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The Lady from Shanghai (1948)

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

1991 Columbia VHS (slightly)

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Sony:

if compared to all BDs except the Indicator

Solid
Sony:

if compared to the Indicator BD

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2018

TSPDT

2026: #558
2025: #551
2024: #542
2023: #534
2022: #534

Length

87 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

4 months ago
Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

1991 Columbia VHS (slightly)

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Sony:

if compared to all BDs except the Indicator

Solid
Sony:

if compared to the Indicator BD

Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2018

TSPDT
2026: #558
2025: #551
2024: #542
2023: #534
2022: #534
Length
87 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
4 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
Fantasia poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Censored: 2010 Disney Blu-ray
Uncensored: 35mm Scan

Best Video:

Censored: 2010 Disney Blu-ray see caps
Uncensored: 35mm Scan

Best Audio:
  • 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

Best English-Friendly:

Censored: 2010 Disney Blu-ray
Uncensored: 35mm Scan

Best Video:

Censored: 2010 Disney Blu-ray see caps
Uncensored: 35mm Scan

Best Audio:
  • 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

A Star Is Born poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical cut / Roadshow cut: 35mm scans

Restored cut: WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical cut / Roadshow cut: 35mm scans

Restored cut: WB Blu-ray

A Star Is Born poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical cut / Roadshow cut: 35mm scans

Restored cut: WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical cut / Roadshow cut: 35mm scans

Restored cut: WB Blu-ray

Bride of Frankenstein poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Universal Complete Legacy Collection 4K Blu-ray set on September 26 2026

Best Audio:

?

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Universal Complete Legacy Collection 4K Blu-ray set on September 26 2026

Best Audio:

?

Frankenstein poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Universal Complete Legacy Collection 4K Blu-ray set on September 26 2026

Best Audio:

1993 CIC Video LaserDisc

Frankenstein poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Universal Complete Legacy Collection 4K Blu-ray set on September 26 2026

Best Audio:

1993 CIC Video LaserDisc

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.

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

Paramount Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

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

Paramount Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Before Sunrise poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio 

Germany Blu-ray is part of a 3-film box set like the Criterion but by StudioCanal 

Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio 

Germany Blu-ray is part of a 3-film box set like the Criterion but by StudioCanal 

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

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release, including the 2010 2D Blu-ray, has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.

The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).

The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.

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

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release, including the 2010 2D Blu-ray, has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.

The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).

The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.

The Shop Around the Corner poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release

Strangers on a Train poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1987 WB LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1987 WB LaserDisc

More from Orson Welles

See more →
The Trial poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal: Although Criterion is low-pass filtered, StudioCanal exhibits very clear and distracting macroblocking.

Best Audio:

TBD: UHDs sound muffled, but old YT clips sound clear. Need to look into DVDs and possibly VHS.

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

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal: Although Criterion is low-pass filtered, StudioCanal exhibits very clear and distracting macroblocking.

Best Audio:

TBD: UHDs sound muffled, but old YT clips sound clear. Need to look into DVDs and possibly VHS.

Touch of Evil poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

The Magnificent Ambersons poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Chimes at Midnight poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion HD transfer, not sure if Spain is newer

Best Audio:

2015 Mr Bongo Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion HD transfer, not sure if Spain is newer

Best Audio:

2015 Mr Bongo Blu-ray

Citizen Kane poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

Citizen Kane poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

The Hearts of Age poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k resto

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k resto

F for Fake poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray is new 4K master

F for Fake poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray is new 4K master

More from Sony

See more →
Enough poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Starz is Streaming in HD with OAR

Or Sony Special Edition DVD

Best Video:

Starz is Streaming in HD with OAR

Or Sony Special Edition DVD

Enough poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Starz is Streaming in HD with OAR

Or Sony Special Edition DVD

Best Video:

Starz is Streaming in HD with OAR

Or Sony Special Edition DVD

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

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Commentary: 88 Films is at a very low volume level. The other BDs like the Sony do not have this problem.

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

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Commentary: 88 Films is at a very low volume level. The other BDs like the Sony do not have this problem.

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

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

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

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Before Midnight poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Criterion Blu-ray uses the same transfer as Sony but the encoding is slightly worse than Sony and barely noticeable see caps 

Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray in viewing looks very similar to both the Criterion and Sony caps, but no side by side comparison available

Additional Info:

Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray is part of a 3-film box set like the Criterion 

Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Criterion Blu-ray uses the same transfer as Sony but the encoding is slightly worse than Sony and barely noticeable see caps 

Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray in viewing looks very similar to both the Criterion and Sony caps, but no side by side comparison available

Additional Info:

Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray is part of a 3-film box set like the Criterion 

Whiplash poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Whiplash poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

District 9 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Metropolitan 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Metropolitan 4K Blu-ray, glitch fixed from Sony

The Sony 4K Blu-ray has a glitch around the 40 min mark where a shot is repeated; no word from Sony about a replacement at the time of writing, i.e. 8/1/8/22

District 9 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Metropolitan 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Metropolitan 4K Blu-ray, glitch fixed from Sony

The Sony 4K Blu-ray has a glitch around the 40 min mark where a shot is repeated; no word from Sony about a replacement at the time of writing, i.e. 8/1/8/22

The Dark Crystal poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc, Shout! Factory's 2.0 is a downmix of the 5.1

Additional Info:

Old Sony DVD has an isolated score

Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc, Shout! Factory's 2.0 is a downmix of the 5.1

Additional Info:

Old Sony DVD has an isolated score

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

The Fifth Element poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs 2017 Sony 4K Blu-ray (20th annivesary) vs 2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray (Luc Besson Box Set). The first two have totally different texture.

  • StudioCanal: More natural looking. Better defined grain. The white balance is rather yellow/orange. Some say it is closer to the original theatrical release.

  • 2017 Sony: More vibrant and impactful. The white balance is rather neutral. While color noise and grain can look busy because it had been sharpened and had micro-contrast boosted.

  • 2025 Sony: Supposedly an improved version of the 2017 release? Shows around 20mbps-higher overall video bitrate. caps

Best Audio:

2025 Sony US 4K Blu-ray has the original 5.1.

The Atmos on the Sony release is reportedly better than StudioCanal's.

Additional Info:

Disc info of the box set discs. This film have recieved multiple encode/versions in different regions over the years. The 2017 Germany4K Blu-ray is encoded differently than the 2017 Sony but not better. Also, the same can be said to 2024 France Gaumont 4K Blu-ray while comparing to the 2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray omits all the extras from previous releases, being barebones.

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs 2017 Sony 4K Blu-ray (20th annivesary) vs 2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray (Luc Besson Box Set). The first two have totally different texture.

  • StudioCanal: More natural looking. Better defined grain. The white balance is rather yellow/orange. Some say it is closer to the original theatrical release.

  • 2017 Sony: More vibrant and impactful. The white balance is rather neutral. While color noise and grain can look busy because it had been sharpened and had micro-contrast boosted.

  • 2025 Sony: Supposedly an improved version of the 2017 release? Shows around 20mbps-higher overall video bitrate. caps

Best Audio:

2025 Sony US 4K Blu-ray has the original 5.1.

The Atmos on the Sony release is reportedly better than StudioCanal's.

Additional Info:

Disc info of the box set discs. This film have recieved multiple encode/versions in different regions over the years. The 2017 Germany4K Blu-ray is encoded differently than the 2017 Sony but not better. Also, the same can be said to 2024 France Gaumont 4K Blu-ray while comparing to the 2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray omits all the extras from previous releases, being barebones.

Easy A poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Easy A poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

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The Lady from Shanghai (1948) backdrop