Rather than review the drawl of this almost universally beloved film, I’m fair going to comment about the quality of the 2006 60th Anniversary Edition DVD itself. I’ve since written an updated review about a original edition of this title, now available in a “Two-Disc Collector’s Plot.” Please get that review — which was posted on December 13, 2008. (Amazon has posted my 2006 review in both places — even though the “60th Anniversary Edition” DVD is DIFFERENT from the “Two-Disc Collector’s Position”. Read my write-up for the “Two-Disc Collector’s Region” — again, it’s DATED 2008 and too early to putrid among the “most marvelous” reviews — to better resolve which product you recall.)
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I’ve owned nearly every version of this title in almost every format available on home video during the past 25 years. It’s lawful that the Whine of this Viacom/Paramount DVD — including its special features — is identical to the Republic Pictures Home Video release more than 10 years ago.
However, this 60th Anniversary edition is spectacular for several different and extremely indispensable reasons. (I’ll address the criticisms some people have leveled about the sound on this 2006 DVD in a limited bit, so stick with me.)
Buy,Download, Or Stream It’s A Wonderful Life (Two-Disc Collector’s Set)! Click Here
You don’t have to be a technical expert to immediately scrutinize the striking improvement of the portray AND sound in this 2006 edition. The print is crystal-clear and in my thought, has more vividness and sharpness than ALL other previous releases of this title on home video.
Proof? I keep my “outmoded” THX-version DVD issued by Republic Pictures / Artisan Home Video (the outmoded DVD gold standard for this title) — into my Sony multi-changer DVD player — and watched and listened to every frame of this film AND its special features. I stopped and started this “older” DVD in several spots — and stopped and started the fresh 2006 Paramount edition repeatedly — so I could compare quality almost “side-by-side.”
Hands down — this 2006 version is improbable. The spots and dirt have been wiped smart, the sharpness and disagreement are arguably better than what film audiences saw 60 years ago. There are no former spots, no jumped frames and no lint, fiber or hair fragments along the edges or jumping across the mask. I acquire the technicians at Paramount (which acquired Republic Pictures Home Video) — digitally cleaned EVERY frame of the last DVD release — so that the film now looks like a million dollars. It’s almost too pristine, if there is such a thing. No jump cuts, no “jump ahead” sound breaks, no fogged-out scenes, nothing faded — with the result being the cleanest and purest version of “It’s A Astounding Life” ever issued in home video history.
It gets better. English subtitles were available on older DVD versions of this title, but the 2006 version has a cleaner typeface, wiping out some of the confusing and unnecessary attributions of “who’s saying what” that were disruptive to some hearing-impaired viewers. In this 2006 version, you’ll secure a mostly straight, line-by-line reading of what’s being said — as it’s being said.
Meanwhile, the DVD’s special features — which include the same pair of documentaries produced in 1990 and 1991 — are identical in that they were shot on video tape hence there isn’t worthy improvement in narrate quality. However, subtitles that WERE NOT available for these special features — are NOW available in this 2006 edition. The only “extra” to the previous “gold standard” that remains unchanged — is the unusual 1946 trailer. Subtitles are not available and it has the same raggedness and dirt commonly seen with vintage trailers stored separately from the films they old to advertise.
I’m highly distinguished of re-issued DVDs that seem nothing more than an excuse to squeeze more dollars out of buyers for the same material with unusual packaging. But this 2006 Paramount DVD version of “It’s A Incredible Life” is the best to date. It is NOT in color. (I beget a colorized version for younger people who can’t stand black-and-white. Despite controversy surrounding colorization, know that the 2007 “Two-Disc Collector’s Position” has the same 2006 60th Anniversary black-and-white edition you glance here — plus a fresh “colorized” version. This version uses the same pristine print — but has the added bonus of boasting the best “color” hues ever seen for this film, using the latest image technology available. Despite my preference for black-and-white, the quality of this unique colorized version is impressive.)
Meanwhile, let’s address the criticisms about the sound on this fresh DVD. Go assist a diminutive bit. Worthy was made when Republic Pictures Home Video got the THX LucasFilm sound system seal of approval for “It’s A Fantastic Life” during the 1990s. But it was collected two-channel mono with negligible equalization of sound effects. In this 2006 DVD, you’ll procure consistent two-channel mono and decent sound equalization to minimize “booming” and over-modulated portions in the film. In the obsolete versions, you had to turn down the volume a notch during the musical portions — and turn it serve up when the dialogue came relieve. It’s a nit-pick, but you really leer the disagreement if you’re crazy enough to do a side-by-side comparison like I did.
