And it looks terrific!
The track, presumably from original stems, has been re-recorded to DTS-HD MA 5.1, and that also works beautifully, although I’m certain that some will call for the original monaural track, which should have been included. Interestingly, checking the previous Blu-ray – tracks were represented as 7.1 as well as restored monaural. I’m willing to lose the 7.1 track for a quality image, but it would be nice to have a variant of the 1950 original.
Imagery is highly resolved, with beautiful color(s) – I have no idea at this point how well they match the original colors, so I won’t go there – superbly clean and stable.
Part of the Disney 100th Anniversary – did these studio owners all meet at the same restaurant in Burbank for lunch in 1923? – it (hopefully) sends a message to collectors of animated cinema that a new perspective may be on the horizon, and by that I mean releasing software that actually appears to mimic original 35mm prints.
Cinderella is a wonderful start. One down, ten to go, and then we can hope for the omnibus and mixed media, and yes, I’ll mention one of my favorite films – Song of the South.
Now to the important part. For those who are more concerned with the non-disc attributes.
The slipcover is a lovely affair. Not to be sexist, but it’s a bit girly. All power blue and magenta/pink, with an under-layer of metallic iridescence, and blind embossing added for good measure. Collectible? Quite possibly. If Disney were to go without the slipcover for the second pressing I can see these going for thousands of dollars (asking price) on eBay.
Even the reverse of the slip has that same beautiful iridescence, but per my usual complaints, Disney still seems to believe that putting a production date (beyond “2023 Ultra HD Release,” and actually allowing viewers to know that this film was produced 73 years ago, may turn them away.
The fact that this was created 73+ years ago, by hand, is not only a part of its charm, but a minor miracle.
Image – 5 (HDR)
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k – 7
Worth your attention – 10
Upgrade from Blu-ray – Yes
Slipcover rating – 4
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
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Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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