Hitchcock's Blackmail and Murder! Coming to Blu-ray & DVD from Kino Classics

[Dr.Crespi]

It appears Kino used a different source print of the silent BLACKMAIL. The print on the Arthaus Region 2 DVD has deeper contrast and exhibits moderate wear. The PAL edition also clocks in at 1:21:49, over five minutes longer than the Kino. Both seem to be at the same projection speed yet the PAL runs longer. I can't recall if there's any discrepency in footage as I haven't watched the PAL silent version in quite a while. So far I only made a spot comparison with the Kino.

Edit: Just watched Arthaus' silent version in its entirety and the footage is identical to Kino's. The difference in running times is due to projection speed; the Kino does appear to move at a faster rate. However, I still think they're two different prints. I don't believe Kino would go through the trouble doing such a pristine digital clean up of the silent version if they didn't do it for the sound.

[SilentsPlease]

Kino uses BFI's recent restoration of the silent Blackmail version, one of nine silent Hitchcock films restored by BFI. I have seen two of the BFI restored prints: The Lodger and Downhill, both released on Criterion Blu-ray. I've seen other Hitchcock silents on HD streaming as well, albeit on old & unrestored prints: The Ring, The Farmer's Wife, The Manxman, etc. I've also seen The Pleasure Garden on a UK DVD with a beat-up old print, and have read that the restored version is supposed to look stunning (article with screenshot). So I look forward to seeing all the other BFI restorations. The article I linked above says Network will release the Blu-ray for The Pleasure Garden. Surprised that BFI isn't releasing it.

[Rodney]

Here's the "Movies Silently" review, focussing on the silent version of Blackmail.

[s.w.a.c.]

I've also seen The Pleasure Garden on a UK DVD with a beat-up old print, and have read that the restored version is supposed to look stunning (article with screenshot). So I look forward to seeing all the other BFI restorations. The article I linked above says Network will release the Blu-ray for The Pleasure Garden. Surprised that BFI isn't releasing it.

I've got this Early Hitchcock DVD set from Network, and for the most part the transfers are very good, much better than the public domain versions (or early Criterion laserdiscs) that I'd been holding onto for years (although it doesn't include The Pleasure Garden). Maybe Network has some sort of arrangement with the Hitchcock estate? Perhaps an Early Hitchcock blu-ray set is in the wings.

[Dr.Crespi]

I've also seen The Pleasure Garden on a UK DVD with a beat-up old print, and have read that the restored version is supposed to look stunning (article with screenshot). So I look forward to seeing all the other BFI restorations. The article I linked above says Network will release the Blu-ray for The Pleasure Garden. Surprised that BFI isn't releasing it.

I've got this Early Hitchcock DVD set from Network, and for the most part the transfers very good, much better than the public domain versions (or early Criterion laserdiscs) that I'd been holding onto for years (although it doesn't include The Pleasure Garden). Maybe Network has some sort of arrangement with the Hitchcock estate? Perhaps an Early Hitchcock blu-ray set is in the wings.

I have the same set - ordered from England some years ago when it came out.

[Mark Zimmer]

I've got that set on order from England as well, since Brentonfilm suggested it's the best version of most of these titles.

[R Michael Pyle]

I've had that version for a few years now. It's the only version where "The Skin Game" and "Number Seventeen" have decent sound tracks! The prints are very good generally. They're not perfect, but compared to what's been on the market here, they're decent.