This will probably just be the current SE disc along with a colorized version as well. No reason to pick this up, I'd get the current release for cheap as that drops in price. Unless that is you like nasty colorized films.

I'm holding out hope that it adds some extras to the previous release. The last version (best so far) just came out last November, but I traded it to someone. So I will probably be in for the 2-disc this year. Every time Christmas sneaks up on us, I have to have this movie...

I'm trying to imagine what the hell this would look like in color. "Wrong" is the answer I'm coming up with.

I may as well get this one. I don't have any of the previous editions, so this one looks like it's going to be the one to get. I don't care about the color version at all, but if the b&w is restored and looks even better I'm all for it.

Ditto. I never bought the other releases so I'll go for this one.

Looks like it comes with a cool slipcover... sold!

But really I'm in for the better picture. I only have one of the first releases and this title is easy to give way.

Since Jimmy Stewart was one of the bigger proponents against colorization of black and white movies, it seems wrong to have this release at all. Everyone who buys it will be implicitly endorsing the colorization of movies, even though the original version is included and even if that's the version you want.

Okay, it took me many years to buy this. Because I had bought it for my dad for Christmas in 1999, so every Christmas I would just watch his. I bought the one last year so when I finally move out I'd have my own copy. Now they release yet another one? The only way I will buy this one is if they add a commentary. I would like to see the colorized version, I hate when companies colorized movies, but I'm always interested in seeing it once, but I would not buy it just for that.

Last year's remaster from Paramount looks fantastic, even though it added nothing that wasn't on the first Artisan/Republic DVD.

This really deserves a commentary or two instead of a colorization. James Stewart specifically referenced this film as a reason for his opposition against colorization. I don't care how spiffy it looks, this is one movie that doesn't need color for enhancement.

I completely agree, I usually just like to see how it looks. But, would never watch it in color again. I hate hate hate hate when movies are colorized. This movie is a classic and completely deserves a full out special edition instead of these re-release after re-release just so Paramount can cash in every single Christmas.

Maybe this will be the year of the good SE for IAWL. Lord knows Warner would have decked this out with an excellent edition by now if this were their title. It's definitely in need of a good audio commentary for once.

I have the "60th Anniversary" release - I don't care about a colourised version.
I may double dip/upgrade if this is a genuine restoration (though I was happy with the 60th AE) and there are some good extras.

is this a new colorization or the old 80's master?

also agreed that colorization is a bad thing, but understand that they have to find some way to re-sell old stock.

come on HD paramount

Last year's remastered edition from Paramount was from the new restoration, so no re-restoring is necessary.

Oh boy, the 51st Anniversary Edition. I just re-bought this last year, so no thanks, I'll pass this time.

No Basaro - this is the first transfer of the film to high definition. It was newly restored and newly colorized by Legend Films, Inc. this year. The color process used is the latest and most advanced ever and was used by Scorsese for color effects in "The Aviator". Technically, this is certainly the highest quality B&W and color release of "It's A Wonderful Life:.

And I'm sure you had Frank Capra supervising that new colorization. It's funny to hear the terms "quality" and "color" when describing a film made in black and white that should only ever be shown in black and white.

Is there a phone number where I can DEMAND this will not be colorized?

I only want to see Jimmy Stewart in BLACK/WHITE face.

So, you're saying the B&W version has been restored this year? Don't care about the color version. The only thing that would get me to buy this is if the transfer is much improved from the 60th anniversary edition. Is that the case? 2 new transfers in 2 years, damn!

This is coming out in HD, maybe soon? Yeah, see below, this is an HD master, so perhaps there will be an improvement in the SD transfer too. Hmmm, can I say quad-dip, oh boy please no...

PJ - you certainly have that choice but you should not deprive others of the choice.

I'll probably pick it up since I don't have the movie on DVD yet; especially if the B&W transfer is better than the past releases.

I really don't have any desire to watch a colorized version.

I wasn't serious - I was poking fun at the Tom and Jerry thread.

I don't think they should colorize movies - but I won't lose sleep over it.

