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A Canterbury Tale (1944)
A Canterbury Tale (1944) poster
Letterboxd

3.8

Best English-Friendly Release

Imprint The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger: Collection One Blu-ray

Best Video Release

Imprint The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger: Collection One Blu-ray

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #336
2025: #331
2024: #325
2023: #322
2022: #322

External Links

Length

124 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

Imprint The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger: Collection One Blu-ray

Best Video Release

Imprint The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger: Collection One Blu-ray

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #336
2025: #331
2024: #325
2023: #322
2022: #322
Length
124 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

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4K Streaming

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4K Streaming

For physical release, Criterion and Sony Blu-ray are very similar

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4K Streaming

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Notorious poster
1080p Blu-ray
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Criterion Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
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Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.

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OG: "4K77" or "D+77" on high seas.

Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

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UHD Blu-ray
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OG: "4K77" or "D+77" on high seas.

Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.

Best Video:

OG: "4K77" or "D+77" on high seas.

Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

The Mother and the Whore poster
UHD Blu-ray
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Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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WB 4K

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WB 4K

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1984 MGM Hi-Fi VHS

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Nashville poster
1080p Blu-ray
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?

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1080p Blu-ray
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance poster
UHD Blu-ray
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2022 Paramount Presents Blu-ray disc included in 4K Blu-ray set

Best Video:

2022 Paramount Presents Blu-ray disc included in 4K Blu-ray set, same master, but less bitrate starved.

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

Additional Info:

The encode on the BD is preferable to the UHD. Same master, but less bitrate starved: https://x.com/SadHillDevan/status/1530057783885721607?s=20 and see caps

Best English-Friendly:

2022 Paramount Presents Blu-ray disc included in 4K Blu-ray set

Best Video:

2022 Paramount Presents Blu-ray disc included in 4K Blu-ray set, same master, but less bitrate starved.

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

Additional Info:

The encode on the BD is preferable to the UHD. Same master, but less bitrate starved: https://x.com/SadHillDevan/status/1530057783885721607?s=20 and see caps

The Shining poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set

Best Video:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set

Best Video:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray

Raging Bull poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Capelight 4K announced for 2026

Best Video:

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has slightly better compression than Criterion 4K Blu-ray.

The master in DV looks all but identical to the Criterion’s HDR grade. Detail-wise, FiM’s encode looks like it uncovered a tiny bit of extra high-frequency information that got filtered on the Criterion. See nicolas review

Best Audio:

1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1993 MGM LaserDisc/2002 R2 MGM DVD are the best. See blah-ray https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/2018/01/raging-bull-1980.html

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:

I believe that what’s on Imprint’s 4K is one of the good mixes MGM and Criterion released during the LaserDisc days. Music is powerful and detailed, dialogues have excellent fidelity and ambient sounds have perceptible depth. I compared the "new" 2.0 with the anemic 5.1 as well as the Criterion 4K mix and could clearly hear the improvements.

Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Capelight 4K announced for 2026

Best Video:

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has slightly better compression than Criterion 4K Blu-ray.

The master in DV looks all but identical to the Criterion’s HDR grade. Detail-wise, FiM’s encode looks like it uncovered a tiny bit of extra high-frequency information that got filtered on the Criterion. See nicolas review

Best Audio:

1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1993 MGM LaserDisc/2002 R2 MGM DVD are the best. See blah-ray https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/2018/01/raging-bull-1980.html

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:

I believe that what’s on Imprint’s 4K is one of the good mixes MGM and Criterion released during the LaserDisc days. Music is powerful and detailed, dialogues have excellent fidelity and ambient sounds have perceptible depth. I compared the "new" 2.0 with the anemic 5.1 as well as the Criterion 4K mix and could clearly hear the improvements.

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Upcoming Release:

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Additional Info:

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UHD Blu-ray
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Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release

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Additional Info:

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UHD Blu-ray
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Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

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Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

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The Bounty poster
1080p Blu-ray
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Imprint Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
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Hard Boiled poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

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Additional Info:

Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.

Best Cantonese mono still was from Criterion LaserDisc, as the Shout one was boosted with clipping, with some filtering and losing dynamic range over the Criterion LD.

There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.

For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.

More info.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Additional Info:

Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.

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There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.

For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.

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UHD Blu-ray
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Dark Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

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

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Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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

Imprint Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

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UHD Blu-ray
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UK Second Sight Blu-ray?

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Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression

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Best English-Friendly:

UK Second Sight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

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Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression

Additional Info:

US Twilight Time and Germany NSM Blu-rays have exclusive extras

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A Canterbury Tale (1944) backdrop

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