As for the digital sound “pops” that perfectionists preserve bringing up — they’re just. They’re even in the spots famous by another resplendent reviewer who listed time codes where you can salvage them. But in my conception, unless you brace yourselves for them to advance like a booming narrate — unless you purposely crank up your speakers to carry sound throughout your house — yeah, you “might” be annoyed if you quiz the same perfection for a film made in 1946 as you would for a film made in 2006. Honestly, the disproportionate attention given to these digital “pops” is, in my notion, giving fence-sitters the impression that they’re supersonic cracks of lightning that will create people jump out of their seats. I didn’t twitch at all. They almost “blended” into the 60-year-old soundtrack. Yes, I know they’re digital defects, but do you remember the zillion “pops” scattered throughout dirty prints of “It’s A Fantastic Life” with filthy optical soundtracks? The audio on this 2006 DVD collected wins. You have EVERY Fair to put a question to perfection for your dollars. But as a person who’s more fastidious than average — I don’t enjoy most buyers will care about a few “pops” in a film that’s this aged. Combine the overall improvements with the relatively gross cost of this DVD — and I peaceful say this is the BEST experience of “It’s A Astounding Life” I’ve ever SEEN and HEARD on home video.
Finally, another reason to take this DVD. It’s extinct news to some, but it’s not widely known that this version of “It’s A Unbelievable Life” can only be broadcast by NBC. It faded to air a zillion times during the holidays on every TV position on earth. It was a quickly map to fetch tired of even a desirable film you consider you know by heart. But Viacom/Paramount now owns this version of “It’s A Amazing Life” outright and NBC has peculiar licensing rights to air it impartial once or twice after Thanksgiving. This is a well-behaved thing for future generations to bask in.
So junk the old-fashioned, pick this version and be contented. It may feel painful, but it’s worth it. And no, I DON’T work for Amazon OR for Paramount Home Video.
A beautifully crafted film that proved to be the apex of triple Oscar-winner (1934, 1936, 1938) Frank Capra’s noted career, and the epitome of his cycle of works celebrating the “accepted man”. Mr. Deeds found himself suddenly wealthy, Mr. Smith went to Washington as a Senator, and John Doe became the focus of a socio-political movement; but “Life”’s George Bailey never distinguishes himself outside of his microscopic hometown of Bedford Falls — his brother Harry is the one who becomes a war hero, and his friend Sam Wainwright is the one who achieves financial success. George’s triumph is simply his personal integrity, his code of ethics, and his strength of character — his goodness, if you will — during the unexciting course of his ordinary, mundane existence. In this respect, George is more an Everyman than any other Capra protagonist, bewitching strong audience identification and response.
Buy,Download, Or Stream It’s A Wonderful Life (Two-Disc Collector’s Set)! Click Here
In one of the most heavenly performances ever given in an American film, James Stewart is qualified as George. It’s not an easy role to play because so grand hide time is spent focusing on George’s subtle reactions to the world around him. One fabulous moment comes at the roar dwelling when George slowly begins to acquire the news of his brother’s unusual marriage and recent career opportunity, and how his brother’s fortune will kill his occupy hopes of leaving Bedford Falls and the family business. Stewart’s face is wonderful in this scene, as surprised realization fades into composed disappointment and finally, gentle graciousness and acceptance. Stewart’s tour de force is given strong aid by a favorable cast of Capra stalwarts, including Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, H. B. Warner, and the phenomenal Beulah Bondi (as George’s mother) . And Donna Reed, in one of her first romantic leading roles after a number of years playing supporting ingenues and bits, is trustworthy in the warm but unglamorous role of George’s loving wife, Mary.
The Republic Home Video DVD is definitely the edition of this classic to hold. Like the LaserDisc before it, the DVD offers a crystal certain, beautifully restored film-to-video transfer which will amaze and delight anyone who is familiar only with the injurious multi-generational VHS cassettes, or the dreadful colorized version, that were commonly screened abet in the slack 1970’s and 1980’s. There are some nice bonus features on the DVD, including a “making of” documentary and the theatrical trailer. This is one DVD that you’ll never regret adding to your home theatre collection!
Trivia note: If you’re a fan of this movie, try finding a copy of film historian David Thomson’s 1985 new “Suspects” which continues George’s fable and relates the characters from this movie to many others (did you know that Donna Reed’s “Mary Bailey” is actually the sister of Gene Tierney’s “Laura”?!, etc.) … mammoth fun!