filmlover

There's still plenty of time to get your schedule in. And anybody else who wants to join in can still do so, just see the instructions in the very first post.

*How the West Was Won (Blu-ray edition)* I was going to post this review in the Westerns section, but decided to place it here since it is such a distinctly Blu-ray edition because of the SmileBox version of the movie on the second disc that is not in the standard DVD set. "How the West Was Won" is, simply put, possibly the BEST restoration of a classic I have seen on Blu-ray and one of the best Blu-rays I have seen, period! Starting with disc 1, the flat screen version of the film, the disc goes straight to the movie and you are treated to the overture. When that ends and you go into the opening narrative spoken by Spencer Tracy over a traveling shot of a snowy mountain view and then of James Stewart riding down from the mountains, you are stunned by the crystal clarity of the restoration. I mean, this is GORGEOUS! The colors are rich, the picture quality extraordinary, and the sound lush. Truly, one cannot tell this was shot almost 50 years. And the incredible clarity continues throughout the entire movie. This is one magnificent looking Blu-ray disc. It should also be pointed out the screen ratio is 2.89:1. We are talking very wide. (The image is wider on the left and right on this new version than the previous DVD issue, showing more details.) The join lines of the three screens don't show like they did in the past. They are meticulously joined so that much of the time you can't tell it isn't one picture. However, the difference in film brightness does change slightly over the three sections, so in bright sunlight scenes, for example, you can tell there were three sections. Still, they have done an incredible job of combining the join lines. You will notice, but not care, because of how beautiful this film looks. The film has an exceptional commentary by filmmaker David Strohmaier, director of Cinerama, Inc. John Sittig, film historian Rudy Behlmer, music historian Jon Burlingame, and stuntman Loren James. (I have not had a chance to listen to all of it, but it is decidely informative and entertaining.) I cannot stress too much what an incredible job Warner Bros. has done in restoring this movie for home video. I am certain the standard DVD will look great, buit the Blu is beyond that with its high definition. Also on disc 1 is the documentary, in standard definition, of "Cinerama Adventure," a 90+ minute look at the history of Cinerama. This is a fascinating view by people who were there. There are also many clips, shown in the CInerama style, of This is CInerama, South Sea Adventure, and others. Defnitely worth watching. Disc 2 hold a high-definition version of HTWWW in a simulated CInerama production, dubbed "SmileBox." Though it is impossible to truly capture the feeling of looking at the curved screen in the theater, they do an admirable job of recreating that feeling. While you are going forward in a shot, you get the impression of things passing by on the left and right of your sight. I saw the presentation of the movie in the CInerama Dome over the weekend and I had a good center seat, and I remember distincly one scene where some people on the left were slightly distorted on the left and right because of their placements away on the left and right screens...and that's exactly the way it appears on the SmileBox version. However, much as I think they have done an excellent job of this, I must point out that I thnk it is not something I want them to do with other titles at present. Here are some sample shots (sorry, they were taken by my cellphone, thus lack of clarity): flat screen version from disc 1: SmileBox simulated Cinerama version on disc 2: flat screen version from disc 1: SmileBox simulated Cinerama version: Also accompanying this Blu-ray release is a "digibook," a 40-page hardcover book, with plenty of photos and trivia on the making of the movie. The discs sit in the inside covers of the book. (Note: the digibook is unique to the Blu-ray edition. However, the standard DVD collecor's edition box set contains photo repros and other material not packaged witrh the Blu edition.) All in all, an incredible Blu-ray high definition release to use as "demo quality" for when people come over. Highest recommendations!!!

Fred C. Dobbs said: TCM has inserted a lot of still photos into "Greed" and also into "Lost Horizons", although those films were never made with any intention to be shown with still photos in them. So I think TCM should insert some appropriate still photos into "The Big Sleep" too. Fred, are you on any medication or been drinking? Doesn't seem like one of your usual posts. TCM didn't put the photos in Lost Horizon. Columbia issued that edition decades ago on VHS, before there was a TCM, to show what footage had been lost. And the photos you want to see from The Big Sleep. You want to see the nude photos of the sister, huh? Been a long night, Fred, time for you to go and sleep it off.

CM, cute bit with Bye Bie Birdie.

