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Cluny Brown (1946)
Cluny Brown (1946) poster
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3.9

Cluny Brown (1946)

Romance, Comedy • 1h 40m

Overview

Amateur plumber Cluny Brown gets sent off by her uncle to work as a servant at an English country estate.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

2004 R2 Carlotta DVD

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 6, Extras: 7

Length

100 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

2004 R2 Carlotta DVD

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 6, Extras: 7

Length
100 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 months ago
Contributors

Featured in Screwball Comedies

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k transfer

Best Audio:

Universal DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k transfer

Best Audio:

Universal DVD

My Favorite Wife poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Only Streaming has 1080p, no Blu-ray, or archival 35mm print

Best Video:

Only Streaming has 1080p, no Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Only Streaming has 1080p, no Blu-ray, or archival 35mm print

Best Video:

Only Streaming has 1080p, no Blu-ray

My Man Godfrey poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, although there's a bit of aggressive grain management see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=15853770&postcount=43 

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, although there's a bit of aggressive grain management see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=15853770&postcount=43 

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Frank Capra Boxset 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Frank Capra Boxset 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Sony Frank Capra Boxset 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Frank Capra Boxset 4K Blu-ray

Bride by Mistake poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD

Eve Knew Her Apples poster
Only Unofficial Sources
Best Video:

Unofficial Streaming

Eve Knew Her Apples poster
Only Unofficial Sources
Best Video:

Unofficial Streaming

Easy to Wed poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Esther Williams: Volume 1 DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive Esther Williams: Volume 1 DVD.

Also available on SD Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Esther Williams: Volume 1 DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive Esther Williams: Volume 1 DVD.

Also available on SD Streaming

A Song Is Born poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD. Also available on Amazon Streaming in SD

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD. Also available on Amazon Streaming in SD

That Wonderful Urge poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best Video:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best Video:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

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The Doll poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray or OOP MoC Blu-ray have different grading see caps

Additional Info:

Subjective, but the concertina score by Bernard Wrigley on the OOP MoC Blu-ray is generally regarded as very weak. For example, it frequently doesn't match the action. The Meg Morley score on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray is considered superior.

The Doll poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray or OOP MoC Blu-ray have different grading see caps

Additional Info:

Subjective, but the concertina score by Bernard Wrigley on the OOP MoC Blu-ray is generally regarded as very weak. For example, it frequently doesn't match the action. The Meg Morley score on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray is considered superior.

Broken Lullaby poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2023 Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

2023 Indicator Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2021 Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Video comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/ryvPN8Uu

Audio comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/KEs7dwRg

Best English-Friendly:

2023 Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

2023 Indicator Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2021 Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Video comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/ryvPN8Uu

Audio comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/KEs7dwRg

Heaven Can Wait poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2018 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

2018 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Amazon Streaming Release or potentially other streaming 

The Amazon Streaming release has more high-end detail than the Criterion Blu-ray.

Best English-Friendly:

2018 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

2018 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Amazon Streaming Release or potentially other streaming 

The Amazon Streaming release has more high-end detail than the Criterion Blu-ray.

One Hour with You poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1997 MCA Universal 'The Lubitsch Touch' LaserDisc Box Set

Additional Info:

The 1997 LaserDisc has more high end detail in the audio than the new restoration

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1997 MCA Universal 'The Lubitsch Touch' LaserDisc Box Set

Additional Info:

The 1997 LaserDisc has more high end detail in the audio than the new restoration

Angel poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4k resto

Best Audio:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 

Additional Info:

The audio on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray comes from a better source than the various DVDs and the previous HD version on streaming. This audio is relatively untampered with, and is likely the best available source as no laserdisc was ever issued.

Angel poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4k resto

Best Audio:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 

Additional Info:

The audio on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray comes from a better source than the various DVDs and the previous HD version on streaming. This audio is relatively untampered with, and is likely the best available source as no laserdisc was ever issued.

