The Sound of Music on BD- Christmas 2010!

[Duckburger]

I can honestly say - I have seen all the films you mentioned jpanimation, except for "The Ten Commandments" - but to be completely honest it's premise doesn't really sound that interesting to me, so I think I'll just keep it that way.

You ranked them pretty well, though people who don't like long and somewhat dragging films should avoid quite a few of the above mentioned ones like the plague. Especially 2001, as you mentioned, a very acquired taste. Though all Kubrick films are kind of that way (A Clockwork Orange; The Shining; Eyes Wide Shut; etc.).

I'm going to watch Casablanca for the first time ever in High Def. this weekend. That should be a terrific experience. The Standard Def. remastered version was very good when I first saw it, can't wait to see an even better one.

[jpanimation]

I also have not seen The Sound of Music all the way through (Just bits and pieces), but I own the 2-Disc DVD, so I might give it a try one of these days.

So your one of those people that buys movies impulsivly without watching them

I'm going to watch Casablanca for the first time ever in High Def. this weekend. That should be a terrific experience. The Standard Def. remastered version was very good when I first saw it, can't wait to see an even better one.

Definitely the best looking film from the 40's in HD. Makes me anticipate the upcoming Blu-ray releases of The Maltese Falcon and The Treasure of Sierra Madre as I'm sure the prints are in as good condition.

[UmbrellaFish]

A small snippet of information about the release-

The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary: digitally restored with 7.1 audio and never-before-seen interactivity and features.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4444

Can't wait for a full press release and cover art!

[Escapay]

A small snippet of information about the release-

The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary: digitally restored with 7.1 audio and never-before-seen interactivity and features.

I hope the interactivity is a special sing-along version that trumps all other sing-along versions known to man. Like, maybe it'll come with a life size set of holographic von Trapp children that are projected magically from the television set for you to sing with. That would be quite interactive!

Then, they can utilize that technology too for the Rocky Horror Picture Show Blu-Ray.

albert

[UmbrellaFish]

Some information from a Blu-Ray.com forum member-

I see The Sound of Music has been announced in France for BD for September 29, I hope we get it that early as well. Looks like 2 Blu-rays and one DVD in the set, retailing at 19.99 euros. No extras announced yet. I am still hoping for a box set here in the states. It's time this film got the same treatment as Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, which they haven't done since the laserdisc box.

There is news on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization web site, talks about how they have been in Austria filming new extras in HD for the release. We should be getting close to an official announcement. For every format, VHS, laserdisc, and DVD, this has been THE movie I have wanted and waited for about a dozen times, the transfer always less than perfect. I have high hopes for this one, my favorite movie of all time!

The fact that TSOM has been announced in France for Sept. gives me high hopes that this will be the release date in America, as well (I'm not really aware of Fox's release patterns, but hopefully they're more consistent than Disney), and I also share their sentiment of giving TSOM a bring release like "Wizard" or GWTW. I keep picturing a baby blue felt-colored box with a the original poster's artwork, ala the WB releases, but I bet it won't happen.

Secondly, I can't wait to see a complete press release. I've been counting for one to come in anytime now, so I'll just have to be patient and wait, I guess...

[UmbrellaFish]

No official press release yet (although it must be coming soon), but this looks really, really promising!!-

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Sound ... 143/#Forum

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y5 ... ray-019-20

[UmbrellaFish]

There will be at least three different versions of the TSOM on BD.

The Sound of Music: 45th Anniversary Edition- Limited Edition Collector's Set (Blu-Ray)
The Sound of Music: 45th Anniversary Edition- Blu-ray+DVD (BD packaging)
The Sound of Music: 45th Anniversary Edition- Blu-ray+DVD (DVD packaging)

Source Blu-Ray.com

And I think we can guess that they will also release a Limited Edition Collector's Set for DVD format, as well as a new two-disc DVD release as well. That would bring the total of TSOM releases to five.

------

So it seems Fox took a page out of Disney's marketing book. Snow White really must have sold well...

And I will definitely be purchasing the Collector's Set! I just hope Fox will hurry up and issue a press release!! I am dying to know the bonus features, and what's in the Collector's Set!

[Escapay]

If the Alien Anthology is any indication, I'm hoping that means that the Blu-ray will include ALL the material from the 1994 Laserdisc (which more or less is the 2000 & 2003 DVDs) and the 2005 DVD, along with a host of some new and favorite things (like the 2001 live-on-TV production of On Golden Pond, which I think you mentioned as being a possible bonus, UmbrellaFish).

