Product Description

Studio: Video Communications Inc. Release Date: 11/03/2009 Run time: 86 minutes Rating: Nr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #743 in DVD
• Brand: VCI ENTERTAINMENT
• Released on: 2009-11-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
• Formats: Black & White, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Restored
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 86 minutes

Features

• New State-of-the-Art High Definition Film Transfer from the original 35mm negatives - fully digitally restored picture and sound! , Original Theatrical 1.33:1 Version Optional English & Spanish Subtitles , Optional Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1 , Audio Commentary by George Cole , Cast bios , BONUS!  Also Includes the Standard DVD with both 4x3 and 16x9 Versions Format: BLU-RAY DISC

Customer Reviews

Amazing!!!
I just got my copy today, and put it in after watching the Blu Ray of Forrest Gump. Trust me. You've never seen A Christmas Carol until you see this new Blu Ray. I was shocked and beside myself at how well this new restoration turned out. The detail is unreal, especially for a film that has always looked so bad. It's not flawless mind you, with the ocassional nick and scratch, but overall this is a beautiful transfer and worth every penny for an upgrade. The sound is quite nice as well. I prefer the original mono to the 5.1 track. Very clear and hiss free.

I Don't Understand The Raves Over this Blu-ray....
Let me start by offering my sincerest apologies for having to be the first reviewer to rate the newly restored Blu-ray release of the classic 1951 "A Christmas Carol" less than the 5 stars everyone else has given it. This English movie version of the beloved Dickens tale has rightfully earned the respect and admiration that it gets. There has never been a better acted or more moving film adaptation than this one...hands down!

Like so many other people who own some prior version of this classic, I was thrilled to learn that it was re-mastered on Blu-ray. I relied on these 6 favorable Amazon reviews to gain the confidence I needed to take a chance on purchasing this film, since it was hailed as looking and sounding better than it ever has. Despite some reviewers claiming that it was not without flaws, I took that chance. Well folks, when it comes to re-mastering older films it's a gamble. In my opinion, I felt I lost this bet. Yes, the film does seem brighter and in better focus. However I was not expecting to see the picture bending in certain frames or going in and out of focus between scene changes. I also did not expect to hear the obvious audio splices and drop-out like it did a few times. I'm not sure (or confident) that the re-mastering was made from the best possible sources; but if it was, then the sources have deteriorated horribly over time.

I wasn't expecting miracles (perhaps this is the best that this movie can be made to look), but can only give this Blu-ray release a lukewarm recommendation. I still adore this movie and always will, flaws and all. Happy Holidays to you all!

UPDATE: In response to a commentator of my review, I watched my older DVD version (also produced by VCI Home Video) and found that many of the defects that I mentioned were in the Blu-ray were non-existent in my older DVD. Notably, I'm referring to the bending and splices in the video and the audio drop-outs. Amazing! The Blu-ray improved the sharpness of the video but introduced defects at the same time. Clearly, the best sources were NOT used in the remastering.

The Best Version of Dickens' classic, ever
The most significant Christmas film ever made. Certainly the truest and most emotionally stirring adaptation of Dickens' classic to this day, and most certainly to come. How do I know this? Well, in the words of Tiny Tim, "I just think it". The aged condition of the film and the fact that it was shot in black and white lend a certain authenticity to it, as if it were actually filmed in the story's time period. Alastair Sim was born to play Scrooge. Even some of the finest actors can't (and won't) ever approach the level he set. He was the "model Scrooge". Sim was as equally convincing as a heartless miser as he was a man enlightened, redeemed and reborn. Other fine actors could play one or the other but not both, at least, not convincingly. Sim is also supported by a very strong cast and crew. This classic version has Heart; It has Spirit like no other; It has believability; It has purpose. Just the sight of a poor little boy (Tiny Tim) peering through a toy shop window and managing a smile even though he knows he'll never have any of the toys he sees will be indelibly etched into your conscience. The music during that scene will stay with you for many seasons to come. Somebody did a commendable job restoring this treasure. Even the standard DVD (also restored and included) looks and sounds far better than any prior home video release, but it's still not perfect. Nevertheless, great strides in its restoration were made and I highly recommend it. But as far as the story goes, watch it alone the first time, without interruption, and if you find yourself touched and perhaps rubbing a tear from your eye at the end when you hear the words, "Can you forgive a pig-headed old fool...", ahhh, you're there. Merry Christmas, "in keepin' with the situation".