Having looked at many schedules of the past and seeing a lot of the exciting things that TCM has coming up, I feel it will continue to soar for a long time. One thing I have found is that TCM is alwys challenging itself to stay fresh, whether it be by creating interesting new documentaries or with obtaining classic movies from studios like Paramount and Fox that haven't been shown on TCM before. TCM is still the best place to be if you love classic movies.

Well, the Challenge is now one week in. Remember, anyone can join in on the fun and create a schedule. (Details can be found back in the first post of this thread). The Challenge will close at midnight (Pacific time) on September 30th.

helen, I agree. I had to stop reading about the third line because it was giving me a headache. mikemcgee, free association is okay, but not if you want people to read it. You spent some time typing it out, so you must have wanted someone to read it. Punctuation and spelling aren't hard to do.

Here are more details about the upcoming Nov. 11th release of *The Lone Ranger 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition* with the first two seasons and why the price of $119 may be so high: In addition to the 78 episodes (1,900 plus minutes) of the show on about a dozen photo-discs, this Anniversary set also includes three bonus episodes from the '60s cartoon series, a classic episode of Lassie featuring The Lone Ranger, and an original Lone Ranger radio show broadcast from 1950. But, not to end there, this great package includes an 88-page Commemorative Book, a complete episode guide, reprints of rare comic books and photos, and limited edition collectibles, too. http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Ranger-75th-Anniversary-Seasons/dp/B001DJ7Q0E/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1220748824&sr=8-3 And from the Lone Ranger Fan Club site, here are things that were sent to them in the press release. Some look to be items in the box set: http://www.lonerangerfanclub.com/lonerangernews.html This will be an item I will get when deepdiscount.com has their 20% off their discounted prices sale in November.

Well said, movieman. LOL, in the words of Jamie Pressly as the head cheerleader in the revered classic movie, "Not Another Teen Movie," during the tryouts when someone else voiced an opinion on the cheerleading candidates. JP: "Okay, let's get one thing straight. This is not a cheerocracy, I am the cheertator, I will make the cheerisions around here, and I will deal with the cheeronsequences! Now, if there are no more cheeruptions, we can cheertinue. Thank you." : - )

deepdiscount.com has a Buy 1, Get 1 sale on select Sony boxsets. Not much of a selection, but a few good ones are the two Ray Harryhausen sets, the Cary Grant Box Set, and the Stanley Kramer Box Set. http://www.deepdiscount.com/DVD---Sony-Buy-1-Get-1-Free_stcVVcatId492039VVviewcat.htm?&promoCode=B1G1SONY0809

It happens, but here in the Challenge nothing ever goes worng. : )

Nope. Already have the Blu, and I have never really liked the movie that much. The opening 40 minutes or so are great if you want to cure insomnia. Puts me out like a light every time.

Special screening of 2001 tonight (9/5) at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. And the first 100 people in line will get a free Blu-ray of the movie. And don't forget that on Sunday, the first 100 people in line for the special screening of How the West Was Won will also get a free Blu-ray of HTWWW (prior to its release date on Tuesday).

ff asked: What would happen, for instance, if someone in the U.S. buys a Blu0Ray recorder through amazon.jp? I don't know, but the whole electrical current thing could come into play or something like the PAL system. Not an expert on that, sorry.

Turns out those Paramount double dips for *Sabrina*, *Sunset Blvd*., and *Roman Holiday* will have some new extras mixed in with the old and will be 2-DVD sets at $24.99 each title. from classicflix.com: Bonus features: *Sabrina* Audrey Hepburn: Fashion Icon (17:32) Sabrina's World (11:25) Supporting Sabrina (16:32) William Holden: The Paramount Years (29:46) Audrey Hepburn: In Her Own Words (11:40) Behind the Gates: Camera (5:07) Paramount in the '50s (9:32) Galleries *Sunset Blvd.* Commentary by Ed Sikov (author of "On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder") Sunset Boulevard: The Beginning (22:46) The Noir Side of Sunset Boulevard by Joseph Wambaugh (14:20) Sunset Boulevard Becomes a Classic (14:29) Two Sides of Ms. Swanson (10:32) Stories of Sunset Boulevard (11:17) Mad About the Boy: A Portrait of William Holden (11:15) Recording Sunset Boulevard (5:48) The City of Sunset Boulevard (5:32) Morgue Prologue Script Pages Franz Waxman and The Music of Sunset Boulevard (14:25) Behind the Gates: The Lot (5:03) Hollywood Location Map Paramount in the '50s (9:32) Edith Head - The Paramount Years Featurette (13:42) Original Theatrical Trailer (3:12) Galleries *Roman Holiday* Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years (29:54) Remembering Audrey (12:11) Rome with a Princess (8:56) Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist (11:54) Restoring Roman Holiday (5:53) Behind the Gates: Costumes (5:26) Paramount in the '50s (9:32) Trailers Galleries Pictures of the covers and more details are here: http://www.classicflix.com/sabrina-sunset-blvd-roman-holiday-special-editions-november-a-343.html?osCsid=70cc62dd82c38d649ee4b0df5308ab78

