DVD

French version: Criterion Blu-ray (Carlotta has no English subtitles)

German version: Filmmuseum DVD

Carlotta Films corrects the mistakes of Criterion due to the compression on dark scenes and gives the gorgeous transfer of the restoration a better encode/compression and more bitrate.

The German cut, titled Lola Montez, is considered by Ophüls scholars such as Jonathan Rosenbaum, Dan Sallitt and Tag Gallagher to be superior to the French cut. It has only been reissued on the Filmmuseum DVD.

BFI newer master than Criterion (standalone and boxset)

Sony still has the DCP see MoMA

Artificial Eye DVD probably better

Criterion > France ESC Blu-ray

Hammer & Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray are confirmed by Randy Miller to be identical down to the encode, the only difference being different studio logos.

Warner Bros 2002 DVD has the best sounding mono

The Universal HD master is appalling. This is a large format early Technirama film that has been hit with a massive amount of DNR resulting in a smeary appearance throughout with little detail. On one hand it is still a better scan than the old DVD with better color and element issues addressed. On the other it is barely above the DVD upscaled in other moments. The mono audio has been horribly processed to sound thin, canned and lacking in overall fidelity. The DVD clearly uses the same source element for picture and sound and here the sound is left alone. It sounds miles better. The Kino Lorber Blu-ray is technically the best US release but this master has been released in Europe where it likely has better encoding. The Kino Lorber Blu-ray adds a basic commentary. This film needs a proper transfer and audio presentation desperately. The HD master is so lackluster that the DVD despite its age is arguably preferable in visuals and certainly far superior in audio.

BFI has boosted contrast and crushed blacks

StudioCanal Blu-ray > Criterion, contrast is more accurate according to my (vanshady) viewing of 4K DCP as well as this post

Criterion/StudioCanal Blu-ray > BFI. New restoration unreleased.