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A Decree of Destiny (1911)
A Decree of Destiny (1911) poster
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A Decree of Destiny (1911)

Drama, Romance • 17m

Director: D.W. Griffith

Cast: Joseph Graybill, Marion Sunshine, Mary Pickford, Clara T. Bracy, Claire McDowell, Adolph Lestina

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Best English-friendly & video release

Updated 10 months ago


About the film

Kenneth Marsden, a young artist in failing health is advised to go south to New Orleans, where he expects to find accommodation with an old-time friend of his mother. The old lady receives the son of her dear friend with open arms, but her two convent-bred nieces, Mary and Edith, are horrified at the thought of a man in the house. However, it isn't long after his arrival that he has made a decided impression upon the young ladies.

More from D.W. Griffith

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Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Sources: moma.org (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

New digitized edition of MoMA’s definitive 1979 photochemical restoration, no release yet https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/11556

Video Notes:

Mastered in HD from the Museum of Modern Art's 35mm restoration, with original color tints

Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray Douglas Fairbanks Lost Films Double Feature as extras

Director: D.W. Griffith

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Unfortunately looks like got an AI upscale pass with the focus being all over the places see https://slow.pics/c/CN22JOv0

Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly & Video:

MoC Blu-ray

Video Notes:

MoC same Cohen 2k transfer but slightly better encoding

Directors: D.W. Griffith & Christy Cabanne

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: D.W. Griffith

Best English-Friendly:

Twilight Time Blu-ray

Best Video:

Twilight Time

Video Notes:

Twilight Time > BFI >> Kino Lorber/MoC

More from Film Preservation Society

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Director: Allan Dwan

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: Christy Cabanne

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: Marshall Neilan

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: Fred Niblo

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Sources: hometheaterforum.com (opens in a new tab) · YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray is a newer restoration than the previous Cohen one. From various review like Robert Harris and Damn Fool Crusade this new restoration is really good.

Director: Paul Sloane

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: William S. Hart

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

Director: William S. Hart

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Film Preservation Society Blu-ray

More Drama on Blu-ray

Director: Robert Altman

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Vinegar Syndrome Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Cinematrographe's HDR grading is overcooked, which is a known VinSyn tendency. Additionally, their booklet mis-credits the encode to FiM.

YMMV, but for some, the included BD encoded by Marcus Johnson—ironically may make for a more pleasing experience.

Director: Roman Polanski

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Carlotta France 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

UK 4K teased by 88 Films https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=24252379

Video Notes:

Carlotta France 4K Blu-ray > Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray (better encode on Carlotta without any low-pass filtering, more extras and English subtitles on Vinegar Syndrome)

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Olive Films Blu-ray

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Best English-Friendly & Video:

MGM Blu-ray

Director: Steve Gordon

Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB Blu-ray

Director: John Woo

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray or Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Arrow has a different grade and a better encode than the Shout! Factory, though the difference in either is not major. Imprint release, which leaves Shout! Factory's master and subtitles as is, is encoded by FiM. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=24473097&postcount=56

Best Audio:

Original mix: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Alternate mix: Scanbox Nordic PAL DVD

Surround remix: HK Video France 4K Blu-ray (5.0)

Audio Notes:

Original mix: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray (similar to Criterion LaserDisc, but less distorted)

Alternate mix: Scanbox Nordic PAL DVD

Surround remix: HK Video France 4K Blu-ray (5.0)

Arrow used the alternate mix, but with extra filtering and lowered dynamic range. The alternate mix has much better fidelity.

Imprint presumably used the Shout! Factory original mix and left it as is, though no official confirmation.

Additional Info:

Arrow has a much better translation.

Arrow LE has the Taiwan Extended Cut which will not be present on the standard edition. However, Imprint is FiM and has its own archival extras not present on the Arrow.

Director: Richard Brooks

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Director: Vincent Sherman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Director: Jonathan Demme

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

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Researched and maintained by

vanshady

· last reviewed 10 months ago

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