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Early Summer (1951)
Early Summer (1951) poster
Letterboxd

4.2

Best English-Friendly Release

Japan Shochiku Blu-ray

Best Video Release

4k resto available in France Carlotta boxset or Japan Blu-ray

Best Audio Release

Tartan/Shochiku DVD

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #513
2025: #515
2024: #503
2023: #502
2022: #502

Length

135 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

24 days ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

Japan Shochiku Blu-ray

Best Video Release

4k resto available in France Carlotta boxset or Japan Blu-ray

Best Audio Release

Tartan/Shochiku DVD

Format
1080p Blu-ray
TSPDT
2026: #513
2025: #515
2024: #503
2023: #502
2022: #502
Length
135 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
24 days ago
Contributors

More from Yasujirō Ozu

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Good Morning poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta and Criterion have new resto, Carlotta slightly better encode

Best Audio:

2009 Australia Madman DVD (Tartan/Raro/Shochiku probably the same)

Good Morning poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta and Criterion have new resto, Carlotta slightly better encode

Best Audio:

2009 Australia Madman DVD (Tartan/Raro/Shochiku probably the same)

The End of Summer poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion DVD

Best Video:

Carlotta Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2013 Criterion Hulu+ Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion DVD

Best Video:

Carlotta Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2013 Criterion Hulu+ Streaming

An Autumn Afternoon poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion

Best Audio:

Shochiku DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion

Best Audio:

Shochiku DVD

Tokyo Story poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Raro DVD

Tokyo Story poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Raro DVD

Late Spring poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Hong Kong/Japan Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta Blu-ray has best encoding of France/Hong Kong/Japan. Criterion/BFI are older master

Best Audio:

2004 Tartan DVD (Raro/Madman/Shochiku DVDs probably similar)

Late Spring poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Hong Kong/Japan Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta Blu-ray has best encoding of France/Hong Kong/Japan. Criterion/BFI are older master

Best Audio:

2004 Tartan DVD (Raro/Madman/Shochiku DVDs probably similar)

I Was Born, But... poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2024 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 BFI Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

Best English-Friendly:

2024 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 BFI Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

More from Carlotta

See more →
Farewell My Concubine poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta 4K > Criterion 4K

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta 4K > Criterion 4K

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

Bela Tarr Curzon Collection or Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

Best Video:

Curzon Blu-ray ~= Arbelos Blu-ray

There's also a France Carlotta boxset release (no ENG subs) but screenshots not available.

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

Bela Tarr Curzon Collection or Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

Best Video:

Curzon Blu-ray ~= Arbelos Blu-ray

There's also a France Carlotta boxset release (no ENG subs) but screenshots not available.

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

Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

Best Video:

Carlotta France Blu-ray slightly better than Arbelos US Blu-ray, both are FiM-encodes with tradeoffs. Carlotta is best in dark scenes.

Curzon UK Blu-ray has squished AR
Bela Tarr Curzon Collection uses the same bad Curzon Blu-ray

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

Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

Best Video:

Carlotta France Blu-ray slightly better than Arbelos US Blu-ray, both are FiM-encodes with tradeoffs. Carlotta is best in dark scenes.

Curzon UK Blu-ray has squished AR
Bela Tarr Curzon Collection uses the same bad Curzon Blu-ray

High and Low poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

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

US Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Criterion Blu-ray : See caps. Criterion and 88 Films share a regraded and brighter master; Carlotta didn't follow the regrade and its image is very dark.

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

US Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Criterion Blu-ray : See caps. Criterion and 88 Films share a regraded and brighter master; Carlotta didn't follow the regrade and its image is very dark.

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion, HD transfer slightly better than Carlotta

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion, HD transfer slightly better than Carlotta

Little Big Man poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

Little Big Man poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

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

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray > UK Arrow > France Carlotta All three use the same source but all very minimal difference.

There is no comparison with Criterion Blu-ray

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

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray > UK Arrow > France Carlotta All three use the same source but all very minimal difference.

There is no comparison with Criterion Blu-ray

Cluny Brown poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2004 R2 Carlotta DVD

Cluny Brown poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2004 R2 Carlotta DVD

Bigger Than Life poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Carlotta DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Carlotta DVD

More Drama 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.

The Sound of Music poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

The Hidden Fortress poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

What Dreams May Come poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

US end credits song: US Universal Blu-ray

International end credits song: International Universal Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The US uses the end credits score “Beside You” from composer Michael Kamen, while in other markets it is Simply Red “Besides You”.

Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

US end credits song: US Universal Blu-ray

International end credits song: International Universal Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The US uses the end credits score “Beside You” from composer Michael Kamen, while in other markets it is Simply Red “Besides You”.

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl

The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.

Additional Info:

International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.

Best English-Friendly:

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.

International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl

The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.

Additional Info:

International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.

How Green Was My Valley poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

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.

Red Cliff II poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff II poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

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Early Summer (1951) backdrop

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