And they should include this, just so I don't have to keep watching it on youtube all the time:

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7EYAUazLI9k&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7EYAUazLI9k&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

albert

[tlc38tlc38]

I will be adding this to my Christmas wish list. I hope someone gets it for me! If not, I'll have to buy it for myself. Either way, it will be mine! lol

[Disneykid]

I'll be nabbing the regular BD, but I'll get the giftset as a Christmas present for a friend. Like Escapay said, I hope this has EVERYTHING from every home video released ported over along with some new stuff. I'm really excited for the new transfer. The film has always looked too soft to me, though that could be an artistic choice. Apparently Fox is barring no expense with this restoration.

[2099net]

Wasn't there some [Mayor of Townsville]Hoo-Haa[/Mayor of Townsville] about the last restoration of The Sound of Music? I seem to remember it being stated that the original elements were in far from the best condition. If so, I wouldn't expect the Blu-ray to be as good as other examples of extensive restorations of films of a similar vintage.

[UmbrellaFish]

Finally some information about the extras on the (French!) BD!

The information comes via a Blu-Ray.com member, mntwister. He got it from this website- http://www.dts-phile.com/wordpress/2010 ... -attendue/

Unfortunately, it seems the image listing the Blu-Ray special features has been cut off a bit, so I did my best. Translation comes from Google Translate.

Blu-Ray Disc 1-
Picture- Dual-layer Blu-Ray * Encoding MPEG 4 * Format 2.35 * Screen 16/9 c...
4/3 * Film Duration: 2hr 53 minutes
Sound: French 5.1 DTS, English 7.1 DTS
Subtitles: French, English
Bonus: Juxebox of The Sound of Music * Karaoke Verison * Commentaries...
Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Robert Wise

Blu-Ray Disc 2-
Bonus: The Creation of The Sound of Music: featurettes on the songs, the...
musical on Broadway, the Family Von Trapp, the restoration (1 hr 25 minutes) * Salzburg, city
music: Virtual Tour of Salzburg * Documentaries and reports:...
the phenomenon, the actors remember (3 hrs 30 minutes) * Rodgers and Hammerstein: The...
American Music (1 hour 42 minutes), The Sound of Movies (1 hour 36 minutes) * Interviews, Auditions, Galleries...
(4 hours 30 minutes)
Includes: The film in its DVD remaster

Oh, and here's (for what I presume) the French cover art for the Collector's Edition-



Very nice, I think. Displays the film wonderfully. Also, glad to see Christopher Plummer actually get some recognition for his role in the film on the cover! Of course, its subject to change and Region A might not even recieve this cover.

Now, just waiting on some official news from Fox here in the US....

[Disneykid]

I really like the cover and how it features all of the main cast and not just Julie.

I was able to isolate the image that contained the supplements description and do a full Google translation of that. After going through it and comparing what's listed to the supplements from the previous editions, I realized that we may be getting EVERYTHING from those, after all, along with lots of new material. Here's the translation and my breakdown of it:

DISC ONE:
* Sing-Along
* Audio Commentary with director Robert Wise
* Audio Commentary with actors Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer

That's pretty obvious. Moving on.

DISC TWO:
* The Creation of the Sound of Music - featurettes on the songs, the Broadway musical, the Von Trapp family, and the restoration (1 hour and 25 minutes)

Now, this could be the Von Trapp Family: Harmony and Discord A&E special and possibly the "When You Know the Notes to Sing: A Sing-Along Phenomenon" featurette. If so, that's 59 minutes right there, meaning we'd get two new featurettes (one on the stage musical and one on the new restoration) totaling 26 minutes.

* Salzburg, City of Music - a virtual visit of Salzburg (33 minutes)

This must be the new documentary that was reported to be filming several months ago.

*Documentaries and Reports - the history of the phenomenon, the actors remember (3 hours and 30 minutes)

If I'm reading into this correctly, that means we could be getting:

* The Sound of Music: From Fact to Phenomenon (87:50)
* My Favorite Things: Julie Andrews Remembers (63:16)
* Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer: A Reminisce (19:22)
* From Liesel to Gretel: A 40th Anniversary Reunion (33:31)
* Salzburg Sight and Sound (13:45)

Together, those total about 3 hours and 36 minutes.

* Rogers and Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music (1 hour and 42 minutes)
* The Sound of Movies (1 hour and 36 minutes)

These are TV specials from 1985 and 1996, respectively.

* Interviews, Auditions, Photo Gallery (4 hours and 30 minutes)

Now, they're obviously being very broad with this description. If this is a collection of archival material, it could include:

* Five Theatrical Trailers
* Two TV Spots
* Four Radio Spots (3:00)
* Julie Andrews and Robert Wise Interview (1973) (8:30)
* Ernest Lehman: Master Storyteller (34:45)
* A Telegram from Daniel Truhitte (13:00)
* Julie Andrews On Location Interview (11:50)
* Christopher Plummer On Location Interview (5:10)
* Peggy Wood On Location (6:30)
* Gallery (2,400 Stills)
* On Location with The Sound of Music (22:33)
* Mia Farrow Screen Test (0:35)

This all only adds up to about 130 minutes, though. I'm at a loss to think of what else they could've thrown in this set since I've included, as far as I know, everything from both the Five-Star Collection DVD and 40th Anniversary Edition DVD.

