Olive's first 'Signature' Blu-ray releases:

 Macbeth

(1948)

 High Noon (1952)

 Johnny Guitar (1954)

The Night of the Grizzly

(1966)

ADDITION: Olive Signature - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - December 17': The upgraded 1080P transfer is from a 4K restoration and is, finally, dual-layered supported with a max'ed out bitrate - more than double that of Olive's own 2012 Blu-ray. The huge notable difference though is in the ratios - with the older Olive being 1.33;1 and vertically squeezed (thinner faces) and the newer Signature transfer showing a shade less on the right edge, is in the more accurate 1.37:1 and has wider, fatter faces - which tends to look more accurate to my eye. This is most apparent when toggling between the full resolution screen captures. The 4K-restoration is, authentically darker and far more film-like in-motion. Beside it, the 2012 1080P looks boosted. Grain is far better supported in the new Signature edition.

The audio transfer also upgrades from 16-bit to 24-bit - still, lossless, DTS-HD Master tracks. This is evident in the score by Daniele Amfitheatrof (Edge of Eternity, The Lost Moment, The Desperate Hours, Human Desire) that sounds tight, augmenting the emotional atmosphere and romance of the evolving story. There are optional  yellow, English subtitles (see sample below) but this time the disc is Region 'A'-locked and this Signature Blu-ray release is a limited edition pressing of 3,500 units with no more than 5 per household.

While the 2012 was bare-bones, there are plenty of supplements here in the Signature release starting with an audio commentary by Max Ophüls expert Lutz Bacher, author of Max Ophuls in the Hollywood Studios. It's a bit dry, reading from text, a few gaps and while I didn't find his tone engaging - there are plenty of interesting facts exported. “A Deal Made in a Turkish Bath” is a 13-minute interview with Oscar-winning documentarian Marcel Ophüls (The Sorrow and the Pity) - on of the director giving details of his father and his work and style. “An Independent Woman: Changing sensibilities in a post-war Hollywood” is a 17-minute interview with Professor Dana Polan and I enjoyed the analysis. “Ophülsesque: The Look of Letter from an Unknown Woman” has cinematographers Ben Kasulke and Sean Price Williams talking about the director's unique style for over 17-minutes. I loved Tag Gallagher's 25-minute visual essay “Letter from An Unknown Woman: Passion’s Triumph” and there is also an essay by critic Molly Haskell.

Easily the Olive Signature is the definitive Blu-ray edition, although I have not seen the French Carlotta edition available HERE. Letter From an Unknown Woman is a must-own film, imo. The 4K-restored transfer, commentary and extras make it essential. This has our strongest recommendation!

***

ADDITION: Olive Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 12': The improvement in the 1080P video is evident here - noticeable by the screen capture comparisons. Details tighten and artifacts morph into film-grain. Contrast has deeper layered in HD. I think it looks quite nice although technically could be far more robust. There is more information in the frame on all  4 edges but, depending on how discerning you are, or your system - this is not a demonstrative superiority - but it certainly exists. The Blu-ray , I think - is the North American debut of this masterpiece film that never came out in NTSC on DVD - so we have that benefit as well - no PAL speedup. The audio has a lossless upgrade but remains modest and there are no subtitles. It remains bare-bones with no extras. I still adore Ophuls' film - and this is a worthy part of every digital collection. Fabulous cover too! The film is very strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs: As the Wild Side Video Collector's Edition DVD is very Out-of-Print this comparison was primarily done to identify any irregularities - especially in the framing. I'm pleased to report that there are none of any significance.

I'd say the French DVD looks superior - with less visible artifacts, but the UK DVD is not fatally behind. The Wild Side appears to have richer black levels and is a bit smoother, but the Second Sight shows the faux-grain (which I like). The Wild Side has non-removable French subtitles, and the Second Sight offers none. I didn't notice any strong differences in audio (both offer original English only).

Extras: The Wild Side is stacked, but unfortunately (for us) nothing is in English (Noël Herpe Introduction etc.). The Second Sight has the least of all 4 Ophuls films/DVDs released at this time. This has an interesting 23 minute Tag Gallagher video essay. It always a pleasure to hear Tag's essential input - I hope he is used much more in future supplements.

Overall the French DVD is a classic, but weighing all factors (availability, Tag's video essay in English) - I'd say picking up the Second Sight is a great decision. I feel this way about all the other Ophuls Second Sight DVDs as well. Brilliant cinema and the digital presentations are a very welcome effort. Bravo Second Sight!

 - Gary Tooze