. Finicky fans who can play region 'B' should get the Arrow - and those in region 'A' shouldn't feel overly slighted.

***

ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - June 16': This is from the new 4K digital restoration by Twentieth Century Fox (as will the Arrow in the UK) and it obviously surpasses the 2011 Koch from Germany. The US transfer is over double the German bitrate and the visuals are significantly (and accurately) darker, heavier and support some textures. It also tends to show more information in the frame. I presume that the UK Arrow rendering will equal or slightly advance upon Kino's solid image.

Hard to say between the audio tracks - both uncompressed and 16-bit supporting the excellent score by Cyril J. Mockridge (Thieves' Highway, Desk Set, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Dark Corner, My Darling Clementine, Nightmare Alley) and I might lean to the Kino for a crisper, more consistent, sound but only the Koch offers subtitles. The Kino Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked.

Kino include the older audio commentary by Western Scholar Dick Eulain and William Wellman Jr. as well as the 45-minute "Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero" as seen on Biography on the A&E Network and found on both previous releases. There is also a brief 2002 Restoration Comparison and trailers for The Ox-Bow Incident, and other westerns; Yellow Sky, Man of the West and Man With the Gun.

So nice to have this important classic looking and sounding top-shelf. Strong recommended!

***

ADDITION: Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray - September 11': I think this is a more modest improvement comparing to Yellow Sky - also on Blu-ray from Koch. The technicals are far from overwhelming with less than double the bitrate of the fine Fox DVD. It may have more damage but in motion looks fairly good. Actually, a great film to re-watch in 1080P. Contrast is a shade fainter and there may be less artifacts. There is some grain though is not finely separated. It doesn't help the case for the Blu-ray that the DVD was so strong. I think the better the systems and more discerning the eye will appreciate the visual upgrade more.

Audio offers a respectable lossless track that had moments of impressiveness and perceived depth via the 2.0 channel limitations. We have to remember this film is almost 70-years old and the sound is imperfect at best with some uneven patches but unobtrusive hiss. There is also a German DUB and optional English subtitles. It plays on my Oppo and we determine it to be Region FREE!

Nice to see some supplements included - we get a Hollywood Bio of Fonda that is quite extensive at 45-minutes (German subtitles). Plus a stills gallery (in slideshow collage format) and a trailer in ghastly condition.

Bottom line is that this is not an overwhelming superiority but will become more apparent depending on your system. Example - if you were intending to project in your HT - this Blu-ray would be a must-have until a superior 1080P transfer is made.