La Belle et la Bête (1946)

[odino]

Is this restoration available to Janus, i.e. are we expecting a re-release BD at some stage?

[Orlac]

Does anyone have the 1998 Criterion or 2001 BFI DVDs? I have a query relating to their presentation.

[RIP Film]

Anyone have an opinion on BFI’s image vs the criterion? This is one of those discs making me consider modding my player for. It looks pristine in the caps but also incredibly dark. Criterion is the opposite and looks as if the lights went up, particularly in scenes with the beast where it would make sense to shroud his features. The criterion’s gauzy visuals do befit the film though somehow, whereas the BFI looks almost over corrected.

[Drucker]

I own the BFI disc and thought it looks great in motion. I too saw the early comments about the restoration seeming too dark, but watching it in motion I didn't get the impression anything was off. Just my anecdotal two cents.

[M-A]

Anyone have an opinion on BFI’s image vs the criterion? This is one of those discs making me consider modding my player for. It looks pristine in the caps but also incredibly dark. Criterion is the opposite and looks as if the lights went up, particularly in scenes with the beast where it would make sense to shroud his features. The criterion’s gauzy visuals do befit the film though somehow, whereas the BFI looks almost over corrected.

The Criterion definitely looks elevated, and the BFI looks correct to me. Look here. You shouldn't be seeing the grain like that on their coat as seen on the criterion disc.

[jegharfangetmigenmyg]

Didn't the first batch of BFI's have compression issues? Is there a way to identify the discs? I have this one on the shelf, but never got around to checking.

[RIP Film]

The Criterion definitely looks elevated, and the BFI looks correct to me. Look here. You shouldn't be seeing the grain like that on their coat as seen on the criterion disc.

Yes, that shot is fairly well balanced but in other caps the blacks look completely crushed resulting in loss of detail and throwing off composition.

I’m hoping an updated criterion will come along and find some middle ground, a reissue is overdue.

[tenia]

The Criterion most likely is a bit too elevated with washed out darker areas but there are indeed many shots where you clearly lose detail with elements at times almost entirely lost in the black, which seems unlikely to be intentional.

[M-A]

Yes, that shot is fairly well balanced but in other caps the blacks look completely crushed resulting in loss of detail and throwing off composition.

I’m hoping an updated criterion will come along and find some middle ground, a reissue is overdue.

Hmm... That shot does look a bit dark in the BFI. I wonder if the detail in the shadows is actually there and can be retrieved if you change the settings on your system. If it isn't, then a potential criterion reissue would be reusing the same restoration and wouldn't be able to retrieve those details either.