Anna Boleyn poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

Anna Boleyn poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

Sumurun poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

Sumurun poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

The Oyster Princess poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

Best English-Friendly:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC OOP Blu-ray is likely to have better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray judging from other movies in the boxset

I Don't Want to Be a Man poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK MoC Lubitsch in Berlin OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK MoC Lubitsch in Berlin Blu-ray has stlighly better encoding than US Kino Lorber Blu-ray see caps

Best English-Friendly:

UK MoC Lubitsch in Berlin OOP Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK MoC Lubitsch in Berlin Blu-ray has stlighly better encoding than US Kino Lorber Blu-ray see caps

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1998 Criterion DVD Stereo

In the Heat of the Night poster
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Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

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Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion Blu-ray

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours.

Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion Blu-ray

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours.

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

The Elephant Man poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is SDR
StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray is HDR

The DV/HDR grade is tasteful and not overdone. SC has better compression, though not flawless; encoded by FiM, but Criterion also holds up quite well. Both releases claim to be approved by Lynch.

SC has a missing fade that Criterion reinstated.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix: 2001 R1 Paramount US NTSC DVD/2008 R2 Optimum UK PAL or 1999 Pioneer JP LaserDisc

Restored stereo mix: Criterion / StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

The film was originally mixed in Dolby Stereo (matrixed LCRS). For the 4K restoration, this mix has been transferred from the original magnetic elements and remastered with Lynch's supervision. Unfortunately, the fidelity suffered in the process, with many sections ending up significantly less detailed due to a noise reduction pass. This track has been altered compared to the original, with reverb added to some dialogue, different ambient sound effects, changed panning, and extended bass.

For the unrestored mix, there are two major options, each with its own merits and flaws. The 2001 Paramount DVD, which I would say is the best well-rounded mastering, and the 1999 Japanese LaserDisc, which has noticeably better clarity and high-end detail, as well as better dynamics, but suffers from occasional distortion and has less bass than the DVD.

The LD also has some ambiance buried too low in the mix, and some dialogue panned more to the centre than the DVD. There are no content changes I was able to find. Unfortunately, I don't know what accounts for those differences.

The other available tracks all have more significant flaws. The Italian and Japanese BDs use the same base mastering as the DVD, but with some patching in a few shots. HD-DVD is sourced from an inferior transfer, the same as the Momentum DVD.

The 5.1 remix, originally introduced on the 2002 DVD, and carried over without changes to the 2009 BD is a light and mostly faithful remix, with fairly minimal LFE and surround use, but still potentially worthwhile as the only discrete track.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is SDR
StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray is HDR

The DV/HDR grade is tasteful and not overdone. SC has better compression, though not flawless; encoded by FiM, but Criterion also holds up quite well. Both releases claim to be approved by Lynch.

SC has a missing fade that Criterion reinstated.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix: 2001 R1 Paramount US NTSC DVD/2008 R2 Optimum UK PAL or 1999 Pioneer JP LaserDisc

Restored stereo mix: Criterion / StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

The film was originally mixed in Dolby Stereo (matrixed LCRS). For the 4K restoration, this mix has been transferred from the original magnetic elements and remastered with Lynch's supervision. Unfortunately, the fidelity suffered in the process, with many sections ending up significantly less detailed due to a noise reduction pass. This track has been altered compared to the original, with reverb added to some dialogue, different ambient sound effects, changed panning, and extended bass.

For the unrestored mix, there are two major options, each with its own merits and flaws. The 2001 Paramount DVD, which I would say is the best well-rounded mastering, and the 1999 Japanese LaserDisc, which has noticeably better clarity and high-end detail, as well as better dynamics, but suffers from occasional distortion and has less bass than the DVD.

The LD also has some ambiance buried too low in the mix, and some dialogue panned more to the centre than the DVD. There are no content changes I was able to find. Unfortunately, I don't know what accounts for those differences.

The other available tracks all have more significant flaws. The Italian and Japanese BDs use the same base mastering as the DVD, but with some patching in a few shots. HD-DVD is sourced from an inferior transfer, the same as the Momentum DVD.

The 5.1 remix, originally introduced on the 2002 DVD, and carried over without changes to the 2009 BD is a light and mostly faithful remix, with fairly minimal LFE and surround use, but still potentially worthwhile as the only discrete track.

Infernal Affairs II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

Double Indemnity poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MCA LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MCA LaserDisc

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2021 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

2021 Criterion Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

2021 Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

2021 Criterion Blu-ray

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Cluny Brown (1946) backdrop

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