The Stranger Blu-ray from Olive Films on Aug. 29, 2017

[atcolomb]

On August 29th Olive Films might release The Stranger on blu-ray? Went to the Olive Films website but found no information on it. If true then this would be a third release of the film but it's sad no Ambersons on blu-ray yet.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/49911/s ... 19462.html

[RayKelly]

THE STRANGER, due Aug. 29 from Olive Films on Blu-ray, DVD.
EXTRAS
New audio commentary by Nora Fiore
“The Stranger: Murderers Among Us” – essay by Dr. Jennifer Lynde Barker

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (optional English subtitles)
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 95 mins
VIDEO: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W

[Roger Ryan]

It will be interesting to see what source Olive uses for this release. The most recent Blu-ray edition (from Kino) came from a Library of Congress print which I believe dated back to the film's initial release in 1946. Despite some tram lines, a few missing frames, and, most regrettably, approximately 24 seconds of missing footage in the third act, the clarity of the transfer was the best The Stranger has seen on home video. All other versions I've seen appear to have been sourced from re-release prints from the 50s which truncate the final shot (in order to eliminate the on-screen text notating RKO Pictures as the film's distributor) and are, at least, a generation removed from the Library of Congress print.

[atcolomb]

Still have the Laserlight dvd release with the Tony Curtis intro and wearing the black gloves. Will buy this new release and compare it to the Kino when I have it.

[cinescot]

It will be interesting to see what source Olive uses for this release. The most recent Blu-ray edition (from Kino) came from a Library of Congress print which I believe dated back to the film's initial release in 1946. Despite some tram lines, a few missing frames, and, most regrettably, approximately 24 seconds of missing footage in the third act, the clarity of the transfer was the best The Stranger has seen on home video. All other versions I've seen appear to have been sourced from re-release prints from the 50s which truncate the final shot (in order to eliminate the on-screen text notating RKO Pictures as the film's distributor) and are, at least, a generation removed from the Library of Congress print.

I think all of Olive Film's releases are licensed from either Paramount or MGM so I can see this release using the MGM source as opposed to the LOC print. If this is the case, it will be interesting to see how it compares to the Kino.

[atcolomb]

Olive Films replied to a comment today on its Facebook page: "Our DVD and Blu-ray will feature an Olive Films restoration based on an MGM source." Sounds like good news.

[atcolomb]

Blu-ray.com already has a review of the new disc and says "This is the third time The Stranger transitions to Blu-ray in the United States and I have to say that it is the very best presentation of the film that I have seen to date. Simply put, it is the only presentation that actually has strong organic qualities that make the film look like film".

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Stran ... 17/#Review

[Roger Ryan]

DVDBeaver has done a comparison of the various Blu-ray releases:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_ ... lu-ray.htm

While the new Olive release looks like the best overall, it appears to have less clarity of detail than the Kino release. This seems inevitable since, as noted above, I believe the MGM master is a generation down from the Library of Congress print (used for the Kino transfer). For this reason, I question Blu-ray.com's assessment that the Olive release looks more like "film" than the Kino. Still, having the entire movie without tram lines and scratches is a big plus; it's just frustrating that this public domain film will never be valuable enough to warrant a proper restoration combining the best of the existing prints.

[atcolomb]

It is frustrating that after 3 blu-rays it can still look better. I guess we should be thankful The Stranger got the Blu-ray treatment.

[DexyMan]

Does anyone know if the last shot is trimmed?

[atcolomb]

Just received the Olive release and did a a/b comparison with my two Blu-ray players and the Olive release has a darker less detailed picture. The ending on the Kino has the screen credit International Pictures, Released by RKO while the Olive does not. One day I will listen to the Olive commentary but overall I prefer the Kino release.

[Roger Ryan]

...The ending on the Kino has the screen credit International Pictures, Released by RKO while the Olive does not...

To answer the question posed by "DexyMan", I feel certain this means that the Olive release trims the final close-up of Edward G. Robinson which continued for a few more seconds under the "International Pictures...Released by RKO" superimposed credit on the original 1946 release (represented by the Library of Congress print used for the Kino release).