North by Northwest UK 50th AE Blu-ray re-issues

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Hi folks,

I noticed several mistakes with your listing of the "North By Northwest" 50th Anniversary Edition UK Blu-Ray. Most importantly, it features neither the "Cary Grant: A Class Apart" documentary nor a music-only track. There also is no Japanese audio or Japanese subtitles. I don't know how many of these differences carry over to other editions, but this seems to be the standard UK/German/French/Italian release, so you might want to do a close check on all data regarding this version worldwide.

Also it might be useful to add a note on the massively confusing menu structure. In the worst example of lazy Blu-Ray menu programming I have yet encountered (I really don't get why Blu-Rays can't have clearly structured, multi-page menus like DVDs), the film starts directly, there is no main menu, you can only call up a pop-up menu for all the sound, subtitle and extra features while the movie is running. If you select "top menu" on your remote you are taken to a separate menu for the extras only. I really don't know who programs this crap, excuse my French.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

I should also add that while the pictures of the Blu-Ray backcover featured on amazon.co.uk show the text listing the extras as including the Cary Grant documentary, my otherwise identical 50th Ann. Edition, purchased via amazon, omits this mention. So I don't know whether this is some kind of second printing omitting a prior extra, or if they are using a pre-release cover that was later changed, but at the moment amazon is actually doing false advertising here.

[Samuel_Scott]

The Japanese subtitles and audio is definitely there, but they are hidden and only selectable when your player is set to Japanese. I'll take a closer look at this shortly.

I know there were issues with two releases using the exact same barcode etc. One is 46GB which does include the music track, and one is 44GB and does not. This is confirmed on Blu-ray forums where one member does not have an isolated score, and another does.

I will pull my copy out asap

[Samuel_Scott]

Also found this info:

The "North By Northwest" disc in the 16 movie Ultimate Filmmaker tin can edition is missing the Music-Only Audio Track- which is on the standalone UK Warner Bros. release.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

The Japanese subtitles and audio is definitely there, but they are hidden and only selectable when your player is set to Japanese. I'll take a closer look at this shortly.

I know there were issues with two releases using the exact same barcode etc. One is 46GB which does include the music track, and one is 44GB and does not. This is confirmed on Blu-ray forums where one member does not have an isolated score, and another does.

I will pull my copy out asap

Interesting... and mucho confusing. Then maybe there is also one edition with the Cary Grant doc and one without, but no way to differentiate between them, as both are labelled as the 50th Anniversary Edition?

[Samuel_Scott]

Pulled my disc out. No isolated score, but DOES have the Cary Grant: A Class Apart documentary, listed underneath the commentary on the extras menu.

I bought this version at Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Northwes ... lpoirev-21

Purchased 7th May 2015.

[Samuel_Scott]

Numbers on my disc - 2000036061 / 7000028101 / BD-01

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Pulled my disc out. No isolated score, but DOES have the Cary Grant: A Class Apart documentary, listed underneath the commentary on the extras menu.

I bought this version at Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Northwes ... lpoirev-21

Purchased 7th May 2015.

My disc is the same, identical barcode. But no Cary Grant doc, and it's not mentioned on the backcover either. Otherwise the cover is identical. The numbers on my disc, whatever they mean, are BVP15139 7000028101R2/L1 O2.

[Samuel_Scott]

The numbers on the disc might be the only well to tell the releases apart (they would signify different pressings). This is going to take some work.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

The numbers on the disc might be the only well to tell the releases apart (they would signify different pressings). This is going to take some work.

Well, if the UK edition never had the music-only track, then the releases can be differentiated via the backcover, which obviously omits the Cary Grant doc on the newer releases. Well, not envying you for putting that comparison in order, mate... I've also written a short note to amazon, suggesting they remove the picture of the backcover, as it can constitute false advertising under these circumstances.

[Samuel_Scott]

These reviews of the UK disc from very well respected sites mention the isolated score:
http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.p ... ntid=71811
http://www.cineoutsider.com/reviews/blu ... hwest.html (this is the UK release although not particularly clear)

I have made a post here reaching out for help for numbers on original pressing - http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=104462

[Rafael_Kuehn]

These reviews of the UK disc from very well respected sites mention the isolated score:
http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.p ... ntid=71811
http://www.cineoutsider.com/reviews/blu ... hwest.html (this is the UK release although not particularly clear)

I have made a post here reaching out for help for numbers on original pressing - http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=104462

Ouch - so 3 different versions? One with isolated score and Grant doc, one sans score but with doc, and then one lacking both?

[Samuel_Scott]

Seems that way. When did you purchase yours?

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Seems that way. When did you purchase yours?

Arrived today.

[Samuel_Scott]

Okay, so we can kind of say that we can nail the releases down to 2009, 2015 (probably much earlier) and 2016.

[Samuel_Scott]

Well, there goes the unique numbers in the disc idea... Someone has posted there's has a "music-only track" and the documentary, but has the same numbers as my release on the disc.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Okay, so we can kind of say that we can nail the releases down to 2009, 2015 (probably much earlier) and 2016.

Why not just contact Warner Home Video and ask them for clarification? This is their major boo-boo, shouldn't be on us to waste hours of our lives trying to figure out their messed-up release history.

homeentertainmentpublicity@warnerbros.com

[Samuel_Scott]

In my experience, the major studios are never helpful in this regard unfortunately, Warner and Universal in particular. Smaller companies always more than helpful.

[Samuel_Scott]

I've made notes.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

In my experience, the major studios are never helpful in this regard unfortunately, Warner and Universal in particular. Smaller companies always more than helpful.

I can imagine. Amazon should be peeved about this though, as by default and without notice by Warner they are making themselves susceptible to false advertising claims. They'd better call Saul...