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What? (1972)
What? (1972) poster
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2.6

What? (1972)

Che?

Comedy • 1h 54m

Overview

A young American woman traveling through Italy finds herself in a strange Mediterranean villa where nothing seems quite right.

Director: Roman Polanski

Best English-Friendly Release

Format

1080p Blu-ray

External Links

Length

114 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Diary of Forbidden Dreams

Last Updated

6 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Format
1080p Blu-ray
Length
114 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Diary of Forbidden Dreams
Last Updated
6 months ago
Contributors

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Chinatown poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991/1998 Paramount LaserDisc

Chinatown poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991/1998 Paramount LaserDisc

The Ninth Gate poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray see caps. Much better contrast and grain exposure but the grade is a bit questionable as it skews heavily towards magenta in some caps and the encode looks low-pass filtered.

Lionsgate and the upcoming Imprint have the same discs.

Best Audio:

Atmos Remix: Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Imprint Australia Blu-ray or StudioCanal Germany/France Blu-ray

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray encoded the Original 5.1 as lossy Dolby Digital.

Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray see caps. Much better contrast and grain exposure but the grade is a bit questionable as it skews heavily towards magenta in some caps and the encode looks low-pass filtered.

Lionsgate and the upcoming Imprint have the same discs.

Best Audio:

Atmos Remix: Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Imprint Australia Blu-ray or StudioCanal Germany/France Blu-ray

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray encoded the Original 5.1 as lossy Dolby Digital.

Rosemary's Baby poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 Paramount LaserDisc or 2004 R2 Paramount DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 Paramount LaserDisc or 2004 R2 Paramount DVD

Knife in the Water poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

UK Screenbound Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The UK disc has supposedly had some revisionist changes done along with DNR. The disc is OOP. Tentative alternative is Criterion DVD

Best Video:

UK Screenbound Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The UK disc has supposedly had some revisionist changes done along with DNR. The disc is OOP. Tentative alternative is Criterion DVD

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

Criterion Blu-ray

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Oliver Twist poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Universum Film Blu-ray

Oliver Twist poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Universum Film Blu-ray

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

2023 Italy Eagle Pictures Blu-ray

Additional Info:

France steelbook is prone to rot and 2014 Italy disc is 1080i

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

2023 Italy Eagle Pictures Blu-ray

Additional Info:

France steelbook is prone to rot and 2014 Italy disc is 1080i

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

Italy Rai Blu-ray (ENG subs)
Germany DVD (ENG audio)

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

Italy Rai Blu-ray (ENG subs)
Germany DVD (ENG audio)

An Officer and a Spy poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

France Gaumont Release (no English subtitles or audio)

Best Video:

France Gaumont Release (no English subtitles or audio)

The Pianist poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has poor encode and heavy DNR

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray is from original DI master. The film was an early DI and film prints also looked poor. Shout! Factory Blu-ray is representative of original release. StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has some new VFX work done along with some plates reshot as well as poorly upscaled original VFX work.

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has poor encode and heavy DNR

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray is from original DI master. The film was an early DI and film prints also looked poor. Shout! Factory Blu-ray is representative of original release. StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has some new VFX work done along with some plates reshot as well as poorly upscaled original VFX work.

More from Severin

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

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K Blu-ray teased by Severin

Best Video:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The different releases all have exclusive extras: https://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=35931

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

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K Blu-ray teased by Severin

Best Video:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The different releases all have exclusive extras: https://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=35931

Night of the Zombies poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films (replacement disc only) or US Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

UK 88 Films (replacement disc only) or US Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films (replacement disc only) or US Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

UK 88 Films (replacement disc only) or US Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Vixen! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray scanned in 4K from the Original Camera Negative restored by MoMA

Vixen! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray scanned in 4K from the Original Camera Negative restored by MoMA

Out of the Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray's encode and grain look better on the BFI Blu-ray, soundtrack has noise reduction applied; however it has very good extras more relevant to the film

Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray's encode and grain look better on the BFI Blu-ray, soundtrack has noise reduction applied; however it has very good extras more relevant to the film

In My Skin poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray: Fine new master that is largely rebuilt from the original negative instead of the HD DI. HDR / DV runs slightly too hot in the highlights but the DP supervised it and Radiance presents it as delivered to them by Severin.

In My Skin poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray: Fine new master that is largely rebuilt from the original negative instead of the HD DI. HDR / DV runs slightly too hot in the highlights but the DP supervised it and Radiance presents it as delivered to them by Severin.

Delicatessen poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has DNR and inconsistent encode but still superior to the decade-old earlier Blu-ray. Severin 4K Blu-ray probably better encode?

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs Severin 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has DNR and inconsistent encode but still superior to the decade-old earlier Blu-ray. Severin 4K Blu-ray probably better encode?

Mutant Action poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

4K Blu-ray releases don't have the original mix with the Mission Impossible theme

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

4K Blu-ray releases don't have the original mix with the Mission Impossible theme

Supervixens poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Supervixens poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Santa Sangre poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray has bad encode

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray has bad encode

More Comedy on Blu-ray

The Rules of the Game poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Kiss Me Kate poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Kiss Me Kate poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Desperate Living poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal Region 2 PAL DVD (original Dolby Stereo), Region 1 NTSC is minimally worse

The DTS:X remix is very revisionist with a lot of sound effect changes

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal Region 2 PAL DVD (original Dolby Stereo), Region 1 NTSC is minimally worse

The DTS:X remix is very revisionist with a lot of sound effect changes

Monty Python and the Holy Grail poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Majority of film (theatrical and extended cuts): 1991 Columbia US VHS (or possibly 1994 Columbia LaserDisc?)

32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Majority of film (theatrical and extended cuts): 1991 Columbia US VHS (or possibly 1994 Columbia LaserDisc?)

32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Looney Tunes Cartoons poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

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.

Violent Night poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Capelight Blu-ray

Best Video:

Capelight Blu-ray, better encoded than MGM Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MGM Blu-ray's stereo track.

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

Best English-Friendly:

Capelight Blu-ray

Best Video:

Capelight Blu-ray, better encoded than MGM Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MGM Blu-ray's stereo track.

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

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