NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Flicker Alley Blu-ray (April 2020): Flicker Alley have transferred more wonderful vintage 3-D to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Restored and mastered direct from archival materials by 3-D Film Archive Technical Director Greg Kintz, the films and images have been meticulously aligned shot-by-shot for precise registration of the original left/right elements.". Firstly, this Blu-ray package offers both the 3D and 2D (Standard) versions of the content. We will only review the 2D version here. For the 3-D version you require a 3-D HDTV, 3-D glasses, a 3-D Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI cable.

3-D Rarities Volume 2 follows Volume 1 (Reviewed HERE) and offers another mixture of video from many sources but the inherent weaknesses never detract from the presentation's immense value. There is light-to-moderate damage in some of the shorts like The Black Swan (which shows rounded corners) and A Day in the Country while the fill-length feature, El Corazón y la Espada (aka The Sword of Granada), looks very impressive. It has decent contrast with reasonably tight visuals although also suffers with some inconsistencies with modest damage or a comprised source rearing it's head (notable at the end of the film.) Hopefully the screen captures below will give you an idea of the HD video quality.

Specifics are often related in a text screen, ex. "A Day in the Country has been preserved from the only surviving element; an extremely faded c5mm anaglyphic Pathecolor release print from 1953. As a result, 100% pure extractions are not possible with some image ghosting (crosstalk) baked-in throughout the film.
The original left/right 35mm nitrate camera negatives were destroyed by Consolidated Film Industries in the 1960's."

NOTE: I liked Hillary Hess’s presentation of Mid-Century Memories in Kodachrome Stereo (great stills!), the mysterious Polaroid-filmed Games in Depth and the sampling of homemade stereoscopic photographs from silent film icon Harold Lloyd.

NOTE: When viewed on a compatible 3-D monitor and 3-D Blu-ray player set-up, the 3-D viewing will be capable. 2-D playback is also available - viewed on a regular 2-D monitor and 2-D Blu-ray player.

On their Blu-ray, Flicker Alley use a DTS-HD Master tracks (16-bit) and is usually a direct reflection of the video source strength. The score on The Sword of Granada is by prolific composer Antonio Díaz Conde (277 film credits), and it likewise has a few inconsistencies but didn't deter from the 1080P presentation. The audio is offered in both English and Spanish. I did notice some score in the 3-minute prologue version of Frankenstein's Bloody Terror with Paul Naschy. That score is by Ángel Arteaga (Naschy's The Devil Incarnate) and from The Black Swan excerpt from the ballet "Swan Lake," by Tchaikovsky. In A Day in the Country has a score credited to Bert Shefter (t5 Steps to Danger, The Bubble -also 3-D-, She-Devil and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea). The narration is by Joe Besser who would join The Three Stooges three years later.  Flicker Alley offer optional English subtitles (and Spanish on The Sword of Granada) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Flicker Alley Blu-ray offers a new commentary on El Corazón y la Espada with David Wilt (author of The Mexican Filmography, 1916 through 2001) and film historian Dr. Robert J. Kiss (co-author of Rondo Hatton: Beauty Within the Brute) recorded separately. Kiss who comes in about 1/2 hour in discussing the distribution and exhibition as well as the English-language version. Together they cover an incredible amount about the film and I found it very educational. There is also an an audio commentary for the dozen minutes of The Black Swan featuring 3-D film expert Mike Ballew who is open and ingratiating talking about 3-D icon Raymond Spottiswoode, Telekinema and the 3-D process (BFI-camera rig) for this short. Enjoyable and he brings up many interesting details. The package has a 16-page souvenir booklet: featuring rare photographs and extensively researched liner notes from 3-D expert Mike Ballew.

I again enjoyed the fascinating, historical and educational 3-D Rarities Volume 2 on Blu-ray. I was very keen on the extraneous adverts and trailers - so nostalgic - evoking my love of the 50's. Flicker Alley has put plenty of value in this package. If you have any interest in this process and the finite number of older films available in 3-D then this kind of a 'must-own' and is absolutely recommended by us! 

Gary Tooze