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Robert Helpmann

Robert Helpmann

5 films on Best Blurays3 in 4K1 in HD1 in SD

Robert Helpmann photo

Sir Robert Helpmann CBE (9 April 1909 – 28 September 1986) was an Australian dancer, film actor, theatre director and choreographer. A protege of Pavlova and Fonteyn’s first partner. Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Helpmann, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from Wikipedia via TMDB

3 in 4K

UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming

Supporting role · Directors: Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · filmalert101.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

FiM encode and none of the low-pass filtering present on the Criterion 4K, resulting in more detail and better handling of highlights on Imprint
Review, comparisons

Best Audio:

ITV UK Blu-ray or Indigo DE Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

All HD and 4K sources use the same 2009 restoration. Criterion's master (also used by Imprint) is a bit more rolled off, though the difference is minor.

Supporting role · Director: Richard Franklin

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Indicator UK 4K Blu-ray

Supporting role · Directors: Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Imprint AU 4K is world UHD debut and encoded by FiM. Part of the The Cinema Of Powell & Pressburger - Collection Two set.

1 in HD

Blu-ray or HD streaming

Supporting role · Director: Ken Hughes

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Capelight Blu-ray

Sources: mega.nz (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Better encoded than MGM Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MGM Blu-ray's stereo track

Audio Notes:

MGM's 7.1 track is a remix with a few flaws and much worse fidelity. Capelight's stereo and 7.1 track are both from the remix.

Additional Info:

The movie was originally premiered as a roadshow release, with a a 70mm 6-Track Stereo mix. This mix, unfortunately has not been released on home video.

The closest thing to that mix, is the stereo track included on the 2010 Blu-ray. It sounds great, with high fidelity and little filtering. It's lossy, but that doesn't matter very much.

Both the DVD 5.1 and the Blu-ray 7.1 tracks (identical on both discs) are a new remix, rather than a repackaging of the original mix. The 7.1 track sounds quite muffled, though not evenly so. The Capelight Blu-ray's lossless stereo track uses the same remix, but with higher fidelity than the surround tracks, sounding significantly less muffled. Compared to the original, this remix sounds wider and more "cleaned up". The remix contains a handful of errors, for example the intermission cue fades out, rather than ending correctly.

Comparison samples

1 in SD

DVD, SD streaming, LaserDisc or VHS

Leading role · Director: William Sterling

Best English-Friendly:

2004/2010 US Screen Media DVD

Best Video:

2010 Spain Divisa DVD (caveat: mostly cropped to 16:9)

Video Notes:

(caveat: 4:3 pan and scan transfer with no menus or subtitles)

Best Audio:

2010 Spain Divisa DVD

Additional Info:

Most US VHS and DVD releases are bootlegs that are cropped and/or of poor picture quality

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