Biography from TMDB
2 in 4K
UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming
Small role · Director: Alan J. Pakula
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · hollywood-elsewhere.com (opens in a new tab)
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray (caps; grade on the BD was controversial)
Later Warner Bros Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray are minor downgrades
Small role · Director: Robert Altman
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab) · mega.nz (opens in a new tab)
Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.
The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.
The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.
Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788
The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.
Samples
3 in HD
Blu-ray or HD streaming
Leading role · Director: Robert Altman
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release
Supporting role · Director: Robert Altman
Kino Lorber has new 4k resto, not sure about color grading
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