Hi everyone

According information I have Frank Capra wanted to colorize It's a Wonderful Life, and hired Colorization Inc, a division of Hal Roach studios, to perform the work. This was in 1986 and the colorization was a analogic poor process, with very limited color. Capra had his own desire to the colors to aplied to the colorization work, but when Hal Roach found the film was in public domain thay just ignore Capra and made the work by themselves to get all profit. So the first colorization had not the colors desired by Capra.
Also Hal Roach got Capra as a enemy, due their unfriendly manuever, of despise hin after realise the film was in public domain.

The second colorization of the film, in 1989, made by American Film Technologies (AFT), former Barry Sandrew's company prior to Legend Films, was autorized, usiing the first digital colorization process developed by Barry, that was the most advanced colorization technology in the 80's.
The question is: Was the second colorization complete color designed by Frank Capra? Is this third colorization, made by Legend Films, based in Frank Capra's color design?

Sure the new process have a much richer pallete than the analogic 1886 technology, or even to the simple digital 1989 technology. It's made in DH definition.
The new color design can't be identical to a old technology design, since lots of finer details, that had just a based color in the old process, can get more color detail in the new process. But the basic intention could be used, since would represents Capra's feelings for a color version of his own fim.

This new tranfer, made in HD, while the SE 60 aniverssary was just SD, can also be used for HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises.
I don't see anyone blaming HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises...

Since this is to be the definitive edition of a family classic, I think not only should the colorized version be kept under some sort of parental lock but that Donna Reed's and Gloria Grahame's shapely silhouettes should be pixilated so as not to cause undue pleasure in the viewer.

Hi everyone

According information I have Frank Capra wanted to colorize It's a Wonderful Life, and hired Colorization Inc, a division of Hal Roach studios, to perform the work. This was in 1986 and the colorization was a analogic poor process, with very limited color. Capra had his own desire to the colors to aplied to the colorization work, but when Hal Roach found the film was in public domain thay just ignore Capra and made the work by themselves to get all profit. So the first colorization had not the colors desired by Capra.
Also Hal Roach got Capra as a enemy, due their unfriendly manuever, of despise hin after realise the film was in public domain.

The second colorization of the film, in 1989, made by American Film Technologies (AFT), former Barry Sandrew's company prior to Legend Films, was autorized, usiing the first digital colorization process developed by Barry, that was the most advanced colorization technology in the 80's.
The question is: Was the second colorization complete color designed by Frank Capra? Is this third colorization, made by Legend Films, based in Frank Capra's color design?

Sure the new process have a much richer pallete than the analogic 1886 technology, or even to the simple digital 1989 technology. It's made in DH definition.
The new color design can't be identical to a old technology design, since lots of finer details, that had just a based color in the old process, can get more color detail in the new process. But the basic intention could be used, since would represents Capra's feelings for a color version of his own fim.

This new tranfer, made in HD, while the SE 60 aniverssary was just SD, can also be used for HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises.
I don't see anyone blaming HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises...

Hi everyone

According information I have Frank Capra wanted to colorize It's a Wonderful Life, and hired Colorization Inc, a division of Hal Roach studios, to perform the work. This was in 1986 and the colorization was a analogic poor process, with very limited color. Capra had his own desire to the colors to aplied to the colorization work, but when Hal Roach found the film was in public domain thay just ignore Capra and made the work by themselves to get all profit. So the first colorization had not the colors desired by Capra.
Also Hal Roach got Capra as a enemy, due their unfriendly manuever, of despise hin after realise the film was in public domain.

The second colorization of the film, in 1989, made by American Film Technologies (AFT), former Barry Sandrew's company prior to Legend Films, was autorized, usiing the first digital colorization process developed by Barry, that was the most advanced colorization technology in the 80's.
The question is: Was the second colorization complete color designed by Frank Capra? Is this third colorization, made by Legend Films, based in Frank Capra's color design?

Sure the new process have a much richer pallete than the analogic 1886 technology, or even to the simple digital 1989 technology. It's made in DH definition.
The new color design can't be identical to a old technology design, since lots of finer details, that had just a based color in the old process, can get more color detail in the new process. But the basic intention could be used, since would represents Capra's feelings for a color version of his own fim.

This new tranfer, made in HD, while the SE 60 aniverssary was just SD, can also be used for HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises.
I don't see anyone blaming HD-DVD or Blue Ray realises...