2 in 4K
UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming
Small role · Director: George Stevens
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has unusually strong encode but only a minimal upgrade over the excellent Eureka Blu-ray
Small role · Director: Anthony Mann
Criterion 4K Blu-ray, Universal 2008 DVD
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
2008 Universal DVD mono
The mono on the Criterion is severely filtered resulting in it sounding incredibly muffled. It is nearly as filtered as the 2003 original Universal DVD which had extreme filtering and sounds horribly thin. The 2008 DVD remaster and original Laserdisc analog mastering are mostly left alone. The original LD master is from a worn element but otherwise sounds very natural. The 2008 DVD is the highest quality version we have without the heavy filtering and the defects of the LD master. It isn't perfect but easily the best of the main four sources by a dramatic margin.
The existing 4K SDR restoration looks excellent, but the Criterion extras are limited and disappointing. The classic Stewart interview commentary from the LD is ported over but given a new mastering. Compared to past releases it has been very slightly noise reduced.
6 in HD
Blu-ray or HD streaming
Small role · Director: Anthony Mann
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Criterion Blu-ray upgrade removes the pictureboxing of their old DVD transfer. New HD discussion extra added to the DVD supplements package and reprints the rare out of print source novel as a paperback.
Small role · Director: Anthony Mann
Arrow Video Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
The Arrow Video Blu-ray is the best iteration so far coming from a new restoration complete with great supplements and package. The original limited edition version included a second disc with the alternate 2.0:1 framed version. The primary disc is 1.85:1. Older releases pre-2008 were all in Academy ratio. 1.85 is the best compromise ratio for the visuals. As good as this release is, the master is showing its age and sadly has a number of frozen grain artifacts.
2 in SD
DVD, SD streaming, LaserDisc or VHS
Small role · Director: Budd Boetticher
Paramount DVD from UCLA restoration
Paramount DVD
Paramount's DVD is from the UCLA photochemical restoration. It remains the highest quality video release of the film which is long overdue for a new transfer and could vastly improve in a new restoration as Sony proved with their 4K restorations of the Ranown Cycle. The DVD does have extensive well done supplements and is still essential. A French BD was released in late 2024 and an earlier Japanese BD exists but their transfer sources are unknown. Reviews on Amazon France seem to indicate the BD is a poor version of the DVD's HD master source.
Small role · Director: Joseph Santley
Image Entertainment OOP The Gene Autry Collection Vol 3 DVD
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