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I couldn't say, but don't forget that Criterion is likely releasing it this year as well.

I finally got the Studio Canal Blu-Ray of La Grande Illusion, and I have to say I'm disappointed. It's not terrible, I've seen much, much worse, but there's clearly some grain management going on, and I don't like it. Compared to any exemplary Blu-Ray disc transferred from a similar source of similar vintage (say, the very latest Casablanca BD - not the previous one) and you'll see what I mean. The grain is technically still there, but it doesn't look the way it's supposed to - it's almost like it's more clumped together and softened around the edges, almost smudged. I wish there was a better option because on my 55" HDTV, it bothers me.

There was some talk about the grain being too fine and hard to notice, but this was explained by the fact it's a 4K scan of the OCN (what element for instance, was used for Casablanca?). I don't recall any clumpy/smudgy grain when I saw it (and do not see any now in the caps), but then that was a couple of years ago.

I'm with hearthesilence on this one. Grain shouldn't be visible in moving clumps and not in other parts of the frame like it is on this SC Blu.

FWIW, I would say it's definitely been managed, and the grain that is present isn't the sort reminiscent of a natural looking fine grain 4K OCN scan.

I guess it wouldn't be a surprise when it comes to SC. I'll look closer next time I watch.

StudioCanal degraines older films almost on a regular basis, even when they get perfectly restored material. So they managed to ruin Wild Strawberries in the first of their Bergman Blu-ray-Boxes (B00EQJ1N9S, not English-friendly), which is based on the same Swedish restoration as Criterion's. Especially it sucks in Smiles of a Summer Night, in which case the master is better than Criterion's, but very probably manipulated nontheless.

Screencap comparisons:
Wild Strawberries http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleic ... ultiID=481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Smiles of a Summer Night http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleic ... ltiID=1477" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Seventh Seal http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleic ... ultiID=179" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So for me that rules out StudioCanal's Bergman movies (they have two more boxes lined up).

I just got That Obscure Object of Desire and it's the same deal as La Grande Illusion, but even more noticeable. Again, the grain is technically there, it hasn't been wiped clean, but it doesn't look anything like real film grain. It's comparably clumped together, kind of mushy instead of defined and also it doesn't "move" right. It's definitely moving, but often times it's almost like it's moving at a different rate from the actual film rate, if that makes sense. The clumps of 'grain' has this effect where it's kind of "phasing" from one arrangement to the next - again, for a really exemplary BD, if I really focus on the film grain, it'll be repositioning rapidly but non-intrusively at pretty much every frame.

I thought most of the reviews here when Grand Illusion BD came out were good. I don't have the best set-up in the world, but this is definitely something I have not noticed (as opposed to The Trial where I thought Canal's BD was really egregious).

Is the consensus on Quai Des Brumes still positive? Or is anyone seeing this stuff there as well? Just wondering.

Drucker wrote:I thought most of the reviews here when Grand Illusion BD came out were good.

Svet gave it a perfect score for video.

But he did for La Grande Illusion as well.

Money quote:

Film grain is also very well resolved and evenly distributed throughout the entire film. Additionally, it is clear that after the restoration overzealos sharpening corrections have not been performed.

For Obscure, Beaver stated "It has a tendency to dull and waxy but never excessive enough to point fingers."

FWIW, the grain management may be most noticeable around the reel changes. Maybe there's more wear in those areas and restoring those spots involved heavier handling all around?

Just to make sure, this upcoming Studio Canal Ealing blu-ray boxset containing KIND HEARTS, THE LAVENDER HILL MOB, THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, is simply a collection of the already released Optimum discs, correct?

Yes.

DVDBeaver reviews the BD of Dead of Night (1945).

Hobson's Choice BD review by Blu-ray.com

Great film, great transfer and audio scores, but a bit light on extras compared to the Criterion. (They are new though, not on the older UK DVD)

Blu-rays of The Driver and Swallows and Amazons forthcoming.

rockysds wrote:Blu-rays of The Driver and Swallows and Amazons forthcoming.

Glad I didn't buy the Twilight Time Blu-Ray of The Driver yet...

Thank you Studio Canal!

Calvin wrote:Le Jour se Leve coming in September

I posted a link to the cover a few days back which seems to have disappeared into the ether. Anyway it is truly horrendous. Instead of Daybreak we have nuclear meltdown on Gabin We can only hope the contents bode better.
Also hope that UK showing 87 mins instead of 93 is also an error.
http://www.amazon.fr/Jour-se-l%C3%A8ve- ... ur+se+leve" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jacques Tati Collection

From Blu-ray.com:

On July 21, StudioCanal will also release on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom the Jacques Tati Collection, which will include the new 4K restoration of PlayTime.

Studiocanal's latest press release for The Driver says it will include the alternate opening as an extra, so aside from the lack of isolated score it looks like it will be a fine alternative to the Twilight Time disc, assuming they don't muck up the transfer.

They haven't - I thought it looked great.