Journey into Fear DVD Release

[the scotsman]

Cornerstone Media is releasing Journey into Fear in the UK on the 28th of February. It is already listed on Amazon UK with the running time of 68m (PAL).
This is the same release date as Chimes at Midnight (from the same company). I´m not sure of the quality but will post a report when they arrive.

Also Just released in the UK - the 1955 compendium movie "Three Cases of Murder" with Welles in the third story playing Lord Mountdrago (the British home Secretary). Included as an extra is Return to Glennascaul. Quality is excellent and is a budget issue from Odeon Entertainment.

[DexyMan]

What's the aspect ratio of Three Cases of Murder? I have a DVDr of the laserdisc and it was in slight widescreen (1.66:1 I believe). It used to be that DVDs were sometimes pan and scanned but these days I'm just as nervous of overmatting to please widescreen TV owners. Also I believe Return to Glennascaul should be fullscreen.

This sounds like a great way to pick those up on the cheap!

[the scotsman]

The Three Cases of Murder release is 1.33 - 1 . The DVD case states 1955 but the the release date on the movie´s credits is 1953 .It looks like the print source is from the US,because after the title card "London Films",there is a second title card "Janus Film".When one considers the low budget of the movie,and that Cinemascope was virtually brand new in 53 and VistaVision came along 54-55,it seems unlikely that it was made in any kind of wide screen.
As I say the quality is good and the ratio looks correct. There is no evidence of stretching or other problems - it looks natural. There is so little technical information available.Return to Glennascaul is also 1.33.-1 and a good print. As we are on the subject of aspect ratios - do you know which ratio is presented on the French issue of Chimes at Midnight ?
I live most of the time in Germany and I am sure that I once saw (in the mid 70´s) a German dubbed "Chimes" but in Letterbox format. Or am I dreaming?

[Roger Ryan]

While I can't comment specifically on the French issue of CHIMES, I was under the impression that the film, like THE TRIAL, was hard-matted at 1:66.1. Video or TV showings in 4:3 simply zoomed into the print trimming the image on the left and right sides of the frame.

[DexyMan]

The French Chimes is definitely 1.66:1, I can burn copies of it to those of you who don't already have it. The print is just gorgeous and it's small enough to burn without any compression if you subtract all of the extras that are in French-only anyway. Plus, that's the only way to remove the French subtitles that are forced on to it.

[tonyw]

DexyMan, I'd love to take up your offer. Please contact me concerning costs and postage etc,

[Glenn Anders]

Add me to that list, DexyMan, if you would be so kind.

Glenn Anders

[Sabres]

Dexyman, I'd also be interested in your kind offer.

Nick

[the scotsman]

Cornerstone Media has just announced that the Journey into Fear release has been cancelled.No further reasons were given and no future release date was stated. As yet, the release of "Chimes" by the same company is still going ahead.

[Michael O'Hara]

Can't Warner Brothers just issue this thing through their "burn-on-demand" program and get it over with? What are they waiting for? A future deluxe release? Well, based on the treatment they gave The Ambersons on DVD I they have any special plans for it. What is the holdup?

[Jay]

Can't Warner Brothers just issue this thing through their "burn-on-demand" program and get it over with? What are they waiting for? A future deluxe release? Well, based on the treatment they gave The Ambersons on DVD I they have any special plans for it. What is the holdup?

According to the Warner Archive's response to that very question, the source print is in need of work before they can put out a DVD release.