A nice full-page ad in the most recent issue of Home Media Magazine for *Quo Vadis*: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom735717CBB/#/4 and *A Christmas Story*: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom735717CBB/#/8

As I mentioned back on August 14th, there will be a *The Lone Ranger - 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition*. It will contain the first two seasons of the classic TV series from 1949 and 1950. Retail is supposed to be $119.93. Here's a look at the cover art: http://www.classicflix.com/lone-ranger-seasons-november-a-341.html?osCsid=9f8038b7bc56208b0723fef0b7d41593 Also, there wil be a *Forgotten Film Noir Collector's Set Vol. 4* coming from VCI, containing 3 DVDs, except it is now called *Forgotten Noir & Crime*. The price will be $29.99. Unlike previous collector's sets in the series of Forgotten Film Noir, these titles will not be available individually. The titles are: Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard (1950) Radar Secret Service (1950) Motor Patrol (1950) Mr. District Attorney (1941) Western Pacific Agent (1950) Highway 13 (1948) Treasure of Monte Cristo (1951) Roaring City (1949) Sky Liner (1949) Stars include: Peter Lorre, Dennis O'Keefe, Adele Jergens, Tom Neal, Hugh Beaumont, Ralph Byrd, Bobby Jordan and Amanda Blake. Classicflix.com has the cover art and details about the individual titles: http://www.classicflix.com/forgotten-noir-collectors-november-a-342.html?osCsid=9f8038b7bc56208b0723fef0b7d41593 Previously mentioned here were *The PInk Panther Ultimate Collection* and the *Hollywood Musicals* set from MGM/Fox. Here's the cover art: http://digitalbits.com/#mytwocents I definitely do not like the art and design for the musicals collection.

LOL, I didn't realize that the Challenge this time would not be the challenge of programming a schedule, but would be challenges to what I set down. Shouldn't you be using this time to write your schedule, Kyle? : )

LOL. However, my inviolate rule this time is that 6 AM starting time must be met and that the schedule week must start with Sunday (thus it has been and thus it shall be). And while there have been instance of films starting at one time and another on the schedule overlapping before the first one is finished, we all know that it creates a nightmare for TCM because they were told the wrong running time. it also starts threads on the TCM board from people complaining. So no overlapping times. "I has spoken!" (Pansy Yokum, 'Li'l Abner')

Another thing to think about is that during the evening hours, Osborne is making introductions and exits from movies,so you want to build in time for that. So if you have a 90 minute movie and you are starting it at 8:00, it is not a great idea to start the next one right at 9:30.

I'm trying to make things as uncomplicated as I can this time around, so I will be lenient about the 8:15 _one time only and ONLY for this one night_. BUT it will not be a precedent. It is not something everyone should now just go ahead and jump on the bandwagon. Please get your schedule to fit within all the parameters. Don't forget, when people vote, they will to see if you followed the rules set out at the beginning. I've tossed out more movies doing my own schedules due to not fitting. P.S. -- I will not budge as far as starting at 6 AM. That is it, written in cement.

If you see that the movie IS scheduled to be on TCM when you do a search on the movie, it doesn't count as a premiere. It can count as a p/s.

You are learning the agony of being a programmer. Unfortunately, you cannot cut a minute from the film ("TCM - uncut and commercial free," remember?). It would mean scheduling a different film before it or making an adjustment somewhere else earlier in the day. However, I will let you start the Essentials at 8:15.

I'm not sure about harddrives but Blu-ray recorders for home use are available in Japan but nothing for North America yet (damn!). Probably because of rights issues, but I do expect to see them eventually just as it took us awhile to get DVD recorders for home use.

You're welcome. And it will be good to see your Challenge.