No official release
No official edition exists. Anything circulating comes from unofficial sources, so there is no release this site can recommend.
Best video release
Very rough unofficial VHS rip exists online.
UCLA has complete 16mm safety print but no release or restoration yet https://search.library.ucla.edu/permalink/01UCS_LAL/tk6osu/alma99122723506533
Compare the discs
About the film
This is not a Clara Bow vehicle, and yet it is clearly the aspect/asset of Clara Bow which elevates a fairly serious melodrama to a timeless and profound social statement. Opening the film on death row where the handsome youth awaits the chair, a stirring test of the legal system evolves after two elite types conspire to expose its inadequacies. Elite, jaded society lawyer Gordon Harrington fabricates a murder, implicating an entirely "hired" fall-guy, one Dan O'Connor, while the bored playboy-type hides away on a yacht until the points are proven and the legal system has been disgraced. Naturally, something goes wrong, the playboy really turns up murdered, and O'Connor is now the accused, imprisoned murderer scheduled to be hanged.
Director: James P. Hogan
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Flicker Alley Blu-ray Focus on Clara Bow according to their calendar
Directors: Kathy Levitt & Christine Lesiak & Michie Gleason
Video format: HD Streaming
UCLA Official HD Streaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdp5C-kgbd0
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Director: Nick Elliot
Video format: HD Streaming
UCLA HD Streaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnNsO9KFq4
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Director: David García
Video format: Only Unofficial Sources
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Unofficial Youtube
New UCLA restoration no release yet
Director: Frank Tashlin
Video format: HD Streaming
UCLA official HD Streaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-0VXePcJcM
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Director: Sid Laverents
Video format: HD Streaming
UCLA Official HD Streaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mblxjfh5kE
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Video format: HD Streaming
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Official HD Streaming by UCLA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInIK4k2na4
Official HD Streaming by UCLA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInIK4k2na4
Restored from 35mm negative
More Drama on Blu-ray
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Director: Rob Reiner
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab) · instagram.com (opens in a new tab)
> US Kino Lorber/Germany Capelight - caps and audio comparison on this page. Discussion is still ongoing about the 2.0 but as none of the three 4Ks seem to have the true original mix, I think it's fair to leave them all in the blue tier for now and only note that Kino Lorber has the worst PQ.
The initial release of the Capelight 4K mediabook had some playback issues with Dolby Vision on Panasonic devices due to an encoding error, the HDR10 apparently works fine, see Capelight’s official response here.
The 4K master has a shot at the very end of the movie (on James Caan's face) that looks incredibly soft and not good at all. This was visible on the DCP as well so it might just be a source issue rather than being the fault of Kino, Capelight or Arrow.
Director: Orson Welles
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · blah-ray.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)
WB Europe 4K Blu-ray
WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)
Theatrical Cut: Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray
Redux Cut: Lionsgate vs Eagle Pictures?
Final Cut: Lionsgate or Eagle Pictures, both are not great (visible chroma noise)
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Theatrical: Germany 4K Blu-ray/US Blu-ray DD 5.1 (1979 mix)
In the Lionsgate US/UK 6-disc set, there are 4 discs of the main feature. For whatever reason, the 4K discs lack the *original track. The Germany 4K Blu-ray release is different on this matter.
UBD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0
UBD: Redux/Theatrical: Atmos
BD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0
BD: Redux/Theatrical: Dtru5.1 (Redux mix?), DD5.1 (?), DD5.1 (Theatrical only), DD2.0 (downmix??)
As a result the Theatrical Cut has 4 tracks, The Redux has 3. Differences are unclear.
BD: Hearts of Darkness
BD: Special Features
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Warner Bros 2024 Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray/ Warner Bros 2023 Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray (replacement disc)
All foreign language tracks were pitched too low, replacement disc and Ultimate Knockout Collection disc fixed the error.
The Steelbook and UK standard edition are the same disc as the 2023 knockout collection.
Original Stereo mix: Columbia Pictures LaserDisc, Sony 4K Blu-ray
5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray, Sony Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Original Stereo mix: Columbia Pictures LaserDisc, Sony 4K Blu-ray
5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray, Sony Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Director: Sylvester Stallone
2024 Ultimate Knockout Collection Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray Box Set
> 2023 Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray
2023 disc has a brief moment where the aspect ratio changes from 1.85:1 to 1.78:1, 2024 release fixed the error
Both cuts of the movie are on the same disc and don’t appear to be seamlessly branched.
The Steelbook and UK standard edition are the same disc as the 2023 knockout collection.
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