Geez, that's a major letdown. What a wasted opportunity. At least now I can stop holding off on buying it. I'll just grab whichever if the two versions I can find cheapest come X-Mas time, I guess.

i dunno...i do have feelings it's a new transfer..

I think DVD compare mentioned the republic and artisan versions were the same, didn't mention Paramount...

hmm...

Well, that's encouraging news. LOL geez, you'd think Paramount would send out some sort of press release...this things coming out soon...

It just says they have been doing work...doesn't state at all that it was for this dvd.

I'm sure he thought so as well...his post is from back in August, while the specs came out mid september. I would hope that it does carry over to the dvd, but i wouldn't expect it either. Seems that paramount is just doing a port.

With all due respect, Mr. Harris is also just wrong sometimes....

(E.g., claims he made that Criterion's CANTERBURY TALE wasn't pictureboxed and that VCI has never issued a progressive transfer, etc.)

Wasn't IAWL originally shot in 1.33/1? :confused:
It was made in 1945 and not many (not any?) films were made in Scope back then.

Are there any reviews of this yet? :)

It's OAR is 1.37:1. I think you're misunderstanding. We don't want it in anamorphic widescreen, just a remastered OAR transfer to improve on the current release. It looks like Paramount is merely porting over the old transfer rather than opting for a newly restored one. Kinda lame on their part if indeed it's true.

I see your point :) However wasn't the "old" R1 transfer made from the original film negatives? The UK R2 looked even worse (it was taken from a video master AFAIK). Given the choice I'd go R1.

Yeah the old transfer isn't bad, but considering this is a new release, and a "60th Anniversary Edition" at that, you'd think they'd prepare a brand new transfer down-converted from HD (and a full HD one for HD-DVD/Blu-Ray) to go with it. As it looks now, this is shaping up to be a pretty worthless "upgrade" which is a real shame considering that IaWL is one of the most beloved films in American cinematic history. Paramount is so lackluster when it comes to their classic catalog and their production of Special Edition DVD's. They're not the absolute worst studio out there, but put it this way: You know Warner Bros. would have had a field day with this title - a packed Two-Disc SE at the very least.

dvdbeaver says new transfer, that is also noticeably better in screenshots :

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCom...derfullife.htm

Hmmm...well, the stats show it has improved, but I have to say, I think I prefer the screenshots from the Republic version.

^ Good find!
The transfer is new after all, but still no new extras.
At least they did something for this release, I'm not sure I'm going to get this right away though. Good to know anyway, thanks.

I'd be curious to see if the audio has been improved at all. There are several moments (one obvious one about 12-13 mins into the film) where there is muffled sound in the Republic release. That could definitely use a good scrubbing, assuming the source is in adequate condition.

The Republic version is much better, I'm glad i got that one. Will not be upgrading to this new 60th anniversary.

This is curious. I would have thought that Paramount's 60th release would have a better picture due to a higher average bitrate: 6.41 mb/s vs. the Republic version with a bitrate of 4.19 mb/s.

From the screenshots the new one looks better to my eyes, but not enough to make me unhappy with the Republic DVD I own.

the new one appears to be sharper with better blacks, any particular reason people are saying the republic looks better ?

Because they want an excuse not to upgrade. The Paramount version is obviously better, just look at the newspaper text in the fifth series of screen captures. Not only is the Paramount version sharper, but the text is actually black as opposed to the gray of the Republic version. The reviewer also mentioned that the differences are more apparent while actually watching the movie.

is this the only movie by Frank Capra that paramount owns the rights to?

I would tend to agree. From the Beaver review: At $13.76, ($11.00 during DDD November sale), this upgrade is a no-brainer for me.

The new Paramount version is definitley better, no question. If you love the film as I do you will want to upgrade. Also notice a little more to see on the sides which is also mentioned.

Its $12.88 @ Pacific, shall I order from them?