If you add up all the video supplements from those editions, you end up with about 6 hours and 45 minutes. If you add up the French description running times, you end up with 9 hours and 58 minutes not including the two Rogers and Hammerstein TV specials. Take away the new Salzburg documentary we already know about, and we could potentially have two hours and 40 minutes of new supplements we've heard little-to-nothing about...

...and that's on top of EVERYTHING from the previous editions. Again: Holy crap. I hope those French running times aren't wildly off because that makes this THE definitive release of the film. Ever.

(And yes, I really do have too much time on my hands...)

[UmbrellaFish]

I really like the cover and how it features all of the main cast and not just Julie.

I agree. I mean, there's some technical stuff I don't like (so much blue, and how does magical pixie dust figure in TSOM?) but the way it's compiled is gorgeous! I especially like the views of the alps, the villa, and the city in the background.

This all only adds up to about 130 minutes, though. I'm at a loss to think of what else they could've thrown in this set since I've included, as far as I know, everything from both the Five-Star Collection DVD and 40th Anniversary Edition DVD.

If you add up all the video supplements from those editions, you end up with about 6 hours and 45 minutes. If you add up the French description running times, you end up with 9 hours and 58 minutes not including the two Rogers and Hammerstein TV specials. Take away the new Salzburg documentary we already know about, and we could potentially have two hours and 40 minutes of new supplements we've heard little-to-nothing about...

...and that's on top of EVERYTHING from the previous editions. Again: Holy crap. I hope those French running times aren't wildly off because that makes this THE definitive release of the film. Ever.

(And yes, I really do have too much time on my hands...)

First off, thanks for the translation! If you don't mind, could I post your translation on a Julie Andrews Forum I frequent? You'd be given full credit, of course.

And if this release seriously has all that.... I'm at a loss for words. I couldn't really tell from my earlier translation, but now that it's hit me I am even more excited for this release (and more excited for a press release from Fox in the US!!!).

[Disneykid]

I'd consider it an honor if you posted that there! Feel free!

I was looking forward to this release before, but now I'm really excited (and a little overwhelmed) at what we could be getting. I don't think any other musical's been given such lavish treatment save for The Wizard of Oz, and that's my favorite blu-ray release to date. Bravo, Fox. THIS is how you do a catalogue title on BD (yes, Disney, I'm looking at you and your Fantasia release).

You know what I love to see included in the new supplements? Outtakes of Julie Andrews being blown over by the helicopter that filmed the opening song. I bet those have got to be hilarious.

[UmbrellaFish]

I'd consider it an honor if you posted that there! Feel free!

Oh, that's wonderful! Thanks so much!

I was looking forward to this release before, but now I'm really excited (and a little overwhelmed) at what we could be getting. I don't think any other musical's been given such lavish treatment save for The Wizard of Oz, and that's my favorite blu-ray release to date. Bravo, Fox. THIS is how you do a catalogue title on BD (yes, Disney, I'm looking at you and your Fantasia release).

I've been staying out of the Fantasia thread for the most part, but I must say, after being so disappointed by the specs on that release, and then hearing this wonderful news about TSOM, it's really made my day! And I can't wait to see what extra goodies that pricey collector's edition holds! Seriously, I want a press release already.

You know what I love to see included in the new supplements? Outtakes of Julie Andrews being blown over by the helicopter that filmed the opening song. I bet those have got to be hilarious.

I agree! I hope those are still out there somewhere because I'm sure a ton of people would get a real kick out of those. I'm giggling just thinking about them!

And now off to Julie Andrews Online!

[SpringHeelJack]

...I hope we get better cover art. It reminds me too much of a Disney PE.

[Cordy_Biddle]

I think the cover has possibilities. I appreciate that most of the main characters are included (having the Baroness, Max and the Mother Abbess might have put everything into overkill) but I agree the "pixie dust" on the bottom looks strange.

Perhaps they could instead enclose the same cover art concept into a "snowglobe" design? It would look magical with the Alps in the background.

[SpringHeelJack]

I dunno. I like the characters all showing up, but with Maria erupting from the center she kinda looks like Chernabog's more pleasant cousin.

[Cordy_Biddle]

I dunno. I like the characters all showing up, but with Maria erupting from the center she kinda looks like Chernabog's more pleasant cousin.

LOL! "Out of the mountains she came...her song can no longer be denied! She will have her vengeance...one Von Trapp at a time..."