It's a Wonderful Life: Special Edition #18 (1946) [CC1112L]The film is an obvious soulful masterpiece that only gains in significance as you grow older.
The Paramount DVD was a revelation in detail, but the BD revealed just how badly the film had been over-scrubbed and shorn of both grain and fine detail. Additionally they produced a brand new abomination (colorized version) that should be avoided at all costs.
Which brings me to this, the 1987 Criterion release in full CAV on 5 sides. I bought this in a used bin a bit on the beat up side, against my better judgement, though there are better releases with digital sound from Republic and special features.
But honestly, this is how I watch the film yearly now. Criterion used the UCLA held fine-grain master and worked their magic as they did with
Notorious. (Still the finest B&W film DVD release ever made) The image has it's fair share of wear, but nowhere near as much as you would think. It is pretty much confined to opticals and reel changes. There are reel change markers but these are in-obtrusive. There is even fine grain visible in addition to great shadow detail, yes even on this 25 year old analog video transfer.
The analog mono is surprisingly good, with natural hiss that never overpowers, and great detail retained on the soundstage for both high and low end. The site listing says that some copies were CX encoded but I can't tell on my players.
This being a SE, there is a well done commentary on track 2, still exclusive and a classic Criterion videobook packed with stills, trailer and some insightful critical excerpts. Then on Side 6 there are two interviews with Capra himself from the late 70's recoreded for the DGA and UCLA. I always watch these afterwards, near spellbound.
Every Christmas Day and typically a few views in the week following, I curl up in front of the CRT and center speaker with this and re-enter the film.
Video: The film looks and feels natural as opposed to the new version. 5 out of 5 stars. Feels almost like running your own minty 16mm copy.
Audio: It has some ups and downs in level, but is far superior to the over cleaned and normalized DVD/BD mono. 5/5
Extras: Well-done and presented.
Packaging: Standard Criterion CAV box with appropriate still and coloring.
Presentation: The side breaks are very well chosen, with the sides running out to black to allow a viewer to not remove themselves entirely from the film and then picks up on black to come in a few frames back so to re-enter viewing appropriately and to also never lose any frames on side breaks.
Nostalgia factor: This reminds me of all those old TV broadcasts, and warm fuzzy memories of curling up with VHS tapes while it was snowing outside.
Anybody who has seen this or the later Republic issues, feel free to chime in. I know I'm down for the 45th and 50th anniversary releases anyway...heck I still have the 50th anniversary VHS.
Thanks list
