Journey into Fear (1943): Restored Cut - BD25

[The Aluminum Falcon]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Insofar as deciding which cut to use for which scene, I more or less followed the Munich Film Museum since I trusted that they did their homework

Funny that you had both versions and didn't even notice it. If you ever rip it, lmk! I used a friend's LD rip of the US cut and the Spanish DVD for the European cut (also probably LD-sourced or at least an LD-era master). I'd be curious if yours surpasses it.

To be honest, the sexier/more political movie that Welles was trying to make probably would have gone over better in the 60s or today. The cast is damn charming despite the censorship.

At the risk of derailing my own thread lol, what other Welles films do you have on VHS or LD @captainsolo ? With the new Kino 4K of TOUCH OF EVIL, I'm curious if we could do better with audio.

Also (more derailing): I also reconstructed the Corinth and Public Domain cuts of MR. ARKADIN with the European restoration of CONFIDENTIAL REPORT (better than the German BD which is just an upscale)

[captainsolo]

All I can do is capture audio currently. The Japanese LD has better audio despite being analog as the US LD has noise under every line of dialogue. The US LD is sharper with deeper black levels but also appears sharpened and has issues like every Image B&W LD transfer.

I only recently got the Japanese LD which is a double set with Ambersons. They’re all print transfers and the similar release of Kane is also an old print transfer. I capped the Kane analog audio and Moshrom and I agreed it wasn’t that good for audio.

Currently I have:
Kane-Criterion 1991 LD, vhs tapes, Japan analog LD, Warner BD, Criterion UHD.
Ambersons-Criterion 1989 ld, PCM CLV reissue, Japanese analog ld, Warner DVD, Criterion BD.
Journey into Fear-the two LDs. There was a Turner vhs release in 1991 but it is super rare and likely the same as the image LD.
The Stranger-rko ld, Kino bd, mgm dvd master
Lady from Shanghai-Mill creek bd, Indicator bd
Macbeth-Olive signature BD
Othello-criterion LD
Mr. Arkadin-criterion dvd set
Touch of Evil-Universal bd. I used to have both DVDs.
The Trial-German bd
F for Fake-Criterion LD

I think that’s everything. I’m still behind on some titles.

[The Aluminum Falcon]

Wow! Stellar collection. I have the following:

• Citizen Kane - various LDs, WB DVD, WB BD
  
• The Magnificent Ambersons - first Criterion LD, Warner DVD, JP IVC BD, Criterion BD
  
• Journey into Fear - Image LD, my friend's rip of his Image LD, ES DVD, and this preservation, of course!
  
• The Stranger - MGM DVD, Kino BD (still need to check out Olive BD!)
  
• Lady from Shanghai - TCM BD, Mill Creek BD
  
• Macbeth - Original Olive BD, French BD, Olive Signature BD
  
• Othello - Criterion LD, French BD, Criterion BD
  
• Mr. Arkadin - Criterion DVD, French BD, German BD
  
• Touch of Evil - Preview Cut LD, French Universal BD, MOC BD, US Universal BD, Kino 4K
  
• The Trial - Milestone DVD, UK BD (though there's an upcoming 4K this year)
  
• Chimes at Midnight - Studio Canal DVD, Mr. Bongo BD, Criterion BD
  
• Immortal Story - Mr. Bongo BD, Criterion BD
  
• F For Fake - Criterion BD
   
  
• The Third Man (yes, I know he didn't direct it) - LD
  

Let me know if you ever capture the JP LD of Journey into Fear. I might resync it to this project since I suspect it has better fidelity than this project's current audio (ES DVD/US LD).

Curious about your Stranger LD to hear if it's any better. The LD of Touch of Evil that I have has terrible audio, so you never know. Unsure if Othello's LD audio is better than the BD: wouldn't be surprised either way.

I've never seen a Lady from Shanghai LD AFAIK...